How Credits & Incentives Follow Business Growth

In this episode of Let’s Talk Tax, TJ Sponsel sits down with Chad Collier to discuss how tax credits and economic incentives can support business expansion, relocation, redevelopment, and capital investment projects.

The conversation explores common misconceptions around incentive eligibility, including why many small and mid-sized businesses assume they are “too small” to qualify. TJ and Chad explain how companies can preserve leverage by engaging early in the site selection and exploratory phase before committing to a location, filing permits, or beginning construction.

They break down the difference between statutory and discretionary incentives, discuss how state and local governments evaluate projects, and explain why flexibility in location decisions can materially impact available savings. The episode also covers common incentive tools such as property tax abatements, tax increment financing (TIF), job creation credits, low-interest financing, equipment financing, and workforce training grants.

TJ and Chad also highlight one of the most overlooked aspects of incentive deals: compliance and reporting. Without proper follow-through after project approval, businesses may fail to realize negotiated savings.

Topics discussed include:

• Tax credits and incentives for business expansion
• Site selection strategy and location advisory
• State and local economic development incentives
• Property tax abatements and TIF incentives
• Job creation and capital investment credits
• Timing and leverage in incentive negotiations
• Statutory vs. discretionary incentives
• Incentive compliance and reporting requirements
• Real-world incentive project examples and ROI benchmarks

Examples discussed include:

• A $2.3M manufacturing project that secured approximately $230K in incentives
• An $8.5M expansion project that generated nearly $1M in tax abatements and incentive savings