Questions to Ask When Companies Seek "Welfare"

• Have they received tax breaks, subsidies, grants, or other assistance from our community or any other community before? How did they use that assistance? 
• Have they closed up shop elsewhere so they can move here? Have they laid off workers lately? What does that say about their corporate conscience? 
• How high have their profits been over the last several years? 
• How well do they pay their workers? Do they offer full-time jobs with basic benefits (health, pension, etc.)? 
• How does their CEO and top officials' pay compare to that of average workers? 
• Do they hire from within the community? 
• Do they support community activities through sponsorship, leadership, or other in-kind contributions? 
• How much do they pay in federal, state, and local taxes? How does it compare to their profits? What tax breaks do they already receive? 
• How much are they asking for? What is the cost to taxpayers for each job created? 
• What protections or recourse do we have if they close up shop and leave?