Through a variety of programs and resources, Michigan offers personalized assistance for businesses starting, relocating or expanding operations in the state. In addition, Michigan ranks among the top 10 states for major new and expanded facilities due to a fair and efficient 6% corporate income tax and $500 million in annual business savings through the elimination of industrial personal property tax.

Incentive Programs and Resources

Michigan has established several state and local economic development resources that provide support for companies investing and expanding their operations and workforces in Michigan communities. Some of these include: 

Build MI Community Grant Initiative  

The Build MI Community Grant is an initiative designed to promote private investment in Michigan communities. Administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), this tool provides access to real estate development gap financing for small scale, incremental redevelopment projects.

The Build MI Community Initiative has been established to re-activate underutilized or vacant space into vibrant areas by promoting capital investment into redevelopment projects being taken on by developers and property owners with limited real estate development experience and familiarizing them with the development process in order to position them to potentially undertake more complex projects in the future.

Support will be in the form of a grant and will range between $50,000 and $250,000, but not greater than the lesser of 50% of project costs for any project.

The most competitive project submissions will also address local and regional impact, place, and economic and financial considerations. These considerations are listed below by category and are in no particular order. A project will be considered more competitive for funding the more criteria that are met.

Local and Regional Impact Considerations

• Project supports the vision and goals stated in the local master plan, downtown plan, capital improvements plan and/or economic development strategy.
• Project supports region-wide economic development strategy or initiative.
• Readiness of infrastructure – utilities, housing, transportation, public transit and other community services. Is project filling available capacity or creating need for new community or state investments in infrastructure/resources?
• Located in a community participating in the Redevelopment Ready Communities program.
• Located in a designated Michigan Main Street community.
• Located in a Geographically Disadvantaged Area (GDA) 

Place Considerations

• Development maintains urban form that is zero-lot lined, pedestrian oriented, with integrated rear entry, or off-site parking, and/or includes the availability of transportation alternatives.
• Contributes to a traditionally dense mixed-use area and, where possible, contains multi-story elements. Development maintains district character, density, number of stories appropriate to its surroundings.
• Rehabilitation, infill and historic revitalization projects.
• Promotes mixed-income neighborhoods.
• Addresses improvement to non-motorized transportation.

Economic and Financial Considerations

The following financial conditions will be considered by staff when determining a project’s competitiveness for Build MI Community grant support:

• Availability of financing for the project
• Long-term financial viability of the project as demonstrated through project proforma
• Financial need for the project is exhibited

For more information - Check out the MEDC's webpage for this program! 

Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP)

The Michigan Business Development Program is available from the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF), in cooperation with MEDC. The program is designed to provide grants, loans or other economic assistance to businesses for highly competitive projects in Michigan that create jobs and/or provide investment.

• For more information, including eligibility requirements and program guidelines, view the Michigan Business Development Program fact sheet.
• For process documentation, view the MBDP process document.
• For program guidelines, view the MBDP guidelines document. 
• For more information read the MBDP expansion of program guidelines for strategic business growth projects. 

Jobs Ready Michigan 

The Jobs Ready Michigan program was created by the Michigan Strategic Fund to meet the talent needs of companies that are expanding or relocating to Michigan. The program is designed to be flexible and responsive to the specific talent needs of companies and to address the costs associated with recruiting and training individuals for occupations that are high-wage, high-skill, or high-demand.

Program awards may be used for a variety of activities related to talent recruitment and job training including, but not limited to, employee recruitment expenses, development of customized training development plans, instructor and training materials costs, purchase of equipment related to training, construction of training facilities, and on-the job training costs.

• For more information, view the Jobs Ready program guidelines. 

State Essential Services Assessment (SESA) Exemption and Alternative State Essential Services Incentive Programs

The State Essential Services Assessment is required for manufacturers that do not pay personal property tax on eligible manufacturing personal property. The MSF, in certain circumstances, may choose to exempt or reduce the Assessment for projects that create jobs and/or private investment in Michigan through the State Essential Services Assessment (SESA) Exemption or the Alternative State Essential Services Assessment Incentive.

• For more information, including eligibility requirements and review criteria, view the SESA fact sheet. 
• For program guidelines, view the SESA guidelines document.

Michigan Community Revitalization Program (MCRP)

MCRP is a program available from the MSF, in cooperation with MEDC, designed to promote community revitalization that will accelerate private investment in areas of historical disinvestment, contribute to Michigan’s reinvention as a vital, job-generating state, foster redevelopment of functionally obsolete or historic properties, reduce blight; and protect the natural resources of the state. 

• For more information, including eligibility requirements and program guidelines, view the Michigan Community Revitalization Program fact sheet. 
• For process documentation, view the MCRP process document.
• For program guidelines, view the MCRP guidelines document.