Lenawee Now
Facilitating Incentives and More
Lenawee Now plays a central role in helping businesses in Lenawee County find, apply for and access incentive programs. We also support business growth, talent development and community economic health.
Our Toolbox of Resources: from loans and financing (revolving loan fund, USDA micro-loans) to helping businesses navigate state incentives, Lenawee Now coordinates with state and local economic development partners, regional education providers, workforce training organizations and private investors to connect businesses with capital, talent and support.
Start Up’s and Entrepreneurs
Through the Entrepreneur Series and related initiatives, Lenawee Now works to help individuals turn business ideas into operations.
Innovation | Research and Development
Lenawee Now leverages the Adrian-Tecumseh SmartZone and MEDC Gateway Program to provide access to infrastructure, incubator space, business acceleration resources and potentially R&D-driven incentives.
Redevelopment Repurposing
Lenawee Now helps make the redevelopment and repurposing of underused properties viable for businesses investing in older sites.
Workforce Development
Lenawee Now partners with workforce-training organizations, to ensure businesses in Lenawee have access to skilled employees and that residents have access to opportunities.
Lenawee Now
Our Role
Lenawee Now works with Start Up’s and existing companies looking to Innovate through R&D, to Redevelop or Repurpose Space and in need of Workforce Development.
Types of Taxes and Incentives Available in Lenawee County
Property-Tax Abatements and Exemptions
Businesses classified as industrial processors, high-technology activity companies, R&D labs, etc., may qualify for a 50% reduction in certain real property taxes on new investment, for up to 12 years (negotiated at the municipal level).
For new warehousing, distribution and logistics facilities in a border county, eligible facilities (meeting use and size criteria) may qualify for up to a 50% real-property tax reduction.
Obsolete Property Exemption helps businesses redevelop older, blighted or functionally obsolete buildings by freezing the taxable value for up to 12 years — so improvements don’t immediately raise property taxes.
Under the Commercial Rehabilitation Act commercial properties 15+ years old may be eligible for tax abatements by freezing the taxable value and only taxing the new investment value.
Special State-Level Business Incentives / Grants / Funding
Michigan Business Development Program (MBDP) — supports “highly competitive” business projects that create qualified new jobs and/or make qualified new investments. Businesses in Lenawee may be eligible if they meet the criteria.
For technology-driven start-ups: through the regional network, businesses may access early-stage capital from funds like Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund, which supports high-tech start-ups as they near commercial viability.
Tax-exempt Private Activity Bonds are low-interest bonds available to manufacturing businesses and non-profits allowing financing for expansion or capital intensive projects at favorable rates.
Financing / Loans and Micro-Loans
Lenawee County Business Revolving Loan Fund provides loans to help businesses start, grow, expand facilities, purchase equipment, inventory, real estate, etc.
For small projects: there’s also a USDA-backed loan program via Lenawee Now for micro-financing, often for businesses that can’t access traditional bank loans.
Redevelopment Incentives
Through the Lenawee County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (BRA), businesses can receive help in redeveloping eligible brownfield / blighted / underused properties often via Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or other tools.
Energy-Efficiency Financing
The county (via certain participating municipalities like the (City of Adrian) participates in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) which lets commercial property owners finance energy or water efficiency improvements. This can reduce operating costs and support capital upgrades.
CONTACT Lenawee Now!
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