Sponsoring an Enterprise Zone

Enterprise zones are sponsored by a local government (city, county, tribe or port). Although enterprise zones are largely self-functioning units—and the property tax exemption that they offer is generally automatic—sponsorship of an enterprise zone still entails both responsibilities and opportunities for shaping local economic development. The sponsor does or may do the following (if there is more than one city/port/county 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 business firms
• 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.

Call for Applications

Applications accepted January 4, 2010–April 2, 2010
Applications from local governments seeking designation will be accepted until April 2, 2010. The director of Business Oregon will seek to designate up to 12 enterprise zones to replace zones that expire on July 1, 2010.

An applicant will need to

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

All documents must be received (or postmarked) by Business Oregon on April 2, 2010, 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