County approves enterprise zone expansion

By on Thursday, September 8th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

PENDLETON, PILOT ROCK – The Pendleton-Pilot Rock Enterprise Zone is going to grow. The Umatilla County Board of Commissioners, which sponsors the zone, voted to approve its expansion at a meeting Wednesday.

“The expansion would include three parcels near the Pendleton airport,” Board Chairman John Shafer said. “Approximately 565 acres will be added into the zone.”

Oregon’s enterprise zones allow the cities involved to abate all local property taxes for set number of years. They serve as focal points to bolster local development efforts. Zone sponsors include ports, cities, counties, and tribes.

There are currently 76 enterprise zones in Oregon. A vast majority of them (58) are in rural areas. In this area those include the Greater Hermiston, Greater Umatilla, Stanfield-Echo, and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation enterprise zones.