By Joshua Burd
Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Co. LLC, the Princeton-based site selection and advisory firm, has hired a new senior manager focused on compliance for recipients of government tax incentives.
In the new role, Dale Schwebel will lead BLS’ compliance division and work with clients to provide a post-closing roadmap of all reporting and claiming requirements tied to economic development grants and tax credits. She will also manage compliance activities over the life of an incentive award, the firm said, noting that the subsidies often come with substantial procedural requirements, with potential political and financial liability for failure to fulfill the terms of such an agreement.
Most recently, Schwebel oversaw project management and budget oversight for redevelopment investment efforts for the New Brunswick Development Corp., or Devco, the private nonprofit urban real estate development company. Her experience also includes managing public-sector economic development initiatives, including tax credit programs, for both the state of New Jersey and private companies.
“Dale brings valuable experience in a broad range of economic development incentives management issues to our team from her years managing both private development projects and public-sectors initiatives,” said Jay Biggins, executive managing director of BLS & Co. “As an expert in diverse forms of public sector incentives, she will effectively guide our clients through the increasingly complex compliance process.”
As a senior project manager with Devco, Schwebel helped attract $200 million in New Jersey tax credits for multiple projects in New Brunswick and managed the compliance process for those projects, according to a news release. Prior to that, she managed public-sector economic development initiatives for the New Jersey governor’s office, including developing initial regulations for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program.
“Dale will oversee our firm’s growing portfolio of incentive compliance engagements which includes a large number of projects throughout the U.S.,” said Joe Lacy, managing director of BLS & Co. “Her expertise is particularly important in a post-COVID world, as the pandemic altered many existing incentive programs and agreements.”
With a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Vermont, Schwebel’s nearly 20-year career also includes stints for various political and finance campaigns, BLS said.
“I am thrilled to be joining BLS & Co to lead the firm’s growing compliance portfolio,” Schwebel said. “My strong background in tax credits — including applications, approvals, financing and monetization — enable me to provide a high level of experience and energy for BLS & Co.’s clients across the country.”
