New Federal Grants for HSR and Identifying Corridors

[daveklepper]

Because one can make tax-deductable contribuitions to it.

[Overmod]

https://missoulacounty.sharepoint.com/administration/BCC/Public/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fadministration%2FBCC%2FPublic%2FPassenger%20Rail%20Videos%2FJoint%20Big%20Sky%20Passenger%20Rail%20Authority%20Resolution%20%2D%20Final%20Signed%2Epdf&parent=%2Fadministration%2FBCC%2FPublic%2FPassenger%20Rail%20Videos&p=true&ga=1

[CMStPnP]

FRRYKid

Then why can it use a .org extension for its webpage? Anything government, whether it is federal, state, or local uses a .gov at least to the best of my knowledge.

A nonprofit Corporation is defined by the IRS tax code and has nothing to do with who set it up.   It is controlled by a board of directors and shareholders.    In the case I run it is done for common ownership of property (Homeowner Association) it can also be done for a special interest.    The only nonprofit C Corporation I am aware of where the Government cannot participate is 501 chapter C or Charitable Non-profit.

The web domain dot org is used by quasi-governmental organizations like the Federal Reserve on the private side (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago) and then dot gov on the government side (Board of Governors), so it can be a mix and I don't think there is any restriction in .org being used by a government.

I think this might be a larger umbrella organization in which the government participates and so both sides might be correct here.    They might have setup a nonprofit because it is a LOT faster to setup and disband than an RTA.    Additionally with a nonprofit they could have others participate in it without the overly cumbersome government restrictions.    I think overall it would be cheaper, faster and more agile.     No idea how it would be funded other than grants.    Though NGO's are indeed non-profits and some recieve federal funding.   

So beats me on how that is all done.

[CMStPnP]

daveklepper

Because one can make tax-deductable contribuitions to it.

Only true of some non-profits and again it is defined by the IRS Code.   You can have a non profit in which you cannot deduct taxes via contributions.   Also, very unlikely any form of government would participate in membership to a charitable nonprofit because I suspect that would be a conflict of interest and illegal.

Interesting subject tangent though.

I would suspect for rail passenger promotion it might be considered a political interest group non-profit but then again I would suspect the government would be legally excluded from participation.

Suspect strongly this was done for multiple governmental agency participation across governing lines of responsibility as a fast and more efficient alternative to setting up an RTA like structure as well as including non-government people into it.   Would need a very strong ethics code for the Board though, in my opinion. 

[matthewsaggie]

Many governmental units use .com and .org as addresses. Most were registered prior to the creation of .gov

[York1]

Our school district used .org since another school district in the US used the same name with .edu.

I know of quite a few local small town government agencies that use .com and .org.