Resources

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GFW will provide information and links

Grants & Incentives

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Local Incentives

Property Tax Phase-ins (aka Tax Abatements)

Tax phase-ins give local government the option of allowing certain businesses to phase in those new taxes that would otherwise be assessed to their property because of new building construction or the purchase of equipment used for manufacturing, research and development, logistical distribution, agriculture, and information technology.

Eligible Vacant Building Deductions

If a commercial or industrial building that has sat 100 percent vacant for a year or longer becomes occupied, the owner/occupant can apply for the eligible vacant building property tax deduction. Documentation must be provided proving that the building has been unoccupied, but actively marketed for sale or lease, for at least a year. The deduction is 100 percent of existing real property taxes for year one and a 50-percent deduction in year two.

Tax Increment Financing

TIF districts are established through redevelopment commissions. New taxes generated as a result of development in the TIF may be used as debt service on bonds issued for the purpose of developments and improvements in the area. Proceeds from the bonds may be used to construct public improvements on roads, sewers, etc.

Northeast Indiana Works

Northeast Indiana Works connects with various state and federal agencies offer grants and incentives to businesses to help train workers. Northeast Indiana Works can also assist with hiring a skilled workforce for companies that are expanding operations.

Facade Grants

Businesses located within the Downtown Improvement District or within an Economic Development Target Area can apply for facade grants from the City of Fort Wayne. They are matching grants worth up to $20,000. Property owners must work with city planning staff to make sure facade improvements meet certain guidelines.

Low-Interest Loans

The Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana facilitates five loan programs for new and existing businesses interrelated with job creation. These programs can fund a variety of business expenses including building purchase, renovation or construction, equipment, and working capital, ranging in size from a few thousand dollars up to $5.5 million on the CDC portion of the project.

Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED)

Administered by Fort Wayne’s Urban Enterprise Association, SEED focuses on programs that support entrepreneurship, innovation, technology development, and small business development. To support these initiatives, grant money up to $1 million is available annually for five years and is funded by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. SEED also offers tax incentives (Investment Deduction of 100 percent up to 10 years, Abatement Deductions for Vacant Buildings, and Personal Property Assessed Value Floor Exemption) to businesses locating in the SEED boundaries. The boundaries of the district are in the heart of the community, along the railroad corridor that runs from east to west just south of downtown. The district also includes several urban corridors.

Foreign Trade Zone #182

The Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program operates in a 12-county region in northeast Indiana. Any company within this area can apply to be a FTZ Operator, allowing it to defer or even void payment of import duties, and often enjoy a lower tariff rate. Restrictions, limitations and regulations regarding how much merchandise can be brought into the country are eased or eliminated as long as the merchandise remains in the FTZ.

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State Incentives

Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Tax Credits

This is a refundable tax credit program that rewards companies for creating jobs and contributing to the growth of Indiana’s economy. EDGE credits are calculated as a percentage of payroll tax withholding for net new Indiana jobs. EDGE credits may be awarded for a period of up to 20 years.

Hoosier Business Investment (HBI) Tax Credits

This program encourages capital investment in Indiana by providing a credit against a company’s Indiana tax liability. The credit amount is based on a company’s qualified capital investment with the final credit amount determined by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, based on an analysis of the economic benefits of the proposed investment.

Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF)

The Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF) provides financial assistance to businesses committed to training their workforce. Trainees must be Indiana residents. SEF reimburses eligible training expenses over a two-year term. Companies may reapply for additional SEF funds after their initial two-year term. IEDC typically does not provide reimbursement for training that is required by law.

Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CReED) Tax Credits

Community Revitalization Enhancement District (CReED) Tax Credits are available to taxpayers that make qualified investments for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of property located within a revitalization district. Only those projects that the IEDC expects to have a positive return on investment will be considered. Eligible costs include acquisition, rehabilitation, architectural and engineering services, environmental remediation, construction management and demolition.

Redevelopment Tax Credit

The Redevelopment Tax Credit incentivizes redevelopment of distressed properties. To be eligible for the credit, the taxpayer must make a qualified investment (approved by the IEDC) in the redevelopment, rehabilitation, or betterment of real property located within a qualified redevelopment site. A qualified redevelopment site can be composed of vacant or underutilized property. The amount of credit that may be awarded is up to 30% of the total cost of the project. Projects that qualify for New Markets Tax Credits or that are located in a designated Opportunity Zone may be eligible for an additional 5% credit.

Patent Income Exemptions

Patent Tax Exemptions allow certain income derived from qualified patents to be exempt from taxation. The Tax Exemption for Patent-Derived Income defines qualified patents to include only utility patents and plant patents. The total amount of exemptions claimed by a taxpayer in a taxable year may not exceed $5 million.

Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credits

Research & Development credits provide a credit against state tax liability for qualified company research expenses.

