Redmond is often called the hub of Central Oregon taking advantage of being at the geographic center of the region. It also has the benefit of being the home to Central Oregon’s only commercial airport complete with a newly expanded 140,000 square foot state-of-the-art terminal with non-stop service to Seattle, Portland, Eugene, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Jon Stark, manager of Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI), says the city of approximately 25,800 residents, embodies the perfect combination of small town friendliness – sustained by an active citizenry – with progressive, business-friendly policies.
Redmond’s assets include the Deschutes County Fair & Expo that brings thousands of convention dollars to the region, an accessible and skilled workforce, regional training support supplied by the COCC’s Manufacturing and Applied Technology Center and a progressive school district with new elementary schools and a new high school under construction.
Competition for companies that provide family way jobs is fierce in the region especially in today’s challenging economy. Businesses looking to relocate to Redmond will find low business costs (including electrical rates 30 percent below the national average), 300 acres of shovel-ready industrial land and a strong inventory of existing buildings from 1,000-120,000 square feet ready for new occupancy. An Enterprise Zone designation offers prospective businesses property and tax incentives.
Redmond’s quaint downtown has been undergoing a renovation that is pedestrian friendly and full of unique shops and historical reference complimented with the Heritage Walk.
A highly visible part of the revitalization of Redmond’s downtown is its new Centennial Park, which opened to crowds of revelers on the 2010 Fourth of July weekend, just in time for the city’s celebration of its hundredth birthday.
(See special section on Redmond, pages 15-26)
