Incentives

Certified Shovel Ready Sites

Time is money. We understand. Our 88 certified and shovel ready acres are ideal for businesses, commercial and industrial, looking to relocate or expand. We’ve done all the due diligence for you, streamlined permitting approvals and put all the necessary infrastructure in place to get your operations up and running. Our sites are easily accessible, and all utilities are in place including water, sewer, electric, natural gas and fiber. Our goal is to save you time and headaches. We are ready to go!


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Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC)

You need work-ready employees. As a Certified Work Ready Community, our educators and employers work together to identify gaps in skills, create career pathways specific to our region, train workers and supply a qualified talent pool. Washington County employers voluntarily submit to the initiative and enjoy the benefits by endorsing the National Career Readiness Certificate program. This program matches job candidates to employers in need of their specific skills.

Enhanced Enterprise Zone

Washington County has met the guidelines for designation as an Enhanced Enterprise Zone. This allows new and expanding industries certain property tax breaks and access to state tax credits in exchange for job creation and investment here.

Click here for information on how it works.

Eligible companies must operate under the following North American Industrial Classification Codes (NAICS): 



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11 – Ag, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

21 – Mining

22 – Utilities

23 – Construction

31-33 – Manufacturing

42 – Wholesale

48-49 – Transportation and Warehousing

51 – Information

52 – Finance and Insurance

53 – Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

54 – Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

55 – Management of Companies and Enterprises

56 – Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services

62 – Health Care and Social Assistance

71 – Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, excluding gaming operations

72 – Accommodations except Food and Drinking Places

81 – Other Services except Religious organizations

By section 348.015 (14) of the RSMo:
Value-added agricultural products
By section 135.950 (9) (b) of the RSMo: (9)

Financial Resources

It always comes down to dollars.

While we know Washington County is one of the most affordable places to do business in the United States, a growing economy requires significant investment capital. Choosing Washington County means you will have access to financial counselors and experts who can walk you through a variety of funding options.  

We are very proud of our partnerships with local community banks, Missouri Department of Economic Development, Meramec Regional Planning Commission, and Southeast Economic Development Fund, Inc.  which may provide SBA Loans, revolving loan funds or localized business grants.  

Our partnership with Ameren Missouri may also qualify your business for discounted rates on utilities through the Economic Development Energy Incentive program. 

And businesses may qualify for financing through the New Market Tax Credits Program.

Washington County even offers an in-house grant program. 

Whether you need a small business loan with low rates and long-term advantages or a large federal grant, we have options and people to help.

Missouri Works

Missouri Works is an economic development program designed to support companies considering Missouri as a place to locate and/or grow their business. The program offers a mix of automatic and discretionary benefits in the form of 100% retention of state withholding tax, and/or refundable, transferable, sellable tax credits for qualified companies that choose Missouri as a place to invest and create jobs.

Missouri Partnership. (n.d.)Missouri Works. Retrieved from: https://www.missouripartnership.com/why-missouri/incentive-programs/



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Opportunity Zone

Savvy business investors love this.

Designed to encourage long-term investment and job creation in low-income communities, the federal OPPORTUNITY Zone Program allows for the deferral and partial exemption of capital gains invested in Washington County.  By choosing to build or expand business here, your investment may qualify for this cost saving incentive. 

Click here for information on how it works.

Map of Opportunity Zone

Opportunity Zone