Film and Media Tax Credit Tax

The Film and Media Tax Credit is available to taxpayers for qualified media production expenditures in Indiana. Qualified media production includes feature-length film, television series or program, music production, and digital media production. The credit may not exceed 30% of the taxpayer’s qualified production expenditures.

Elevate Ventures

Elevate Ventures is a private venture development organization that nurtures and develops emerging and existing high-potential businesses into high-performing, Indiana-based companies. Elevate Ventures accomplishes this by providing access to capital, rigorous business analysis, and robust advisory services that connect companies with the right mix of resources businesses need to succeed long term.

Next Level Jobs

Next Level Jobs is a campaign that targets working-age Hoosiers and Indiana employers with the goal of skilling up our workforce to fill the high-wage jobs available right now in every part of the state. The Employer Training Grant can provide training reimbursement up to $5,000 for each new employee that is trained, hired, and retained for six months. The Workforce Ready Grant provides free training for Hoosiers in the state’s highest-demand jobs.

Data Center Sales Tax Exemption

The Data Center Gross Retail and Use Tax Exemption provides a sales and use tax exemption on purchases of qualifying data center equipment and energy to operators of a qualified data center for a period not to exceed 25 years for data center investments of less than $750 million. If the investment exceeds $750 million, the IEDC may award an exemption for up to 50 years. This program is established by Indiana Code § 6-2.5-15. Local governments may also provide a personal property tax exemption on qualified enterprise information technology equipment to owners of a data center who invest at least $25 million in real and personal property in the facility.

 

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Entrepreneurship

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Coworking, Coaching, and Programming Resources

Northeast Indiana Innovation Center

The NIIC is the region’s “one-stop shop” for all entrepreneurial services: business development, access to capital, product innovation and commercialization services, marketing, research, training, mentoring, and coaching.

Northeast Indiana SBDC

Northeast Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) provides entrepreneurs expert guidance in a variety of areas including planning, government registration, market analysis, advertising, exports, government contracting, and more.

SCORE Fort Wayne

Our local chapter is platinum certified and has 50+ active mentors. SCORE offers free business mentoring, workshops, and numerous templates and tools for stating or growing a business.

NEIN Venture Hub

Whether you’ve got an idea or are growing your empire, this hub is an inclusive, accessible place that brings together the entrepreneurial resources and support to help you reach your goals. Welcome to your NEIN Venture Hub!

SEED Fort Wayne

The Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) is an affiliate of the City of Fort Wayne and encompasses approximately seven square miles. SEED provides businesses in the district with personal property and property tax benefits to promote private investment in the urban core and commercial corridors. It also operates the Enterprise Center, an office and light manufacturing co-working space, provides programming like the Build Institute, and offers grant opportunities to SEED businesses.

Start Fort Wayne

Located downtown, Start Fort Wayne is building a thriving entrepreneur and high-growth tech community in northeast Indiana. Start Fort Wayne fosters startups by providing collaborative workspace (The Atrium) and educational programming.

Funding

Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana

The Community Development Corporation of Northeast Indiana (CDC) is a City of Fort Wayne sponsored non-profit that provides alternative financing options to new and existing small business owners.

Fortitude Fund

The goal of the Fortitude Fund is to create an entrepreneurial culture in northeast Indiana that welcomes new ideas and encourages you to dream bigger. Fortitude provides small grants to early-stage companies.

Elevate Ventures

Elevate Ventures invest in high-potential cross-sector innovative companies (with a minimum $500M Total Addressable Market) at the pre-seed, seed, and early stages.

Brightpoint

As Northeast Indiana’s largest CDFI (Community Development Finance Institute), The Brightpoint Development Fund creates economic opportunities for communities, families, and individuals who lack access to affordable capital and financial services.

Partners of Greater Fort Wayne Inc.

Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority

Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership

Northeast Indiana Works

Northeast Indiana Foreign Trade Zone

Indiana Economic Development Corporation

Data Tools

Allen County GIS Portal

STATS Indiana

Hoosiers by the Numbers – Allen County

Hoosiers by the Numbers – Northeast Indiana (EGR 3)

Business Advocacy & Elected Officials

These links can guide you through government agencies and departments.

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Local government links

State government information

Federal government links

Local Contacts

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Allen County Board of Commissioners

Citizens Square, Suite 410
200 East Berry Street

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Phone: (260) 449-7555

Allen County Council

Rousseau Centre, Suite 102
1 East Main Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Phone: (260) 449-7241
Fax: (260) 449-7679

City of Fort Wayne – Mayor

Citizens Square, Suite 420
200 E. Berry St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Phone: (260) 427-1111

Northeast Indiana Legislative Delegation

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Indiana State Senate

House of Representatives

Federal Contacts

Senator Jim Banks

TBD

Sen. Todd Young

1300 South Harrison Street, Suite 3161

Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Representative Marlin Stutzman – 3rd District

TBD