INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN GRESHAM IS BOOMING
News Release from City of Gresham
Posted on FlashAlert: April 7th, 2015 1:19 PM
GRESHAM, Ore. - Nearly $17 million in new industrial development projects are in the works in Gresham - construction that is bringing new businesses to the city and allowing existing businesses to expand. In total, the development will create about 70 jobs.
Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis provided details of this progress today at a Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. At the Chamber event, Bemis discussed the City's economic development efforts and the City Council's focus in recent years on job creation and business attraction and retention.
"The Council and I share the view that the City of Gresham should be a resource and a good partner to business," Bemis said. "We want to bring your business to Gresham, get you what you need, and then get out of your way."
Signs of this commitment stand at 181st Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, and at Northeast Riverside Parkway at the Southshore Corporate Center. In December, two new industrial properties were completed on these sites. These so-called "spec buildings" are empty shells containing 423,000 square feet of flexible space. Companies that lease part of these buildings can build out the space according to their own specifications.
Two additional spec buildings, to be built at 181st Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, are currently in the land-use review process. They will provide an additional 200,000 square feet of industrial space, along with space for traded sector companies with the potential to create more high-wage jobs in the community.
In addition, several industrial expansions and renovations are planned:
* Teeny Foods, the wholesale baking company, is planning a $12.7 million expansion that more than doubles its production space on Northeast 170th Place from 47,000 to 127,000 square feet. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be complete in fall 2015. On March 17, the City Council approved a three-year tax abatement for Teeny Foods for this project.
* Shamrock Foods - the seventh-largest food distributor in the United States - is making $1.2 million in improvements to the former Charlie's Produce building on San Rafael Street and will locate a food distribution operation there. The distribution center will be Shamrock's first site in Oregon, allowing the company to serve new clients in the Pacific Northwest.
* Grocery Outlet is leasing 185,000 square feet of the Cascade Distribution Center at Sandy Boulevard and 202nd Avenue, and will make $1.4 million in improvements. On March 3, the Gresham City Council approved a five-year Enterprise Zone tax abatement for Grocery Outlet for this project.
* SEKO, the global logistics company, is building a 20,000-square-foot industrial space on Sandy Boulevard, a $1.5 million project expected to be complete in 2015.
Shannon Stadey, director of Economic Development Services for the City, said these relocations and expansions are a sign of the region's recent increased real estate activity and business growth, and also serve as confirmation that Gresham is getting economic development right for the traded sector.
In 2013, Gresham launched a mobile app designed to help industrial site selectors find space. In 2014, Gresham became the first city in Oregon to guarantee turn-around time for industrial development review and approval. For 2015, Gresham is considering new incentives for manufacturers and other traded sector companies.
"Our companies are doing well and staying put, and new companies are coming in," Stadey said. "That says, to me, that Gresham is a good place to do business."
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Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis provided details of this progress today at a Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. At the Chamber event, Bemis discussed the City's economic development efforts and the City Council's focus in recent years on job creation and business attraction and retention.
"The Council and I share the view that the City of Gresham should be a resource and a good partner to business," Bemis said. "We want to bring your business to Gresham, get you what you need, and then get out of your way."
Signs of this commitment stand at 181st Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, and at Northeast Riverside Parkway at the Southshore Corporate Center. In December, two new industrial properties were completed on these sites. These so-called "spec buildings" are empty shells containing 423,000 square feet of flexible space. Companies that lease part of these buildings can build out the space according to their own specifications.
Two additional spec buildings, to be built at 181st Avenue and Sandy Boulevard, are currently in the land-use review process. They will provide an additional 200,000 square feet of industrial space, along with space for traded sector companies with the potential to create more high-wage jobs in the community.
In addition, several industrial expansions and renovations are planned:
* Teeny Foods, the wholesale baking company, is planning a $12.7 million expansion that more than doubles its production space on Northeast 170th Place from 47,000 to 127,000 square feet. Construction is currently underway and is expected to be complete in fall 2015. On March 17, the City Council approved a three-year tax abatement for Teeny Foods for this project.
* Shamrock Foods - the seventh-largest food distributor in the United States - is making $1.2 million in improvements to the former Charlie's Produce building on San Rafael Street and will locate a food distribution operation there. The distribution center will be Shamrock's first site in Oregon, allowing the company to serve new clients in the Pacific Northwest.
* Grocery Outlet is leasing 185,000 square feet of the Cascade Distribution Center at Sandy Boulevard and 202nd Avenue, and will make $1.4 million in improvements. On March 3, the Gresham City Council approved a five-year Enterprise Zone tax abatement for Grocery Outlet for this project.
* SEKO, the global logistics company, is building a 20,000-square-foot industrial space on Sandy Boulevard, a $1.5 million project expected to be complete in 2015.
Shannon Stadey, director of Economic Development Services for the City, said these relocations and expansions are a sign of the region's recent increased real estate activity and business growth, and also serve as confirmation that Gresham is getting economic development right for the traded sector.
In 2013, Gresham launched a mobile app designed to help industrial site selectors find space. In 2014, Gresham became the first city in Oregon to guarantee turn-around time for industrial development review and approval. For 2015, Gresham is considering new incentives for manufacturers and other traded sector companies.
"Our companies are doing well and staying put, and new companies are coming in," Stadey said. "That says, to me, that Gresham is a good place to do business."
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