GO Topeka revamps small-business incentives
With a new online application, updated review process and additional incentive categories introduced this year, GO Topeka is streamlining its Small Business Incentives Program, ensuring greater economic impact for the community.
The Small Business Incentives Program is one of GO Topeka’s key tools for creating sustainable, inclusive economic prosperity for residents of Topeka and Shawnee County. The various incentives within the program are designed to encourage small-business activity aimed at business growth, creation and sustainability.
“With a range of grants available, the program incentivizes small-business investment in marketing, equipment, construction and so much more,” said Laurie Pieper, vice president of entrepreneurship and small business for GO Topeka. “Small businesses are a vital part of our local economy. We hope these recent updates to our incentives help those forward-thinking small businesses thrive well into the future, strengthening our community and bolstering the Topeka, Shawnee County economy.”
New incentive categories this year include several related to innovation, commercialization and exports, encouraging local small businesses to pursue innovative, growth-oriented concepts. Changes were also made to the marketing incentive and architecture-and-design incentive. In addition, GO Topeka for the first time is introducing an online application process, new application requirements and a quarterly review process. Up to $300,000 in incentives is expected to be awarded in 2022.
“Here at GO Topeka, we’re always looking for ways to improve our processes and heighten the local economic impact our programs have,” said Molly Howey, president of GO Topeka. “Laurie’s efforts to revamp the Small Business Incentives Program are a great example of that. She worked with a local task force to ensure changes are data driven and result in real returns. I have no doubts the updated program will provide even more support to area businesses and result in greater economic prosperity across Shawnee County.”
With the new quarterly review process, application materials must be received by the relevant deadline to be reviewed in the same quarter. Expenditures require pre-approval, and businesses hoping to receive initial approval in the first quarter of 2022 should apply for incentives by Feb. 23. The next round of applications is due May 18. Applications are reviewed by the Small Business Incentives Review Committee, and most incentives are administered in the form of reimbursement. To learn more, visit GoTopeka.com/small-business-incentive.
