Incentives

Direct Access to Missouri’s Competitive Programs

Growing your business in Southern Boone County means accessing powerful state-level incentive programs—without the complexity of navigating multiple layers of local requirements.

While the Southern Boone Economic Development Council (SBEDC) and the City of Ashland don’t maintain local incentive programs, Missouri offers some of the nation’s most competitive business incentives. Whether you’re launching a startup, expanding operations, or relocating to Southern Boone County, you’ll benefit from straightforward processes and genuine partnership support.

How SBEDC Helps

The Southern Boone Economic Development Council (SBEDC) connects you with the resources and people you need to navigate Missouri’s incentive programs. We’re an all-volunteer organization, which means we’re nimble, responsive, and focused on getting you the right information quickly.

Your Connection to Resources

We talk with you about your needs and goals, then coordinate communication between you and the parties who can help—whether that’s REDI, the City of Ashland, Boone County, or local landowners. REDI is our key partner for incentive expertise, and we leverage their resources along with other state and regional organizations to support your project.

Explore Your Options

Missouri State Incentives

Missouri offers a comprehensive suite of incentive programs designed to support business growth, workforce development, and capital investment. Southern Boone County businesses can access these primary state programs and more.

Tax Credits & Financial Incentives

Missouri Works Program

The primary incentive for job creation and capital investment in Missouri:

Retention of state withholding tax and/or refundable tax credits
Low threshold: Can create as few as 2 new jobs to qualify
Typical rural requirement: 20+ new jobs
Benefit period: 5 years (6 years for existing Missouri companies expanding)
Wage requirement: At or above county/state average

Best for: Businesses creating quality jobs at professional wage levels

BUILD Missouri Program

Business Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development:

Manufacturing/R&D projects: $15M investment + 100 jobs minimum
Office industries: $10M investment + 500 jobs minimum
Refundable state tax credits matching bond debt service
Term: 10-15 years

Best for: Large-scale development projects with significant capital investment

Missouri Qualified Research Expense Tax Credit Program (R&D Tax Credit)

Tax credits for companies investing in research and innovation:

15% credit on qualified research expenses
Additional 5% for research conducted with Missouri universities
Annual cap: $10M statewide
Per-company limit: $300K/year

Best for: Companies investing in research and innovation

Chapter 100 Industrial Revenue Bonds

Real and personal property tax abatement and sales tax exemption on construction materials and equipment eligible for use on:

Manufacturing facilities
Warehousing and distribution centers
Office buildings
Research and development facilities
Agricultural processing

Data Center Sales Tax Exemption Program

Provides state and local sales tax exemptions on:

Construction materials
Machinery and equipment
Utilities

Best for: Data center development and expansion projects

Enhanced Enterprise Zones (EEZ)

Offers state tax credits plus local property tax abatement for businesses locating in designated distressed areas, with benefits available for up to 5 years.

Real Estate & Infrastructure Development

➨ Brownfield Remediation Program

Provides credits for up to 100% of remediation costs for contaminated properties, making previously unusable sites viable for development.

➨ Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Offers a 25% credit for rehabilitation of historic structures, supporting preservation while creating new business opportunities.

➨ Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program

Provides funding for public infrastructure improvements that support business location and expansion, including industrial infrastructure development, utility improvements and access road construction.

Workforce Development & Training

Missouri offers robust workforce training programs that reduce your hiring and training costs—at no cost to eligible businesses. These include customized recruitment assistance, pre-employment screening, job-specific training, and even relocation reimbursement for out-of-state hires.

View Workforce Resources

Getting Started

The process is straightforward: reach out to us, and we’ll have a conversation about what you’re looking to accomplish. From there, we’ll connect you with the right resources and help facilitate the relationships you need.

Contact SBEDC