A new Washington state law modifying tax exemptions for data centers also benefits agricultural processors and craft distilleries. Senate Bill 6635 extends a sales and use tax exemption to eligible data centers that begin construction prior to July 1, 2016, and also extends until a business and occupation tax exemption crucial to commercial ag processors, including those that handle fruits, vegetables, dairy and seafood.

The exemption offers producers a competitive advantage as processors are able to compete against other states that don’t have a business and occupation tax. The state’s food processing and manufacturing industry generated $17 billion in 2011 and created more than 18,000 jobs and $1.4 billion in wages and $1.5 billion in added value. Continue reading →