BEND, OR -- Deschutes County's Rural Enterprise Zone is expanding. Business Oregon recently approved the expanded zone for the Sunriver Business Park and Spring River Plaza. Enterprise Zones offer tax exemptions for certain companies for at least three years. 

Janet Burton, south county representative for Economic Development for Central Oregon, tells KBND News the move benefits traded sector companies. “So all of these businesses would potentially be eligible for enterprise zone incentives to help them grow and expand their employment base.”

Traded sector companies produce goods and services that are sold outside the area, and often pay higher wages than tourism jobs. “We’re so dependent here on tourism and hospitality which is often seasonal, often part time. It is looking for those businesses to come in that will offer full time year-round jobs,” says Burton.  “That’s who we’re really working to attract.” The unemployment rate in southern Deschutes County is around 10-percent, double that of Bend.