Available Incentives in Designated Zones
Foreign-Trade Zone
Heartland Regional Investment Fund
SBA HUBZone
State of Missouri Enterprise Zone
Rebuilding Communities Program
Foreign-Trade Zone
Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs) are intended to increase United States participation in international trade and allow foreign products to be admitted without paying customs duties. Foreign-Trade Zone #102, adjacent to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport consists of designated areas with existing businesses and land available for development.
Click here to view the FTZ map.
To further enhance trade and lower operating costs for local companies, St. Louis County Economic Council and St. Louis County Port Authority have received approval to designate all of St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis as Foreign-Trade Zone eligible under the Alternate Site Framework option recently made available by the U.S. Department of Commerce. This allows a company to receive the FTZ designation at its place of business, even if it is not within the established boundary of FTZ #102.
For more information, please contact Alison Zeidler.
Heartland Regional Investment Fund
The Heartland Regional Investment Fund, LLC was created and approved as a certified community development entity (CDE) in 2009 with the primary mission of serving and providing investment capital to low income community businesses in the bi-state service area: Missouri - St. Louis County and St. Charles City; Illinois - Bond, Clinton, Madison, and St. Clair counties.
The investment strategy of the Heartland Regional Investment Fund places highest priority on commercial and industrial expansion projects with high levels of job creation for low income individuals and communities. Most project types are eligible, including community-focused projects, mixed-use development projects (including low income housing), retail, industrial and commercial development, and direct business use.
Leveraged Structure Example:
- $10 million investment in a qualified area successfully applies for a $10 million allocation
- Tax credit investor equity: $2.73 million (represents purchase of 39 percent credit at .70 per $1)
- Leveraged loan: $7.27 million (interest only during seven year NMTC compliance period)
- Results in a $10 million qualified equity investment lent back by the CDE to the project
- Net equity benefit at closing after fees: $2.03 million
SBA HUBZone
The HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program was enacted into law as part of the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997. The program falls under the auspices of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones - "HUBZones" - through the establishment of preferences.
SBA's HUBZone program is in line with the efforts of both the Administration and Congress to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more Federal contracting opportunities. To learn more on HUBZone benefits and how to become a HUBZone firm, visit SBA HUBZone.
State of Missouri Enterprise Zone
The Missouri Enterprise Zone program facilitates relocation and expansion of businesses in economically distressed areas of St. Louis County by offering tax credits and abatement related to job creation and capital investment. Click here for more information.
Currently, St. Louis County is home to two Enhanced Enterprise Zones:
The Business Development Division oversees the administration of these zones within St.Louis County.
State of Missouri Rebuilding Communities Program
Some areas within St. Louis County participate in the State of Missouri Rebuilding Communities Program. This program provides tax credits for job creation and capital investment to companies that locate in communities qualifying for this program. Click here for more information.
For more information on incentive programs, please contact the Business Development Department:
Douglas Rasmussen 121 S. Meramec Avenue | Monica Conners 121 S. Meramec Avenue | Alison Zeidler 121 S. Meramec Avenue |
