An advocacy organization is protesting the request for Tax Increment Financing as Laclede Gas plans to move down the street.
Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, or MORE, held signs outside of Laclede Gas’ headquarters Monday.
The developer Koman Group is requesting $8 million in TIF from the city of St. Louis for Laclede’s move to 700 Market Street.
MORE volunteer Reginald Rounds says he helped gather 36,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to prevent such TIFs for big energy companies.
"And the consensus is this is not something we want," Rounds said. "This is not the way we want business done. It leaves us out. It carries big business up, and leaves us out."
Rounds is part of an effort to get an initiative on the ballot in April’s municipal election to prevent the city from giving tax incentives to so-called “unsustainable energy producers.”
Laclede Gas said in a statement that the TIF helps the company focus its "efforts on staying within the city."
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