- Wasco County Joint Enterprise Zone
- Wasco County Rural Renewable Energy Development Zone
- federal Opportunity Zone program in Wasco County
The Dalles/Wasco County Enterprise Zone was re-designated as the Wasco County Joint Enterprise Zone on July 1, 2018. Sponsors of the expanded zone include the Cities of The Dalles, Dufur, Maupin, and Mosier, Wasco County, and the Port of The Dalles. Over the past 30 years, The Dalles has seen consistent use of this tool, resulting in new and expanded businesses, new jobs, and higher wages but there are still needs within the community and County. The new Wasco County Joint Enterprise Zone brings this financial tool to additional areas of Wasco County.
The Enterprise Zone program is designed to encourage businesses of all sizes to make new or additional investments that will improve employment opportunities, spur economic growth, and diversify business activity within the communities each zone encompasses. The primary benefit to qualifying businesses is 100 percent abatement from local property taxes on plant and equipment newly invested in the zone. There are three options for abatements, depending on a variety of factors including level of investment, job creation, and compensation levels for employees. These are:
- Standard: 3 year agreements provide tax abatement on the added value of real property development provided the employer increases their employment by at least 10%. These agreements require County Assessor and Zone Manager approval.
- Extended: 4-5 year in length and require the same employment increase as a three year agreement, and also has compensation and wage requirements. Extended agreements also permit sponsors* to place additional requirements on the business in order to receive the abatement.
- Rural Long-Term: 7-15 years in length and various minimum requirements based on location and a significant level of investment. Long term agreements also permit sponsors* to place additional requirements on the business in order to receive the abatement.
For more information on program details, visit Business Oregon's website or contact the appropriate Zone Manager listed below.
*Extended and Long Term agreements require the approval of the relevant geographic sponsors.
How do I find out if my location is in the zone?
| The Dalles Area Boundaries | Dufur, Maupin and Mosier Boundaries | Pine Grove, Wamic, and Tygh Valley Boundaries |
Who to talk to?
| Within the City of The Dalles | Outside the City of The Dalles |
| The City of The Dalles provides zone management for enterprise zone applications submitted for developments within the city limits of The Dalles. To learn more please contact Dan Spatz, Economic Development Officer for the City of The Dalles at 541-296-5481 or at dspatz@ci.the-dalles.or.us |
Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), through its role as staff for the Wasco County Economic Development Commission (EDC) provides zone management for enterprise zone application submitted for developments outside the city limits of The Dalles. To learn more please contact MCEDD at 541-296-2266. |
Rural Renewable Energy Development Zone
- Harness wind, geothermal, solar, biomass or other unconventional forms of energy in Oregon to generate electricity, or
- Produce, distribute, or store any of a wide variety of biofuels.
The incentive is the standard (3-5 year) exemption on qualified property available in any enterprise zone, except that in a RRED Zone it is only for renewable energy activities (which would also be eligible in an enterprise zone). The total amount of property (among one or more projects) that can qualify is subject to a locally-set cap with each RRED Zone. That cap can be no greater than $250 million in initial market value of each project.
Opportunity Zone
Opportunity Zones are a Federal tax incentive program put in place under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017 to encourage long-term, private investment in low income communities. This new tax incentive pertains to both the capital gains invested initially through a qualified opportunity fund, as well as capital gains earned for the investor from businesses or projects in a zone. Two census tracks encompassing a significant portion of the City of The Dalles were designated as Opportunity Zones. These designations in are in effect until December 21, 2028. For more information please visit Business Oregon’s Opportunity Zone page. Opportunity Zones are a Federal tax incentive program under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017 to encourage private long-term investments in low income communities. Two census tracks encompassing a significant portion of the City of The Dalles were nominated by Governor Brown and were designated as Opportunity Zones. These designations in are in effect until December 21, 2028. “Opportunity Zones can deliver significant tax savings on medium- to long-term investments in economically disadvantaged communities. This new tax incentive pertains to both the capital gains invested initially through a qualified opportunity fund, as well as capital gains earned for the investor from businesses or projects in a zone.” For more information please visit Business Oregon’s Opportunity Zone page.