October 30th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

Although his rural tax incentive bill didn’t pass in the 2015 General Assembly session, State Senator George Edwards now has the backing of Michael “Mike” Gill, secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce (formerly DBED). With Gil’s support, along with that of Senate President Mike Miller, Edwards hopes his economic stimulus bill for rural Maryland will pass next year.  Edwards says the rural tax incentive bill was modeled loosely on the START-UP NY program that helps companies establish a business or expand an existing business in New York State through tax breaks. Maryland’s rural incentive bill would target areas that have the highest unemployment and the lowest median income. The main areas of Maryland targeted for the program would be Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, and the lower end of the Eastern Shore. The rural development program features two parts. The first portion will offer tax incentives to companies that want to locate a business with 20 employees or more to a rural area…