Artist Tax Exemption Meeting tomorrow

The Artist Tax Exemption Act creates a zone within the Mill District in Providence that gives artists in 37 buildings eligibility to receive State Income Tax, Sales & Use Tax, and Tangible Property Tax exemption. House Finance Chair Costantino and Rep Lewiss introduced the bill and it goes in front of the House Finance Committee TOMORROW June 14 at 1PM at the State House - Room 35 in the basement. Please come to show your support and help pass this bill for artists!!!

The legislation was originally intended for all the 250 buildings in the Mill District (or ICBD), but we were advised to reduce this number significantly to increase the likelihood of passing. The 37 buildings include Steel Yard, Monohasset Mills, Atlantic Mills, Ajay Land, Dirt Palace, Hive Archive, Carpenter Mills, Hope Brewery, Rau Fastener, PUENTE, Rising Sun, Wanskuck Mill & Hall, 111 Summer Street, and others in Olneyville, South Side and Westminster Street. They were chosen to represent buildings which are artist owned; where a concentration of artists currently have space; that have been recently redeveloped and rent prices are now prohibitive to artists; and, the most practical buildings on the market (or vacant) for artists to buy using this tax free zone as incentive.

It will give those living and/or working in these buildings eligibility for tax incentives, similar to the DownCity Tax Free Zone. Artists would need to be qualified by RISCA in order to receive the benefits. A recent amendment to the bill means those artists living in these spaces will be eligible for all three incentives, while those working only will be eligible for the Sales & Use, and Tangible Property Tax. The work only incentive is the only such measure in any of the tax free districts throughout Rhode Island, and meets a direct need for the artist studios and creative businesses in these mills.

Help us bring these incentives to the buildings where artists actually are, and help bring more artists back to these areas. The passing of this bill will truly reflect the city's committment to the artists and their promotion of an arts-friendly city.

You can find out more information here: www.pcisprov.org/news.htm .