The Main Street Tax Incentive Program keeps your B&O tax dollars local.

September 12, 2011 – Moses Lake, Washington.  Keeping our downtown thriving is a mission of the Moses Lake Business Association (MLBA) and keeping tax dollars local is one way of supporting this mission. Businesses can designate, through the state, to keep their B&O tax dollars right here in Moses Lake by requesting a tax credit be given to the Moses Lake Business Association.

MLBA gives businesses the opportunity to put their B&O tax ­dollars to work here in Moses Lake. These funds are then used to support the MLBA’s mission to improve the economic development of the Moses lake business community through organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. In the past funds have been utilized for: banners hung in LakeTown Landing, kiosks, purchase and ongoing maintenance of flower pots, events in LakeTown Landing like the Annual Agricultural Parade, support of Spring Festival activities, Halloween Trick-or-Treating and so much more!

Many of Washington’s communities, like ­thousands of communities across the country, are using the National Main Street Center’s Main Street Approach™ effectively to address the complex and changing issues facing the downtown business ­environment. The Main Street Approach provides a flexible framework that puts the traditional assets of downtown, such as unique architecture and locally-owned businesses, to work as a catalyst for economic growth and community pride.

In 2006, MLBA worked with other revitalization programs across the state to introduce and help pass legislation creating a B&O Tax Credit Incentive Program for businesses investing in local downtown revitalization programs like ours.

If you make a contribution to MLBA before ­December 31, 2011: Your entire contribution may be deducted as advertising/promotion expense on your 2011 Federal Tax return. AND, 75% of your donation is returned to you via B&O tax credits in 2012.

In 2011, $1.5 million in tax credits are ­available statewide. MLBA can receive up to $133,333 in ­contributions. Approvals are given each year on a first-come, first-served basis as of January 1.

MLBA is pleased to offer you this opportunity to invest a portion of your B&O tax dollars in our ­community and simultaneously benefit your ­business. We hope that you will consider this unique opportunity. Contact your tax preparer or Stroud Kunkle, CPA at 509-765-4501, a local Main Street Tax Incentive Expert.

The entire community benefits from the work of the Moses Lake Business Association! The health of the central ­business district is at the very heart of the ­quality of life within our ­community. MLBA ­forges a ­partnership of ­merchants, ­business ­leaders, ­public ­officials, and ­residents to ­promote economic vitality, while ­preserving the ­recreational character of Moses Lake. A prosperous, ­attractive business district becomes the visible barometer of the well ­being of the entire ­community. This makes MLBA a vital concern for every citizen of our ­community.

Marianne Kirwan, Moses Lake Business Association Executive Director, says “The Main Street Tax Credit Incentive is a fantastic opportunity to keep your B&O tax dollars local.  It’s easy to set up and shows your community pride.  Please take a few minutes…give us a call and we can answer any questions…or look at our website www.mlbacares.org for more information.”

Anna Unruh, Moses Lake Business Association Main Street Tax Incentive Contributor Relations, says “I’m excited to be a part of this program, because it keeps our tax dollars right here in Moses Lake, and it benefits the businesses as well as the town.  I look forward to meeting with businesses in Moses Lake and explaining the benefits to them and the community.” Anna will be calling on local businesses to explain the program and help them get signed up.

The Moses Lake Business Association (MLBA) is a non-profit organization formed in 1993 by interested Moses Lake citizens. The purpose of the organization is to stimulate economic development in the Moses Lake business district called LakeTown Landing and to promote the area as an exciting place to live, shop, work and play. The MLBA also seeks to maintain a healthy business community and a high quality of life. MLBA is a member of the Washington State Downtown Revitalization Program. It is currently seeking to obtain Main Street Program status, which will benefit the organization by qualifying for state and national funding for programs and projects. The four components of this program are design, economic restructuring, promotion and organization.

To contact the Moses Lake Business Association you can call 509-764-1745 or visit their website at www.mlbacares.org. You can also become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mlbacares or www.facebook.com/LakeTownLanding.