If you live in Missouri and plan to put away money for a child's college education, it might pay to make the investment soon.

Starting March 1, the company managing Missouri's MOST 529 plan will match contributions of up to $500 for people who meet certain criteria. According to a news release from State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, you qualify if you're a Missouri resident, parent or guardian of a child age 13 or younger, and have adjusted gross income of $74,999 or less. You must open a MOST 529 account before applying for the matching grant.

Upromise, the program manager, promised to make the matching grants when it negotiated a new contract with MOST last year. Upromise is supposed to award at least $125,000 in matching funds each year, with grants being made on a first-come, first-served basis. So, if you've been procrastinating about saving for college, this might be the incentive you need to sock away that first $500.