TACOMA, WA-The Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development has awarded $12 million in federal tax incentives to the Ted Brown Music and Thea's Landing projects.

Tacoma is the only place in Puget Sound — and one of only 28 urban communities around the country — to receive a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) “Renewal Community” (RC) designation in 2002. The city's Economic Development Department applied for the designation in late 2001, competing with more than 100 other U.S. communities for the award.

“This RC designation will save Tacoma companies money and help close the dollar gap to make many projects work,” says Juli Wilkerson, Tacoma Economic Development Department Director. “It will also give us another tool-along with our simplified zoning code and eight-week guaranteed permits-to entice businesses to move or expand to Tacoma.”