GREATER OMAHA BUSINESS INCENTIVES
Fuel Your Growth with Business-Friendly Incentives
Opportunity is more than a promise here — it’s a policy.
In Greater Omaha and across the region, business success is actively supported through a framework of programs designed to reward growth, innovation, and investment. Whether you’re launching a startup, scaling operations or exploring relocation options, our region is committed to making your decision easier and your outcomes stronger.
Our powerful business and tax incentives are available to help you do more with confidence, efficiency and impact.
Nebraska: Smart Incentives for Serious Growth
The ImagiNE Nebraska Act rewards growth with valuable tax benefits.
If your business meets specific investment and job creation thresholds at a qualifying location, you could unlock a powerful package of incentives including wage credits, investment tax credits, sales tax refunds and exemptions on personal and real property taxes.
It’s a smarter way to grow in Nebraska.
We Can Help You
Not sure how incentives will impact your business? The Greater Omaha Chamber’s economic development team can consult with you to calculate an incentive estimate.
Ready to start, expand or relocate a business in Greater Omaha?
Thriving companies drive our regional economy and help improve our quality of life. To encourage your success — and increase business, investment and employment throughout the region — the states of Nebraska and Iowa have implemented an array of business-friendly incentive programs.
Our comprehensive PDF guide breaks down everything including eligibility requirements, incentive amounts, tax credits, percentages and funding thresholds. It’s the go-to resource for qualifying businesses looking to maximize their benefits.
Additional Nebraska Programs and Benefits
- Sales tax exemption on manufacturing equipment, raw materials and utilities used in manufacturing
- No intangibles tax
- No inventory tax
- Sales tax refund on pollution control equipment
- No throwback rule
- 100% personal property tax depreciation schedules
Research and Development Advantage
Offers a refundable tax credit for qualified research and development activities undertaken by a business entity.
Capital Gains & Extraordinary Dividend Exclusion
Grants exemption from personal income tax on capital gains realized from selling or exchanging stock that has been acquired by an employee of that corporation.
Nebraska Worker Training Program
Administered by the Nebraska Department of Labor, this program provides grants to assist firms in the retraining and upgrading of skills for existing employees. The program is flexible and requires a match of at least one dollar of employer funds for each dollar of state funds.
Intern Nebraska Program (InterNE)
Connecting college students, junior and senior high school students and employers from across the state, InternNE provides an opportunity to co-invest in their future. The InternNE program offers financial assistance to companies creating new internship opportunities for high school and college students. Businesses can receive up to 50% reimbursement for the intern, up to $7,500 per internship.
Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) Economic Opportunity Program
Helping attract and sustain economic growth across the state, this program makes local grants for strategic transportation improvements that better connect businesses to Nebraska’s statewide, multi-modal transportation network.
Greater Omaha Foreign Trade Zone (No. 19)
Utilizing the Foreign Trade Zone allows companies to defer duty payments on imported foreign goods until they formally enter U.S. trading channels.
Additional Economic Development Incentives Available in Omaha
Tax Increment Financing (TIF)
TIF supports redevelopment in designated areas by allowing developers to finance eligible project costs through future increases in property taxes. This tool reduces financial risk and encourages investment in revitalizing older or underutilized parts of the city.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
PACE enables commercial property owners to fund energy efficiency and water conservation upgrades, with repayment made through special property tax assessments. This program promotes long-term savings and environmental sustainability for businesses.
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
CDBG funds assist businesses with commercial rehabilitation, job creation, and microenterprise support, focusing on projects that benefit low-income individuals or eliminate blight.
Iowa: Tax Relief and Workforce Support for Growing Businesses
Through a range of incentive programs, Iowa helps companies reduce costs, invest with confidence and accelerate job creation.
Whether you’re expanding operations or breaking new ground, the state offers meaningful support in the form of tax credits, training assistance and infrastructure investment.
Additional Nebraska Programs and Benefits
High Quality Jobs Program
Provides qualifying businesses with tax benefits and direct financial assistance to offset some of the costs incurred to locate, expand or modernize an Iowa facility.
Targeted Jobs Withholding Tax Credit Program
To create economic incentives that can be directed toward the growth and expansion of businesses located within Council Bluffs, the program allows the city to match employee personal income tax withholding funds paid by an employer.
Iowa Industrial New Jobs Training Program
Provides qualified new or expanding businesses with new employee training up to 50% of annual gross payroll costs expended for on-the-job training.
New Jobs Tax Credit
This one-time corporate income tax credit is available for businesses that expand their Iowa employment base by 10% or more.
Iowa Jobs Training Program
Provides forgivable loans to Iowa businesses to train existing workers.
Urban Revitalization
Within Council Bluffs, this program can eliminate or reduce property taxes for eligible economic development projects.
Tax Increment Financing
Utilized to refund or divert a portion of property taxes to help finance development.