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Find hiring, training and incentive programs
Every hiring, training and incentive program open to Hamilton County employers, organized by what you need. Eligibility is set by each program.
Built from The county's hiring, training and incentive programs, with eligibility as each program publishes it
Eligibility is set by programs, not by us. The navigator tells you who to ask and what they require, and stops short of promising an outcome only the program can give.
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Federal tax credit for hiring people from certain groups, such as veterans, SNAP recipients and people with a conviction. It applies only to people who began work on or before December 31, 2025. Congress has not renewed it for later hires as of September 2026.
Who qualifies: Employer hires from targeted groups. Ten target groups under 26 USC 51(d) (veterans are split into five sub-groups with different wage caps), includin… What you get: Only for hires who began work by December 31, 2025: usually up to $2,400 per hire (40% of up to $6,000 in first-year wages), and up to $9,600 for certain veterans. Hires starting in 2026 do not qualify unless Congress renews the credit. How to start: IRS Form 8850 completed ON or BEFORE job offer date. Submit Form 8850 + DOL ETA Form 9061 to state workforce agency with… Rules checked: 2026-09-23, against IRS, Work Opportunity Tax Credit (page updated 2026-07-20). Not tax advice.
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Federal tax credit for employers that pay for employee childcare. For tax years starting in 2026: 40% of qualified childcare costs (50% for eligible small businesses) plus 10% of resource and referral costs, up to $500,000 a year ($600,000 for small businesses). Tax years 2025 and earlier: 25%, up to $150,000.
Who qualifies: Any employer that incurs qualified childcare facility expenditures or qualified childcare resource and referral expenditures for their employees. What you get: 2026 and later: 40% of qualified childcare costs (50% if average gross receipts over the prior 5 years are $32 million or less) + 10% of resource/referral costs; cap $500,000 ($600,000 small business). The caps and the small-business threshold are the 2026 amounts and are indexed for inflation for tax years beginning after 2026; use the IRS figure for your year. 2025 and earlier: 25% + 10%, cap $150,000. An Indiana credit (IC 6-3.1-39.5) also exists; the state bulletin does not say whether the same spending can count for both, so check with a tax professional. How to start: Claim with IRS Form 8882 on your federal return. Keep records of what you spent and when. Rules checked: 2026-09-24, for tax year 2026, against IRS, Employer-provided child care credit: tax year 2026 and later (page updated 2026-07-23) and tax year 2025 and earlier (updated 2026-06-11). Not tax advice.
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EDGE Tax Credit (Economic Development for a Growing Economy) IEDC State Tax Credits & Incentives Compare
Refundable Indiana tax credit for companies creating new jobs, up to 100% of projected payroll tax withholdings from new positions for up to 20 years. Indiana’s primary job creation incentive.
Who qualifies: Companies creating new quality jobs in Indiana with competitive wages and benefits. Must demonstrate that the project would not occur in Indiana witho… What you get: Refundable tax credits calculated as a percentage of projected payroll tax withholdings from new jobs. Credits awarded over agreed-upon period (up to … How to start: Apply through IEDC. Requires formal proposal including job creation targets, wage commitments, and capital investment pl…
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State tax credit of 15% on the first $1 million in qualified research expenses plus 10% above $1 million for companies conducting R&D in Indiana.
Who qualifies: Indiana businesses with qualified research expenses (QREs) in Indiana. Generally follows federal IRC Section 41 definitions. What you get: 15% of first $1M in qualified research expenses + 10% of QREs above $1M. Non-refundable, 10-year carryforward. How to start: Claim on Indiana corporate income tax return.
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Indiana tax credit for businesses making capital investments that support job creation. Non-refundable credits certified over 2 years based on eligible investment amount.
Who qualifies: Indiana businesses making qualified capital investments (equipment, building improvements, new facilities) that support job creation. What you get: Non-refundable income tax credits as a percentage of eligible capital investment, certified over 2 years. Amount negotiated with IEDC based on project… How to start: Apply directly to IEDC. Requires formal proposal with investment plan and job creation targets.
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Up to 50% of relocation costs for businesses moving corporate headquarters, division offices, or research centers to Indiana. Small HQRTC available for venture-backed companies.
Who qualifies: Businesses relocating corporate HQ, division offices, or research centers to Indiana. Small HQRTC: companies with $4M+ venture capital. What you get: Up to 50% of relocation costs including capital investment. Small HQRTC: refundable, $5M statewide cap/year. How to start: Apply to IEDC with relocation proposal
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Assignable state income tax credit for redevelopment of vacant or underutilized land and buildings. IEDC sets the credit percentage per project, up to a 30% statutory ceiling. IC 6-3.1-34.
Who qualifies: Taxpayers making IEDC-approved qualified investments in the redevelopment or rehabilitation of a qualified redevelopment site (vacant or underutilized… What you get: Qualified investment × an IEDC-determined percentage, not to exceed 30%; an additional 5% may be awarded if the project is located in a federal Opport… How to start: Apply through the IEDC before making the investment (iedcportal.iedc.in.gov/rtc-program). IHC Business Services can help…
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IEDC Business Incentives Portal · Indiana State Tax Credits + Grants IEDC State Tax Credits & Incentives Compare
Indiana Economic Development Corporation's full incentive catalog: EDGE, HBI, R&D, HQRTC, Skills Enhancement Fund, IndianaINvests grants, SEF training grants. Single front door for all state-level incentives. Application process is consultative, IEDC project managers guide qualifying employers through stacking + sequencing.
