/Former Trump hotel partner still eligible for $6 million state tax break despite felony theft charge

Former Trump hotel partner still eligible for $6 million state tax break despite felony theft charge

A Memphis-area television station reported in August that Chawla, the chief executive officer at Chawla Hotel Group, was charged with felony theft after he was seen taking a bag from the baggage claim carousel at the airport. WREG reported that police pulled Chawla’s car and found several bags containing stolen items worth thousands of dollars. Melissa Scallan, spokesperson for Mississippi Development Authority, stated that Chawla’s legal problems would not affect his eligibility for state tax breaks. The hotel incentive has not changed. Scallan explained to Mississippi Today that the incentive is performance-based. This means that once the hotel opens, they’ll get a rebate based upon hotel occupancy, sales, and so on. Dineshchawla refused to comment when he was reached by telephone shortly after his arrest. ProPublica reported that Gov. Phil Bryant presented then-candidate Donald Trump, to Dinesh’s brother, Suresh Chawla, at a Jackson fundraiser in August 2016. Trump and the Republican National Committee received approximately $50,000 from Suresh Chawla. Chawla’s company owns 17 hotels in the Delta. They also spearhead a training program for potential hospitality workers. National attention was paid to the Trump Organization partnership. In February, Trump’s family announced that they would be withdrawing from the project due to the harassment they and the properties of their hotels were subjected to. “We live in an environment where everything will be used against, whether it’s fake news or Democrats who are only interested presidential harassment and wasting everybody’s time, barraging me with nonsense letters,” Eric Trump’s son said in a statement. Dinesh Chawla stated that he would continue the venture. At the time, officials from the state stated that the tax rebate, which could be up to $6 million, was still available because the project was for Chawla Pointe and not Trump Hotels. The state rebates developers a portion the hotel’s sales tax once it is operational under the program. To be eligible for the rebate program, a hotel investment must exceed $15 million. The rebate program allows for up to 30% of the “eligible capital investment to be returned to the developer. This sales tax rebate program was created for tourism projects. It has been used to fund other hotels and tourism projects, most notably the Trustmark Park in Pearl, where the Mississippi Braves are professional baseball players. Shopping malls have also been benefited from the incentive program. It is unclear when the hotel will open. The opening date of the hotel was previously reported to be in the fall. However, Cleveland Mayor Billy Nowell stated that he has seen the work being done on the property and is skeptical it will open in this year. Bryant’s office didn’t respond to inquiries about Chawla’s tax rebate, which he is eligible for if Chawla opens the hotel. Kelsey Davis contributed this article.