Utilities & Incentives for Businesses in Central Wisconsin

TAX CREDITS

Business Development & Enterprise Zone Refundable Tax Credit Programs

Support job creation, retention, capital investment and training. These refundable tax credits reduce a company’s state income tax liability or provide a refund creating a valuable incentive. (application required).

LOCAL

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

Wisconsin legislation allows for TIF as a financing option for a municipality to fund infrastructure and other improvements, through property tax revenue on newly developed property. A municipality identifies an area, the Tax Incremental District (TID}, as appropriate for a certain type of development.

Other – Local incentives vary based on municipality.

Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) Program

Provides matching state grants to governing bodies for road, rail, harbor, and airport projects that help attract employers to Wisconsin or encourage business and industry to remain and expand in the state.

Wisconsin Fast Forward Training Program

Awards funds to businesses from all Wisconsin industry sectors that reimburse the costs of customized occupational training for unemployed, underemployed, and incumbent workers. The customized, business-driven training will qualify workers for full-time employment, higher level employment, or increased wages.

Workforce Advancement Training (WAT) Grants

The Wisconsin Technical College System provides funds to support employers in their efforts to retain and advance the skills of their existing workforce and help offset customized training costs.

Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit

Equal to 7.5% of qualified production activities income generated in Wisconsin. For corporations, the credit effectively reduces the tax rate on manufacturing income in Wisconsin to zero. If no taxes are due, this tax credit is refundable.

Research and Development Credit

The State of Wisconsin offers a Research Credit, modeled after IRC § 41, that equals 5.75% of the excess Qualified Research Expenditures (QREs) over the base amount (50% of the prior 3 years’ QREs).

• 5.75% of QRE that exceed 50% of the last 3-year average
• 11.50% for designing energy efficient lighting systems, building automation and control systems, or automotive batteries for use in hybrid-electric vehicles
• Qualified research expenses are those eligible for the federal research credit (supplies, wages, and 65% paid to others for contract research services) and conducted in Wisconsin
• Up to 15% of the credit may be refunded, if no tax liability
• Credit may be shared with other corporations that file a Wisconsin combined corporate tax return.

(from state and local sales and use tax of 5-5.5%)

Machinery and Equipment used in Manufacturing

The purchase and use of machines and specific processing equipment used by a manufacturer

Fuel and Electricity used in Manufacturing

The purchase and use of fuel and electricity used in manufacturing tangible personal property

Qualified Research and Biotechnology

The purchase and use of machinery and equipment, including attachments, parts, and accessories, and other tangible personal property used exclusively and directly in qualified research for a business that is either engaged in manufacturing (in a building assessed as a manufacturing building for property tax purposes), or primarily engaged In biotechnology in Wisconsin.

Property Tax Exemption for Manufacturing Equipment:

Machinery and equipment used In the manufacturing process, as well as                                                            computer hardware and software, are exempt from personal property tax.

Central Wisconsin’s utility providers offer remarkably affordable rates and a wealth of available capacity. This makes our region an excellent choice for companies with significant utility needs, from food processors to manufacturers, tech startups and many others.

ADAMS COUNTY

Electricity: Adams-Columbia Elect. Coop
Electricity: Alliant Energy
Natural Gas: We Energies
Broadband: Frontier
Broadband: Solarus

 

LINCOLN COUNTY

Water/Wastewater: City of Merrill
Electricity: Wisconsin Public Service
Natural Gas: Wisconsin Public Service
Broadband: Spectrum (Charter Communications)
Broadband: Frontier

MARATHON COUNTY

Water/Wastewater: Wausau Utilities
Electricity: Alliant Energy
Electricity: Wisconsin Public Service
Broadband: TDS
Broadband: Spectrum (Charter Communications)
Broadband: Frontier

PORTAGE COUNTY

Water/Waster: Village of Plover
Electricity: Wisconsin Public Service
Electricity: Adams Columbia Electric
Electricity: Alliant Energy
Electricity: Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative
Natural Gas: Wisconsin Public Service
Natural Gas: We Energies
Broadband: TDS
Broadband: Solarus
Broadband: Amherst Telephone Company

WOOD COUNTY

Water/Wasterwater: Marshfield Utilities
Water/Wasterwater: Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting
Electricity: Marshfield Utilities
Electricity: Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting
Electricity: Alliant Energy
Electricity: Wisconsin Public Service
Natural Gas: We Energies
Broadband: TDS
Broadband: Solarus
Broadband: Spectrum (Charter Communications)
Broadband: Frontier