HERMISTON, Ore.-City Council approved a plan to create a new Hermiston Enterprise Zone at its meeting on March 9.
After reviewing the proposed resolution and listening to public feedback, City Council unanimously passed Resolution 2411, creating a new Hermiston Enterprise Zone entirely within city limits.
Enterprise zones are part of a statewide economic development program that allows communities to offer temporary property tax exemptions to industrial investments that will create jobs and expand economic activity.
“The most important thing to understand with the enterprise zones is that at its core the underlying foundational purpose that state law allows for the enterprise zone program to exist is first and foremost as a jobs program,” said Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan, in a presentation on the proposal to create a new zone to City Council.
The current Greater Hermiston Enterprise Zone has been in place since July 2016 and is set to expire on June 30.
The latest Annual Report for the Greater Hermiston Enterprise Zone shows that since 2009, it has led to the creation of more than 500 new direct full-time jobs and more than $19 million per year in direct local annual payroll, according to the City of Hermiston.
Under the proposal approved by City Council, the Enterprise Zone will return to its original focus within Hermiston city limits.
“This proposed Hermiston Enterprise Zone area for the program actually significantly reduces the geographic boundaries of the enterprise zone to only be within the city limits of Hermiston,” said Morgan. “But it also covers all the industrially zoned land within the city, as well as a little bit of commercial properties.”
Following City Council approval, the plan for the new Hermiston Enterprise Zone will be reviewed and ratified by Business Oregon, before being officially established on July 1, 2026.
More information about Hermiston’s Enterprise Zone Program, including maps and business eligibility is available online.
The March 9 Hermiston City Council meeting is also available to view online.
