Expanding, renovating, or relocating your business? Learn how a SMART approach helps companies capture often-missed incentives—like property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions, and utility savings—to boost ROI, improve cash flow, and avoid timing mistakes that can disqualify projects.
Learn how a Nebraska-based manufacturer secured over $900K in incentives as they expanded operations into Iowa.
Manufacturers often expand operations without realizing that manufacturing tax incentives and economic development incentives may be available to offset the cost of growth. One Midwest manufacturing company discovered this firsthand when a planned expansion turned into $2.3 million in incentives without changing its business strategy.
Discover the tax incentives for businesses most companies overlook in 2026—and take the first step with a brief discovery conversation.
Alt Construction secured Whitestown, Indiana, property tax abatements and incentives for a $5M expansion project—achieving $422,205 in property tax savings and reduced tax liability.
A manufacturer specializing in injury prevention and patient positioning products sought assistance for its headquarters relocation and subsequent expansion in Indianapolis.
In a shifting tax world, location decisions, incentives negotiation, and post-award compliance are more central than ever.
Host Tim LeMasters and guest Ben Worrell, MBA, discuss the critical role of timing in capturing incentives and credits for businesses that are expanding, relocating, or investing in new facilities.
This electrical contractor had plans to expand. McGuire Sponsel helped negotiate a tax abatement that will save the company tax payments over the next 10 years.
Our Location Advisory team secured local incentives totaling 10% of project budgets for multifamily housing developments in Wichita, KS—accelerating approvals, maximizing ROI, and supporting community revitalization.
Expansion, Renovation, or Relocation Incentives Most Companies Miss
Expanding your footprint is a big move. Whether you’re expanding, renovating, or relocating, the focus usually lands on construction cost, timelines, operational disruption, and execution. Budgets get tightened, timelines get scrutinized, and every dollar matters.
Incentives can dramatically increase ROI, sometimes by six or even seven figures. The problem isn’t availability. It’s awareness. What sets a good expansion apart from a great one is how well you use resources beyond just your finances.
A SMART approach can turn a standard expansion into a significantly more valuable one. Here’s how to approach real estate expansion strategically:
Every Expansion Has a Story
Maybe you’re adding 35,000 square feet, upgrading equipment, or moving operations to a more strategic location. Incentives are highly targeted and designed around very specific triggers – job creation, capital investments, redevelopment areas, or energy upgrades. The more precise your plan, the more dollars you can unlock.
Incentives Follow Measurable Performance
The clearer you can quantify your investment—jobs created, dollars invested, and pace of growth—the easier it is to unlock incentive value. Incentive programs are built around measurable outcomes, so specificity strengthens your position. The more defined your numbers, the more confidently you can pursue and secure meaningful benefits.
Alignment is Often Overlooked
Most companies assume incentives are reserved for massive corporations or Fortune 500 companies. That’s simply not true. Mid-sized expansions, renovations, and even relocations often qualify – especially when aligned with local economic priorities. If you’re investing capital, creating jobs, or improving a facility, there is a strong chance you qualify for something. The key is knowing where to look and how to position your project.
Turning Incentives Into a Cost Reduction Strategy
This is where incentives stop being a bonus and start becoming a strategy. Property tax abatements, sales tax exemptions on construction materials, utility cost reductions – these aren’t small wins. They directly impact your upfront cost and long-term operating expenses. When structured correctly, incentives don’t just reduce spend. They improve cash flow during the most critical phase of expansion.
Timing is Everything
This is where most companies miss the opportunity. In many states, missing the timing window can completely disqualify a project because incentives must be secured before construction begins or leases are signed. Companies that plan early don’t just qualify—they put themselves in a stronger position to negotiate more favorable packages!
Where SMART Thinking Maximizes ROI
Real Estate expansion will always require capital, but how efficiently you deploy that capital is entirely within your control. The companies that consistently outperform aren’t just focused on building or moving – they take a SMART approach, maximizing every available advantage. Incentives aren’t just there for the taking. They’re there for the companies that know where to look and act early enough to capture them.
If you’re expanding, renovating, or relocating, start early and take advantage of every program that is applicable to your capital growth investments.
That’s how expansion turns into an advantage.
BOOM!
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Chad Collier
Chad Collier is a Relationship Manager for our Location Advisory Services practice. He is a long-standing member of the business and real estate communities, having served them for over 25 years. Chad builds partnerships across the Midwest with leading commercial real estate brokers, developers, attorneys, and bankers.
Recent Resources
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Location Advisory ServicesFebruary 25, 2026
The Most Overlooked Tax Savings in 2026: Credits and Incentives
by Chad CollierDiscover the tax incentives for businesses most companies overlook in 2026—and take the first step with a brief discovery conversation.
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Location Advisory ServicesJanuary 7, 2026
Indiana Business Relocation Incentives for Healthcare Manufacturer
byA manufacturer specializing in injury prevention and patient positioning products sought assistance for its headquarters relocation and subsequent expansion in...
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Location Advisory ServicesDecember 19, 2025
Site Selection & Incentives in 2026
by Justin Gephart, Ben Worrell, MBA, & Chad CollierIn a shifting tax world, location decisions, incentives negotiation, and post-award compliance are more central than ever.
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Location Advisory ServicesNovember 21, 2025
The 90-Day Rule: Timing Is Everything in Location Advisory
by Tim LeMasters & Ben Worrell, MBAHost Tim LeMasters and guest Ben Worrell, MBA, discuss the critical role of timing in capturing incentives and credits for...




