Economic Development Assistance

The City of Manhattan works with the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce to attract and retain value-added businesses to the area. The City offers assistance through economic development funds (loans or grants) depending on the project scope and outcomes, and this process is primarily based on quality job creation.

Prior to completing the application form, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 785-587-2404 or the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce at 785-776-8829.

• Objectives: Quality job creation, diversification of property-tax base, building on existing strengths of the community, investing in self-sustaining activities, using public funds to leverage private investment
• Policy: Economic Development Funding Assistance Policy (PDF)
• Application: Economic Development Funding Assistance Application (PDF)

Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) are generally used to grant full or partial property tax abatement for certain commercial facilities for up to 10 years and a sales tax exemption for labor and materials purchased for new facilities.

Prior to completing the application form, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 785-587-2404.

• Objective: Establish a new business or the expansion of an existing business that provides additional employment and/or substantial unique opportunities or significant community benefits.
• Policy: IRB Policy (PDF)  
• IRB Sales Tax Abatement Application: Non-Residential IRB Sales Tax Exemption Application
• Application Fee: $1,000

Property tax abatements are a tool to exempt any portion or all ad valorem (property) taxes for the establishment of a new business or the expansion of an existing business, engaged in manufacturing articles of commerce, conducting research and development or storing goods or commodities which are sold or traded in interstate commerce, which results in additional employment.

Prior to completing the application form, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 785-587-2404.

• Objective: Establish a new business or the expansion of an existing business that provides additional employment and/or substantial unique opportunities or significant community benefits.
• Policy: Tax Abatement Policy (PDF)      IRB Policy (PDF)
• Application: Non-Residential Property Tax Abatement Application (PDF)
• Application Fee: $1,000

The Speculative Industrial Building Program allows the utilization of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) to grant property and sales tax exemptions for industrial buildings developed and constructed without any preleasing in place, with the intended use for manufacturing, research and development, production, warehousing/storage and distribution of goods.

Prior to completing the application form, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 785-587-2404.

• Objective: Attract new jobs to the City in manufacturing, research and development, production, warehousing/storage, and distribution of goods by providing an incentive to developers to construct speculative industrial buildings needed in Manhattan for economic development and job recruitment.
• Policy: Speculative Industrial Building IRB Program (PDF)
• Application: IRB Application (PDF) Please note: The IRB application is utilized for this program.
• Application Fee: $2,500

• Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development
• Monthly Financial Reports
• Annual Economic Development Reports
• Manhattan Business Park
• Federal Opportunity Zones - IRS Tax Incentive