INCENTIVES

Work Ready Muskogee: Ready. Set. Move.

Port Muskogee’s workforce effort together with The City of Muskogee Foundation is investing in talent for Muskogee area companies. If an organization has a hard to fill position within Muskogee County or creates a new position with the qualifying NAICS codes and pays more than $110% of the Muskogee average county wage, the recruit could be eligible for a one-time $10,000.00 stipend to purchase or build a home in the city limits of Muskogee.

Exempt qualifying companies from taxation on goods, wares, and merchandise that come from outside Oklahoma and then leave the state within nine months, only if such goods, wares, and merchandise are held within Oklahoma for assembly, storage, manufacturing, processing or fabricating purposes.

A Housing and Urban Development program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique development needs.

All of Muskogee County falls within the classification of “Former Indian Reservation Lands.” The incentive allows for accelerated depreciation of property or tax employment credits for employing tribal members or their spouses. For most depreciable property, the recovery period is accelerated by approximately 40%. The maximum credit per employee per year is $4,000.

Opportunity Zones are an economic development tool that allows people to invest in distressed areas in the United States. Their purpose is to spur economic growth and job creation in low-income communities while providing tax benefits to investors. Opportunity Zones were created under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Muskogee County has several qualifying census tracts designated as Qualified Opportunity Zones. Taxpayers can invest in these zones through Qualified Opportunity Funds. New Market Tax Credits – allows eligible investors to qualify for tax credits of 39% on an investment over a period of seven years.

To spur private investment in low-income urban and rural communities, investors receive 39% federal tax credit.

All of Muskogee County, Oklahoma, falls within the classification of the “Historically Underutilized Business Zone.” HubZone certified small businesses receive federal contracting assistance through the U.S. Small Business Administration HUBZone Program. Benefits for companies include competitive and sole source contracting, a 10% price evaluation preference in full and open contract competitions, as well as subcontract opportunities. For more information, visit sba.gov/hubzone.

The United States EB-5 visa, employment-based fifth preference category or EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, created in 1990 by the Immigration Act of 1990, provides a method for eligible Immigrant Investors to become lawful permanent residents — informally known as “green card” holders — by investing at least $1,000,000 to finance a business in the United States that will employ at least 10 American workers.” Most immigrant investors who use the EB-5 program invest in a targeted employment area — a rural area or area with high unemployment — which lowers the investment threshold to $500,000. The EB-5 program is intended to encourage both “foreign investments and economic growth”. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program is one of five employment-based preference programs in the United States.

The Oklahoma Bid Assistance Network (OBAN) at Indian Capital Technology Center is one of Oklahoma’s statewide Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) resource providers. PTAP providers are a local resource available at no cost that can aid business firms in marketing products and services to federal, state, and local governments.

The Greater Muskogee Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving as a voice and resource for business as well as cultivating economic growth. The Chamber’s programming and events help small businesses connect and grow in Muskogee.

Port Muskogee staff works closely with the state’s agency dedicated to economic development, The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC). The agency leads effort to encourage investment, and economic prosperity to the state of Oklahoma. Through dynamic partnerships and innovative collaborations with companies, universities, not-for-profit organizations, and government leaders, ODOC is building a business environment that supports growth and shared community prosperity.

OKSBDC advises business owners in many areas including financial analysis, capital sources, business planning, operations, industry research, international trade, commercial finance, human resources, accounting, competitive market studies, import/export assistance, government contracting opportunities, information technology and economic and business data modeling and analysis.

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is there to support and offer assistance where needed in any stage of business. From their nationally known mentorship program to their regular educational opportunities, SCORE advocates for small businesses every day.

The Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance is a support group, advocate, and resource base for small manufacturers in the state of Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma New Product Development Center (NPDC) assists Oklahoma companies with their manufacturing, product development, processes, and provides business analysis services to complement the product development process and guide the marketing communications campaigns created for companies.

The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST) was established by the Oklahoma legislature to help grow and diversify the state’s economy through technology development, technology transfer and technology commercialization. OCAST funds basic research, applied research and internships through the Oklahoma Health Research, Oklahoma Applied Research Support, Plant Science and Faculty and Student Intern Partnerships programs.

Building a more equitable economy through entrepreneurship. StitchCrew is not focused on helping the next big unicorn. We’d rather help hundreds of diverse entrepreneurs learn the basics of how to scale sustainably while connecting them to an extended network so they can gain leverage.

Innovation, Technology & Entrepreneurship (INTENT) is a Tulsa-based initiative of the Tom Love Innovation Hub. INTENT offers a variety of programs to inspire, train, mentor, support and challenge you. Explore below to learn more about the programs we offer and how you can participate.