Sponsoring an Enterprise Zone

Currently, Oregon enterprise zones are sponsored by:

• 2 (out of 9) Indian Tribes,
• 30 (out of 36) counties,
• 11 (out of 23) ports and
• 106 (out of 242) cities.

In addition, four cities, ten ports and a few counties consent to zones within their territory that are sponsored by overlapping jurisdictions.

Designations for Local Governments

Cities, ports and counties across Oregon can seek an enterprise zone whenever there is a round of designation.

Call for Applications

Applications accepted March 20, 2012–June, 8, 2012
Applications from local governments seeking designation will be accepted until June 8, 2012. The director of Business Oregon will seek to designate up to 12 enterprise zones, of which four will replace zones that expire on July 1, 2012.

An applicant will need to

• actively consult with local taxing districts
• adopt resolution(s)
• complete at least four pages of the application form, including economic data
• provide map and description of the proposed enterprise zone and its industrial land base

All documents must be received (or postmarked) by Business Oregon on June 8, 2012, by 5:00 pm. Documents may be mailed or hand delivered to:
   Attn: Enterprise Zone Coordinator
   Business Oregon
   775 Summer St NE, Suite 200
   Salem, OR 97301-1280

The statutes specify the following two criteria for local economic hardship in order for a proposed zone to be designated: (1) Household median income is 80% or less of state median income, or (2) Unemployment rate is 2 percentage points or more above comparable state unemployment rate, based on the most recent annual figures. Business Oregon can consider alternative but equally severe threshold criteria, and defines several by rule.

Each zone terminates at the latest on July 1 after more than 10 years, at which time local governments may reapply to Business Oregon. The director of Business Oregon is responsible for ordering the designation and termination of enterprise zones and for approving changes to zone boundaries. The boundary of a zone may be noncontiguous, but it must conform to maximums for total area and distances within the zone.

Role of the Zone Sponsor

Although enterprise zones are largely self-functioning units—and the property tax exemption that they offer is typically automatic—sponsorship of an enterprise zone still entails both responsibilities and opportunities for the zone sponsor. The sponsor may do the following (if there is more than one sponsoring government, they must act jointly in all cases):

• Set policy, filing fees; make plans covering marketing, organization, etc
• Appoint the local zone manager.
• Change the zone boundary: remove areas, add new areas or cosponsors and send request to Business Oregon.
• Implement local incentives for authorized businesses.
• Assist in making publicly-owned real estate within zone available to authorized businesses.
• Elect to terminate the enterprise zone.
• Help businesses use zone and verify compliance by businesses.
• Fulfill arrangements worked out with local taxing districts.
• Enter into written agreements with authorized firms extending exemption for four or five years in total or allowing special long-term rural tax incentives.
• Adopt resolutions to waive a 10% employment increase (stipulating alternative conditions), for existing businesses that invest $25 million or more, or that measurably modernize operations and fund workforce training.

In an urban enterprise zone, the sponsor also may establish local policy and standards for additional, worker-related conditions that are consistently imposed with the standard three-year exemption.