Gresham Vista Business Park is one of the best shovel-ready job creating sites in the world, said Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis. “The City’s partnership with the Port of Portland to get this site rolling will greatly benefit Gresham residents for many years.”
The Port originally purchased the 222 acre site from LSI Logic Corp. for $26.5 million in October 2011. A joint marketing agreement between the Port and the City of Gresham aims to attract investment by traded sector companies that sell products and services globally.
At completion, the park will include nine lots on 172 developable industrial acres, generating an estimated 2,768 direct jobs. The site is adjacent to the ON Semiconductor campus and Portland General Electric’s McGill Substation.
Achieving Industrial Site Certification marks a major milestone for Gresham Vista Business Park, as it joins the state inventory of project-ready industrial sites that are ready for construction within six months or less. This helps best position the site as a prime location for new business investment and growth.
“Certification will help us market this site to its fullest potential,” said Eileen Murche, senior manager of business and economic development for the Port. “Large lot, development-ready, industrial land is in short supply in this region, and land availability is critically important to the future growth of our region’s economy and tax base.”
Certification required a thorough and extensive analysis of information regarding the site and limitations to its development. Every certified site in Oregon must be recertified every two years.
Some of the benefits of inclusion in the program include:
· National exposure to site selectors
· State recognition (65 sites have been certified over the last seven years)
· Marketing support through the State
· Verification utilities are in place to service the site
· Verification site is suitable for construction
· Environmental assessments have been reviewed and approved
· Faster time to market
According to the Business Oregon website, Oregon’s industrial site certification program is recognized as one of the most comprehensive shovel-ready programs in the country. It is a rigorous program that is trusted by the market and has been a factor in many of the state’s largest employment successes.