Redmond is proudly basking in the sun of strong economic progress as 2013 winds into its final quarter. With projects attracting private investment that created facility expansions, new businesses and job creation, it would be hard to argue that Redmond is not pleased to experience the positive growth shown in 2012 and 2013.
Redmond Economic Development Inc., (REDI), reports that “seven companies have completed their new or expanded facilities starting the process in 2012 and being completed in 2013.”
Manager of REDI, Jon Stark says that, “Private investment led the way for these projects which will ultimately also create potential new job growth. The Central Oregon companies that created or expanded their business centers are Medisiss, Central Oregon Trucking, Key Technology, Smith Brothers Pushrods, Pape Kenworth, LHM Industries & CR Fabrication LTD,” explains Stark.
“With the 16 percent Deschutes County unemployment figures in the worst times of the recession the now 10 percent unemployment rate is showing progress,” says Stark. “We have crossed the hump from the high mark but we still need to reduce it by three to four percent. Now that these seven companies have expanded the potential for more new jobs to follow is high,” adds Stark.
The City of Redmond has maintained a keen eye on the future by its steadfast long term zoning and planning results that will attract business and industry to the region. During the peak of the real estate bubble industrial and commercial land prices were very high in the Bend area where little or no land was available. The faint hope of Juniper Ridge as the mixed use industrial park was failing and pointing to even higher prices as the project buried itself in high planning costs and indecision.
This has not been the case in Redmond where the city has continued to provide available industrial land that is attractive not only to the traditional smaller Central Oregon business with eight employees or less but also to attract the big players on large parcels of newly zoned Industrial land.
Currently the city has 1,500± acres of light and heavy industrial available land. Redmond has available parcel sizes to fit every users’ need. In the breakdown of the industrial land the development parcels include; under one acre, one to five acres and five acres up to 60 acres available for the largest users. “Within the 1,500 acres is a soon to be a newly zoned 465 acres of industrial land some private and some Airport owned that will include parcels from 30-50 acres for attracting larger scale industrial and manufacturing companies,” reports Stark.
On the business side Redmond is also active in the Central Oregon Beer Revolution that is taking place with over twenty existing Micro-brewers and up to seven or more new ones on the drawing board. Stark reports, “There are two new breweries planned for Redmond and two existing breweries that will be expanding their facilities.”
A key component of attracting the big players is Redmond’s Enterprise Zone. According to their promotional flyer, “The Greater Redmond Area Enterprise Zone incentive program encourages economic development by waiving property taxes on declared investments for eligible businesses for three years and reduces or waives many City fees. The Redmond Enterprise Zone was established in 1988, renewed in 1998, it is one of the most successful rural Enterprise Zones in the State of Oregon.”
In summary the success of the Enterprise Zone can be measured by their published facts. “The Redmond Enterprise Zone has been one of the most active of Oregon’s 60 zones. Since 1988, the Zone has effectively helped 122 companies create 1,700 jobs and has generated over $127 million in capital investment.”
“Redmond’s Enterprise Zone is playing an active part in the future of Redmond,” says Stark. “Currently, although I can’t disclose the details, we are in discussion with three large projects to be in the Enterprise Zone with each having the potential to create 200 plus jobs. One project is looking strong for the near future and we will be excited when we can make that announcement,” Stark adds.
In summing up Redmond’s economic condition Stark says, “In 2012 the momentum created by the strong investment of the private sector into new and larger facilities, creating jobs and pointing towards positive growth in the region, has set the stage for our success in 2013 and beyond, creating benefits for Redmond and its citizens.”
