Local Incentives
Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ)
An Enhanced Enterprise Zone (EEZ) is a designated area aimed at promoting economic development by providing abatement on real property taxes. Communities in Southeast Missouri typically provide a 50% abatement on net new real property taxes for a period of 10 years on qualifying projects.
Qualifying Projects:
Eligible industries include manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, information, finance and insurance, professional services, company management, and administrative or waste management services.
Not Eligible:
Retail, gambling, educational services, religious organizations, public administration, and eating and drinking establishments.
Chapter 100 Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs)
Local governments may issue Chapter 100 bonds to support eligible large-scale office, industrial, or commercial projects involving substantial job creation and new capital investment. Under this program, businesses will receive abatement on a portion of their real and personal property taxes for a period of 10+ years, as well as sales tax exemption on construction materials and equipment.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
Uses a portion of new local property and sales tax generated by a project to fund infrastructure, site preparation or redevelopment costs in designated areas (“blighted,” “conservation” or “economic development” districts).
Chapter 353 Redevelopment
Provides long-term, real property tax abatement for redevelopment projects in blighted areas for 25 years: typically 100% abatement for 10 years, followed by up to 50% abatement for 15 years.
Community Improvement District (CID)
Allows property or business owners within a district to levy additional taxes or assessments to fund public infrastructure, beautification or services that support economic development.
Transportation Development District (TDD)
Enables special assessment districts to finance transportation projects such as road work, interchanges, and other improvements tied to business expansion.
Opportunity Zones
Investors may defer or reduce capital gains taxes by investing through Qualified Opportunity Funds into designated tracts.
Ameren Missouri Economic Development Energy Incentive
This program is designed to attract and support new or expanding industrial and commercial businesses in Ameren Missouri’s service territory. Eligible projects must meet minimum incremental electric load requirements and maintain a load factor of at least 45%, dependent on program tier. Qualifying businesses can receive discounted electric rates for up to five years, with discounts averaging approximately 35% from standard rates over the contract term. This incentive must be paired with other local, regional or state economic development programs and is targeted at significant growth projects that generate economic impact for the region.
Ameren Missouri BizSavers Program
The BizSavers Program offers cash incentives to businesses of all sizes for implementing energy efficiency upgrades throughout their facilities. Typical eligible projects include upgrading HVAC systems, refrigeration and installing advanced controls. Incentives are available for both standard, prescriptive measures and custom projects designed to maximize energy savings. Incentives are paid as either cash payments or utility bill credits. This program helps businesses lower their operating costs, improve sustainability, and reinvest savings into core operations.
Local Fee Waivers & Infrastructure Support
Depending on the project, local jurisdictions may provide permit fee reductions, utility tap fee waivers, expedited permitting, or site improvements such as grading and road extensions.
State Incentives
Missouri Works
Missouri Works is the state’s primary incentive program for business expansion and retention, offering eligible companies the ability to retain state withholding taxes from new jobs or, when needed, receive refundable or transferable tax credits. To qualify, businesses must file a Notice of Intent (NOI) before beginning project work or making public announcements. The program includes multiple tiers with different thresholds for jobs, wages and investment, with benefits generally available for five years (six years for companies operating in Missouri for more than a decade).
Missouri One Start
Missouri One Start provides tailored workforce solutions at no cost to eligible companies. Services include recruitment, pre-employment screening, customized job training, credential reimbursement, and internship/apprenticeship tax credits.
Customized Training Program
Provides reimbursement for training new or existing employees connected to a business expansion or capital investment. Awards are based on job creation or retention, wages, benefits and the scale of investment.
Credential Training Program
Offers up to $2,000 per employee and $30,000 per company per year to offset the cost of industry-recognized credentials.
- Application windows open in January, April, July and October.
- Companies have 12 months to complete each credential once awarded.
Intern & Apprentice Tax Credit
Provides a $1,500 credit per intern or apprentice, up to $9,000 per company annually.
- Applications are accepted July 1 – November 15 each year.
- Companies must employ more interns/apprentices than their three-year average to qualify.
Recruitment Services
Free support for eligible companies, including job postings, branded microsites, social media campaigns, candidate screening, assessments and reporting.
Missouri BUILD (Business Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development)
The BUILD Missouri Program, offered through the Missouri Development Finance Board in partnership with the Department of Economic Development, provides financial incentives to reduce infrastructure and equipment costs for large-scale business projects. To qualify, companies must invest at least $15 million and create 100 new jobs, or for office projects, invest at least $10 million and create 500 new jobs — reduced to 200 jobs if the office project is located in a state-defined distressed community.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Funds infrastructure, site development, and workforce facilities that create jobs and benefit low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities. For job creation projects, at least 51% of jobs must be held by or made available to the LMI persons.
Historic Preservation Tax Credit
Covers up to 25% of eligible rehabilitation costs statewide, or 35% for projects outside Kansas City and St. Louis City that do not use Missouri Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs). Credits may be carried back up to three years or forward up to 10 years, subject to statewide program caps.
Brownfield Remediation Tax Credit
Offsets environmental cleanup costs to redevelop contaminated or underutilized sites. Missouri generally issues 75% of allowable credit up front (after proof of remediation costs paid), and the remaining 25% after final certification/”clean letter”. Credits may cover up to 100% of eligible remediation and approved demolition costs.
Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP)
Provides a state tax credit of 50% (or up to 70% for eligible projects in distressed or rural areas) for business contributions to approved community projects such as housing, healthcare, childcare, education and workforce training.
Missouri International Trade & Investment Office
Helps Missouri companies expand into global markets with export counseling, market research, trade missions and connections to international buyers.
Advanced Industrial Manufacturing (AIM) Zones
Available through port authorities, AIM Zones allow a share of new job state withholding taxes to be reinvested into eligible site development costs within designated port areas.
Additional Resources
There are additional resources that may be available. If your company is looking to start, relocate or expand in Southeast Missouri, contact SEMO REDI and we will look for opportunities to assist you.
Sites & Buildings
SEMO Industrial Park
A 380-acre certified site with shovel-ready land, direct access to I-55, the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, and the Southeast Missouri Regional Port.
Let’s Build Your Growth Story in Southeast Missouri
Every project is unique. SEMO REDI provides free, confidential support to help you explore the right mix of incentives, sites and workforce solutions. Our goal is simple: to help your business succeed here while strengthening the future of Southeast Missouri.