Incentives

Competitive Incentives for Business

CCEDC will connect you to the expertise, programs, and support network to help you succeed.  We can work with you to find financial programs that may be available to assist with:

  • Tax credits & working capital
  • Equipment purchases
  • Exporting
  • Relocation
  • Training costs

The Technology Enterprise Fund (TEF) is a “quasi-equity”, revolving loan fund that provides creative financing to new and emerging technology companies.

Eligibility

  • You must be located in, or propose to locate in, West Central Wisconsin (counties of Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix).
  • Be a technology specific business either researching, developing, or manufacturing patentable technology or intellectual property.
  • Have fewer than 100 FTE employees.
  • Raise at least a dollar-for-dollar (1:1) amount of private capital. Prior investments in the form of in-kind support and/or equipment contributions may qualify as private match.
  • Eligible activities include: working capital used in the research and development, testing, and/or commercialization of a product, process, or service; equipment and other fixed asset purchases that are essential in the research and development of an innovative technology.
  • APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested businesses inquire with CCEDC to get information on completing and submitting program applications.

The EDA Fund provides financing to businesses that need a relatively small amount of gap financing and that are creating or retaining quality jobs and investments, encouraging diversification of the regional economy, and/or encouraging agriculturally value-added technology/markets.

Eligibility

  • You must be located in, or propose to locate in, West Central Wisconsin (counties of Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, and St. Croix).
  • Create and/or retain jobs.
  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan.
  • Eligible activities include: fixed asset financing and/or working capital.
  • APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested businesses inquire with CCEDC to get information on completing and submitting program applications.

The Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) is a flexible source of loan funds for commercial and industrial projects. The purpose of the RLF is to promote economic growth in west central Wisconsin through recruitment, expansion, and retention of business and industry. The RLF is not meant to be the primary source of financing for projects and will work in partnership with other lending institutions. The minimum loan amount is $25,000 at a fixed rate of 4%.

Eligibility

Below are the requirements necessary to qualify for help with these programs

  • You must be located in, or propose to locate in, West Central Wisconsin (Counties of Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix).*
  • Create and/or retain jobs.
  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan.

Eligible activities include:

  • Acquisition of equipment
  •  Machinery
  • Furniture and fixtures
  • New working capital
  • Site improvements
  • Leasehold improvements
  • Natural disaster recovery
  • Land and building acquisition
  • New building construction
  • Building renovation

*Some communities within these counties may not be participating.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:  Interested businesses please inquire with CCEDC to get information on completing and submitting program applications.

The Downtown Façade Loan Program provides financial assistance to encourage property and business owners in core downtowns to revitalize downtown commercial buildings within the towns, villages, and cities of West Central Wisconsin. Loan amounts can range between $5,000 and $30,000 and the rate is fixed at 0%.

Eligibility

  • You must be located within designated downtown boundaries of eligible towns, villages, and cities.
  • Demonstrate ability to repay the loan.
  • Eligible activities include: façade renovation; exterior lighting, doors, and graphics; signage, windows, and awnings; other façade or landscape improvements.

Design Requirements

  • Applicants must provide acceptable façade design plans that comply with approved general design guidelines adopted by local governments.
  • APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Interested businesses inquire with CCEDC to get information on completing and submitting program applications.
  • Angel and Early Stage Seed Investment Tax Credits – The purpose of the Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) Program is to encourage equity investment in technology-based businesses in the state of Wisconsin.
  • Certified Sites – We provide standardized certification of ready-to-develop sites to so you can start your business expansion faster, and more economically
  • Development Opportunity Zone Tax Credit – The goal of the Development Opportunity Zone (DOZ) Program is to encourage new and expanding business
  • Economic Development Tax Credits – Available for the creation or retention of full-time jobs, based on the wage range and number of jobs to be created and making significant capital investments.
  • Enterprise Zone Tax Credits – To incent projects involving relocation of major business operations from other states or the expansion of existing Wisconsin businesses.
  • Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit – Virtually eliminates the tax on income from manufacturing activity in the state.
  • Relocation Credit – Eliminates income tax liability for businesses that relocate to Wisconsin from another state or country, provided they have not done business in Wisconsin in the two preceding tax years.
  • Technology Development Loans – This program is to financially support technology-based startup and emerging growth companies.
  • Training Grants – Available to businesses to improve or expand job-related skills of their full-time employees
  • Global Business Development Grants – To support the export capabilities of Chippewa Valley businesses
  • Brownfield Grants – grant funds to businesses, nonprofits, local governments, and individuals to redevelop industrial and commercial sites that have been adversely impacted by environmental contamination.
  • Brownfield Site Assessment Grant Program – grants of up to $150,000 to local governments seeking to redevelop sites with community or economic development potential that are or may be adversely impacted by environmental contamination.
  • Bond Issuance Costs Assistance
  • Bond Volume Cap Allocation
  • Downtown Development – The goal of the Connect Communities Program and Main Street is to support downtown community development in our local communities

Resources and savings you can count on
Even with rates that are already among the lowest in the state, we understand that in today’s competitive economy sometimes it takes more.
In addition to resources like Xcel Energy’s Certified Site, Ready Site and Ready Building Programs, we have an economic development rate to help business grow. This rate offers eligible businesses the opportunity to lower costs through one of two options.

1. A revenue-based construction allowance for distribution extension, to serve the new electrical load

2. A five-year waiver of distribution demand charges (with no construction allowance)

Either option will lower the overall cost to new or expanding businesses who have incremental or new electrical load.

The Wisconsin advantage
A healthy community thrives when it is built on a foundation of a healthy economy. We recognize that in order to grow our economy, we must power it with reliable, affordable and cleaner electricity.
Our Wisconsin customers directly benefit from:

Affordable rates: We offer competitive rates that are well below the state average, made possible through smart investments combined with energy efficiency programs
to help you save money.

A record of reliability: Company-wide, our electric service ranks among the top
one-third of U.S. utilities, with 99.9% average reliability for our customers.

Innovative ideas: Rapidly evolving technology is enabling more sophisticated products and services, which is driving change in how we serve customers.
Clean energy leadership: We are taking bold steps to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2030, with an aspiration to provide customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Learn more at xcelenergy.com/Carbon.

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