Cornerstone Alliance
38 W. Wall Steet, P.O. Box 428
Benton Harbor, MI 49023-0428
269.925.6100
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Incentives

Consider the equation...

Tax Free Zones + Low Business Costs = Favorable Business Climate

That's doing business in Michigan's Great Southwest!

Newcomers to our business community can look forward to being greeted with open arms. Cooperative governmental bodies work with local businesses to facilitate expansion and relocation to our area. The team at Cornerstone Alliance will work with you to find what incentives your company may be eligible for by working with our partners at the state and local level.

We offer outstanding community and state incentives to make your location here an easy decision!

Michigan's Great Southwest along with our partners at the State of Michigan can provide a variety of Incentivesincentives that focus on job creation, employee training and tax abatements such as Tax Free Renaissance Zones, Michigan Economic Growth Authority Tax Credits, Economic Development Job Training Funds, Youth Apprenticeship Tax Credits, Technology Transfer Programs, Emerging Technologies Matching Funds, and more.  Michigan's Great Southwest consistently maintains a business environment where costs are reasonable and profitability is high.

Available Land and Buildings
Locally, strong public/private partnerships allow the community to offer free land to businesses interested in coming to the area.  These unique partnerships also allow the community to offer unique build-to suit opportunities and attractive lease rates for existing facilities.  High-tech office space is available throughout our community, and incentive based lease rates are in place.  Whatever your facility's needs are, we have the plan that's right for you.

Infrastructure Development Assistance
The state of Michigan, through various state and federal programs can provide public infrastructure assistance to communities for activities that range from road construction to wastewater treatment to rail access to industrial sites.  These programs are administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Department of Transportation.  Grants generally cover 50%-90% of public infrastructure development costs and up to 50% of eligible rail costs.

Possible Tax Incentives

  • MEGA Credits. MEGA (Michigan Economic Growth Alliance) is a cutting-edge program, which gives powerful incentive, including an abatement of Michigan Business Tax, and credits for job creation for up to 20 years.
  • Property Tax Abatements. Michigan communities can abate up to 50% of local property taxes for up to 12 years.  The state can provide up to a 6-mil reduction in property taxes for up to 12 years, depending on the impact on local tax base and job creation.
  • Renaissance Zones. Businesses and residents locating in these areas will be exempt from state and local taxes for up to 10 years.  These taxes will be phased back in during the last three years, in 25% increments.
  • Michigan Business Tax. The Michigan Business Tax (SBT) provides a capital acquisition deduction for real and personal property used in the production process which may be carried forward for up to ten years. For capital intensive and high tech companies, this can mean that the company could have no SBT liability for the first years of operation. Recent changes in the law have also decreased the SBT rate and expected legislation will reduce the base on which this value added tax is calculated by exempting some employee costs.

In addition to the incentives listed above, in Michigan's Great Southwest you will find low construction costs and utility rates below the state and national average.

For additional information on the incentives, available in Michigan's Great Southwest, please click here. (1,453 KB) Small PDF Icon