Agreements are now in place for distribution of Google funds for use on 11 projects that will provide an immediate benefit to area communities.
Wasco County and the City of The Dalles set aside $250,000 of the $1.45 million initial payment made by Google, through Design LLC, as part of its third Enterprise Zone property tax abatement deal.
“We wanted to find a way to help out with projects that agencies around the county are working on so this is a good thing,” said Rod Runyon, county commission chair, after the agency followed the city’s lead in approving the project list.
As co-sponsors of the zone, the city and county will equally split all but $247,700 of the initial payment, which officials set aside to cover these immediate needs identified by applicants:
Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation District receives a one-time investment of about $19,000 to purchase equipment for the Movies in the Park program.
• Another $40,000 has been given to the parks district for a shade structure at Thompson Park near the splash pool, swimming area and skate park. Benches and picnic tables will also be installed.
• Fort Dalles Museum has been granted a request for $35,000 to preserve and repair aging wooden buildings.
• The Mid-Columbia Senior Center has been given $50,000 to round out funding for installation of an elevator that will take clients from the main floor to the basement.
• Dufur Parks and Recreation will add $25,000 to $30,000 already banked to replace the current restroom to be ADA accessible and better serve the local RV park, city park and community.
• The 4-H Extension District has netted $30,000 to purchase a van that will provide children with transportation to and from after-school programs and other activities.
• Building career and college readiness will be easier for the Juntos Video Program after receipt of $3,700 for equipment.
• The Dalles Main Street has been given $5,000 to construct another parklett for public use in the downtown area.
• The City of Mosier has been allotted $15,000 to help with construction of a bike hub as part of a downtown redevelopment project.
• Controlling weeds that have a negative impact on agricultural crops will be the focus of $10,000 awarded to Wasco County Soil and Water Conservation District.
• Fifteen thousand will be spent by The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce to replace the existing wooden stars in front of their Second Street office with concrete stairs and an ADA ramp. Fascia improvements will also be made to the front of the building.
All of the organizations have agreed to complete the work on their project within six months of receiving funds. If so some reason, the work cannot be finished in that timeline, the entity may request a short-term extension.
The city and council will receive a report of how the money was spent upon completion and return any unused funds for redistribution to other projects.
The local Enterprise Zone spans the waterfront, going beyond the city limits to the west and just why of the eastern border. The central business corridor and industrial properties are also incorporated.
Businesses benefiting from startup tax breaks available in the zone include: Fairfield Inn, Integrated 3-D Manufacturing, NuCulture Foods, Columbia Phyto Technology, Sunshine mill, Freebridge Brewery, Route 30 Bottles and Brews and Sedition Brewery.
According to information provided in December by Daniel Hunter, the city’s project coordinator, a total of 224 people are employed at firms within the zone for an annual payroll of $8.7 million.
To round out the list, Google has three agreement for separate facilities within the zone.
There are 66 enterprise zones in Oregon, 51 in rural areas and 15 in urban. These areas are intended to aid economic development by attracting businesses that otherwise might not settle into the area.
Financial need drives the ability of a geographic area to qualify for a zone, according to Art Fish, business incentives coordinator for Business Oregon.
Last year, he visited The Dalles and told community members that local government had to show a financial need that merited tax breaks for companies.
The income level for eligibility, said Fish, had to be 80 percent of the state average and the unemployment rate 2 percentage points higher.
If construction timing goes as expected, Google’s annual payments for 15 years of at least $1.1 million per year will begin in 2018. Payments start the year after a project becomes operational and following the disbursement of the initial fee in each agreement.
There are six years left for Google to pay $250,000 in lieu of taxes on the first zone agreement. The initial fee was $250,000.
The second agreement, finalized in 2013, will see 15 annual payments of $800,000, starting this year. The initial fee was $1.2 million.
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