Don’t Miss the Cherry on Top: Incentives That Sweeten the Deal for Your Clients

Think of a business expansion project like building a perfect sundae. You start with a solid base, add layers of investment, sprinkle in new jobs or equipment, and ideally, finish it off with something extra—something that makes the whole thing even better. That’s where incentives come in. For many companies, state and local incentive programs are the cherry on top that make a good project even sweeter.

Incentives Can Be a Game Changer

When clients are investing in new facilities, growing their workforce, or launching new projects, the focus is often on financing, tax impact, or market timing. But there’s a critical piece many overlook: What incentive opportunities might be available to support this investment?

Consider a recent example in the food manufacturing space. One ice cream producer decided to expand its operations in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The project added 100,000 square feet to their facility and created 15 new jobs. With the right guidance, they secured a $2.2 million incentive award to support the expansion, covering both real and personal property investments.

A Cool Approach to Cold Storage

Another client—a cold storage facility built underground to take advantage of natural cooling—was planning to add 63 new employees as part of an expansion. They brought in McGuire Sponsel to evaluate the incentive landscape and guide them through the application and negotiation process. The result? More than $700,000 awarded through the state’s job creation program.

Programs like this often have minimum requirements, such as a set number of new roles and average wage thresholds. But with the right strategy and timing, the benefits can be substantial.

What Might Your Clients Be Leaving on the Table?

These stories are just two examples from industries where incentives can make a real impact. Whether your clients are in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, or real estate, there’s a good chance opportunities exist to offset costs and improve project ROI.

Ask yourself:

• Are any of your clients planning a facility expansion or relocation?
• Are they investing in equipment or infrastructure?
• Do they operate in an industry that states are actively working to grow?

If the answer is yes, they could be eligible for incentive dollars—and the earlier these conversations happen, the better the outcome.

Bring Incentives into the Conversation

McGuire Sponsel’s Location Advisory Services team works with companies to uncover, secure, and maintain incentive benefits. From site selection and application support to negotiation and compliance, we help ensure clients don’t leave value behind.

Before your clients finalize plans or break ground, it’s worth asking: Is there a cherry on top we haven’t considered yet?