Who qualifies: Indiana-based or relocating-to-Indiana businesses. Most credits require minimum capital investment (varies by program) + new full-time jobs at 150%+ s… What you get: Highly variable. Common stacks for Hamilton County employers: EDGE ($25K to $100K credit) + HBI ($50K to $200K) + SEF ($5K/employee) for medium-sized … How to start: Visit iedc.in.gov/programs-initiatives/business-incentives. Or work through IHC Business Services for warm IEDC introduc…
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Indiana state tax credit for employers that spend on childcare for their workers. For tax years beginning in 2026, employers with 500 or fewer employees qualify (100 or fewer for 2024 and 2025). Qualifying spending now includes facility costs, operating costs, contracts with licensed Indiana facilities or an intermediary, and resource-and-referral services.
Who qualifies: Indiana employers with 500 or fewer employees (tax years beginning in 2026; 100 or fewer for 2024 and 2025) that incur qualified childcare expenditure… What you get: 50% of qualified childcare spending, up to $100,000 per employer per year. Statewide pool of $2.5 million per state fiscal year, awarded in the order returns are filed. Not refundable; unused credit carries forward 3 years; cannot be assigned. How to start: Claim on your Indiana income tax return (credit code 876). Keep records of the qualifying spend; contracts must be with … Rules checked: 2026-09-24, for tax year 2026, against Indiana DOR Income Tax Information Bulletin #126 (April 2026); IC 6-3.1-39.5 as amended by SEA 1177 (2026). Not tax advice.
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Guideline is a low-cost 401(k) administrator built for small employers. Plans start at $49/month base + $8/employee/month, no AUM fees, and integrate with major payroll providers (Gusto, ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks). Includes plan design, IRS/DOL compliance testing, Form 5500 filing, fiduciary services (3(38) investment fiduciary), and employee onboarding. Eligible employers can claim the SECURE 2.0 startup tax credit covering up to 100% of plan costs (up to $5,000/yr for 3 years) for employers with <50 employees.
Who qualifies: U.S. employers with at least 1 W-2 employee. Best fit for <100 employees. Self-employed/solo plans also available. How to start: Get a quote at guideline.com. Set-up takes 2-4 weeks; payroll integration auto-handles deferrals. Tax credit captured by…
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The IRS SB/SE Tax Center is the consolidated landing page for federal tax compliance and free tax-credit reference materials targeted at firms with assets under $10M. Includes employment tax guidance (Form 941, 940, W-2/W-3, 1099-NEC), retirement plans for small entities (SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k)), small business tax credits reference (R&D credit, WOTC, Disabled Access Credit, Pension Plan Startup Cost Credit / Form 8881, Small Employer Health Insurance Credit / Form 8941), and the IRS Small Business Tax Workshop video series. Free and authoritative for any HC employer's CPA or in-house bookkeeper.
Who qualifies: All small businesses (assets <$10M) and self-employed individuals. No application required. How to start: Browse irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed. Subscribe to the IRS e-News for Small Businesses for weekly up…
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Indiana DWD Office of Work-Based Learning & Apprenticeship (OWBLA) Indiana DWD State Training & Upskilling Compare
Indiana's central hub for Registered Apprenticeship (RAP), Certified Pre-Apprenticeship, and State Earn and Learn (SEAL) program creation. Hospitality and food service employers can register custom 'earn-and-learn' programs (line cook, hospitality manager, certified hospitality supervisor) with no cost to register. Employers may qualify for Workforce Ready Grant tuition reimbursement, federal Apprenticeship Tax Credit, and Employer Training Grant funding. OWBLA staff help draft the work-process schedule and Related Technical Instruction outline. As of 12/31/2025: 930+ active RAPs, 1,584+ occupations, 86,500 cumulative apprentices since 2014.
Who qualifies: Any Indiana employer of any size. Apprenticeships must include paid on-the-job training plus 144+ hours/year of related instruction. How to start: Submit an inquiry through the contact form at in.gov/dwd/owbla, or call 1-800-457-8283. OWBLA assigns a regional consult…
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Apprenticeship.gov · Federal Registered Apprenticeship Sponsorship USDOL/ETA Federal Training & Upskilling Compare
Federal portal for sponsoring a Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). Up to 12-month structured program with paid OJT + classroom instruction + portable industry-recognized credential. Tax-deductible employer wages, federal credits available, USDOL technical assistance included.
Who qualifies: Any employer. Can sponsor solo or join a group/intermediary sponsor. What you get: Federal tax credit for apprentice wages (state-by-state). Indiana also offers Workforce Ready Grant alignment for related instruction. How to start: Visit apprenticeship.gov/employers → Express Interest in Starting a Program. USDOL Office of Apprenticeship contacts you…
13 of 100 programs shown, curated and reviewed quarterly by the Invest Hamilton County team. External links open the program's own site in a new tab. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
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Built by Alex, the Hamilton County Data Hub, from BLS wage records, Census commuting and business patterns, O*NET skill profiles, and licensed Lightcast postings. Wages are set by employers. Ranges, never promises.