Cleveland is looking to change the way it offers tax incentives in an attempt to keep grocery stores from closing while enticing new ones to open.
Mayor Justin Bibb is proposing legislation that would offer certified “Good Food Retailers” job retention tax credits of up to 100%, which would help subsidize one of grocers’ largest costs — staff.
Deputy Director of Business Growth David Lukas said the city currently offers only job creation tax credits, which gives companies a tax break if they create new jobs. But Cleveland is switching gears and offering to forgo income tax dollars so it can help the grocers already in the city…