PORTLAND ENTERPRISE ZONE AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE POLICY
Binding City Policy
BCP-ENB-23.03
Link to Exhibit A (PDF Document, 474 kb)
PURPOSE
WHEREAS, the Oregon Enterprise Zone Act, ORS 285C.045-250, authorizes the designation of Enterprise Zones in urban areas and provides that property tax abatements, job creation, and local municipal incentives are desirable to stimulate economic development in economically depressed areas;
WHEREAS, in 2008, after a request by the Portland City Council (“Council”), the Director of Business Oregon designated the Portland Enterprise Zone (“E-Zone”), incenting businesses to make significant capital investments in the E-Zone boundary through the abatement of property taxes on qualifying property for up to five years;
WHEREAS, on March 5, 2008, by Resolution No. 36583, Council established the Portland Enterprise Zone (the "Portland E-Zone") by adopting the Portland Enterprise Zone Policy (the "Portland E-Zone Policy") and designated PDC to serve as the Portland E-Zone Manager;
WHEREAS, in 2012, after a request by the Council, the Director of Business Oregon designated the East Portland Enterprise Zone (“E-Zone”), incenting businesses to make significant capital investments in the E-Zone boundary through the abatement of property taxes on qualifying property for up to five years;
WHEREAS, on June 14, 2012 through Resolution No. 36934, Council adopted the East Portland E-Zone Policy and designated PDC as Manager of the East Portland E-Zone;
WHEREAS, the E-Zone program is one of the City of Portland’s most powerful tools to incent major new capital investments that create opportunities for local residents for what are primarily traded sector jobs;
WHEREAS, PDC's Board of Commissioners recommend that the Council adopt a new Enterprise Zone and Electronic Commerce Policy in order to align community benefits and fund allocation processes more closely with adopted plans and strategies, including the 2011 Neighborhood Economic Development Strategy, the Portland Comprehensive Plan Update and the pending PDC 2015-2020 Strategic Plan;
WHEREAS, consolidating Portland and East Portland E-Zone Policies will streamline the process of managing the E-Zone program and enhance efficiency;
POLICY
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Portland E-Zone Policy will comply with all relevant sections of ORS 285C.045 to 285C.250;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council adopts and approves the Portland E-Zone Policy in a form substantially in accordance with Exhibit A; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Policy is adopted by this resolution as binding policy.
Link to Exhibit A (PDF Document, 474 kb)
HISTORY
Resolution No. 37114, adopted by City Council February 25, 2015.