La Grande, Oregon: A Natural Fit for Your Business

The City of La Grande’s Economic Development Department supports the economic growth of La Grande, Oregon by assisting new and local businesses, collaborating with partners and stakeholders and promoting ongoing development. The Urban Renewal Agency overseas economic development within the Urban Renewal District.

The La Grande Economic Development is primarily responsible for implementation of the City's Urban Renewal Plan and the City’s Economic Development Plan. A primary focus of both of these plans is downtown revitalization activities including the management of the La Grande Main Street program.

Downtown revitalization has been a top priority for the City Council to grow its economic base through the creation of family wage jobs and the expansion, retention and attraction of businesses.

The City's role and plans with economic development include support of:

• Business retention & expansion
• Business attraction, recruitment and community marketing
• Downtown revitalization (Main Street Program)
• Urban Renewal (includes downtown, the La Grande Business Park and other commercial/ industrial sites)
• Tourism marketing, promotions and product development
• Workforce development
   

Absolutely. The City's economic development efforts provide support to other organizations including the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD), Union County, and the Union County Chamber of Commerce to name a few.

You are welcome to contact us at 541-962-1307 or tbishop@cityoflagrande.org  

La Grande is an ideal place to do business. Our community is incredibly supportive of the businesses who call our region home, and as an organization, we offer support and hands-on assistance with:

• Site selection
• Applying for grants
• Zoning and permitting
• Business/demographic research
   

Doing business in La Grande is affordable with benefits like our no-cost business license.

It is. For existing and new businesses alike, the City's Economic Development Division is a part of the City’s Community and Economic Development team, which includes Planning and Building Inspection services.

What this means to the business owner is assured of the highest level of business-friendly quality customer service aimed at providing assistance throughout the life of the project without the headache of red tape.

Our region has a diverse economy which includes agriculture, the lumber industry, RV and transportation manufacturing, e-commerce and a growing health care industry. Some things that make La Grande stand out are:

• We are the Retail Hub of Northeast Oregon
• Available, shovel-ready sites at competitive prices
• Incentives from state and local resources to help lower development costs
• Excellent transportation infrastructure, including Interstate 84 and Union Pacific Railroad
• Municipal water and wastewater systems with excess capacity to serve new development
• Low cost and dependable electricity
• NO System Development Charges
• Quality K-12 education
• Workforce Development Resources
• Proximity to Eastern Oregon University
   

There is NO sales tax in La Grande.

Absolutely! La Grande is the commercial and retail hub of Northeast Oregon, a state whose economy is driven by over 400,000 small businesses. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, those small businesses represent 99% of all Oregon businesses, employing over half of the state’s workers.

We are proud to support our small businesses and help them thrive and scale by  helping them  access capital, space, and technical assistance.

There are several incentives offered for existing and new businesses expanding in La Grande, Oregon, and the City of La Grande Urban Renewal Agency facilitates many of these grants:

1. Call for Projects Grant Program
   Designed to direct financial resources within the Urban Renewal District to revitalize the La Grande Central Business Zone.  The Agency also invests in public/private development partnerships throughout the District, including in the development of commercial and industrial projects that create jobs within the Zone.  We encourage property owners and businesses to apply for grant funding.
2. Urban Renewal Funding Opportunities
   Businesses are encouraged to apply for a variety of cash incentives that include facade improvements and project development.
3. Traded Sector Business Attraction Incentive Program
   Designed to provide cash incentives to attract new high-quality jobs, businesses, and investment from outside of Union County into La Grande's Urban Renewal District.  The cash incentive is available to qualifying businesses who are creating jobs within the District, with a special focus on businesses operating within the La Grande Business & Technology Park. 
    

Yes! Many businesses aren’t even aware of the incentive programs they may be eligible for. La Grande Economic Development works closely with Business Oregon and other state and regional partners to help identify tools and incentives for new and existing businesses investing in La Grande.  To learn more detailed information about our incentive programs, please contact us at 541-962-1307 or tbishop@cityoflagrande.org

Yes. Our workers are trained in a variety of skills and come from a regional workforce including five counties within Oregon, the Walla Walla, Washington MSA and Tri-Cities, Washington MSA. Combined, this is a potential workforce of more than 217,000 individuals.

Businesses also benefit from the presence of Eastern Oregon University. With a reputation for delivering high-quality education that prepares students for the workforce, EOU is the ideal place to recruit interns and hire young workers.

Absolutely. Workforce development and training is strong in the City of La Grande and Union County. In 2015, residents of the La Grande School District (LGSD) passed a $33 million school bond, which included funding for a new Career Technical Education Center (CTE).

In collaboration with local community colleges, customized training programs can be developed to meet your business needs.

Yes! La Grande has the space businesses need to launch and grow. Unlike nearby Boise, Portland and Seattle, where land is hard to find and at a premium, La Grande has an abundance of space where businesses can expand. 

One reason businesses are choosing La Grande is for the affordable and available commercial space. Whether a business is building a new headquarters, just getting started or expanding into Oregon, La Grande has the room and property types to make the decision an easy one. 

Available properties in La Grande range from raw land to shovel-ready sites, space within established business parks, retail developments and historic buildings.

In La Grande, businesses of all types and sizes can find the property they need for a headquarters, expansion or startup.

Yes! La Grande is also home to one of Oregon's Enterprise Zones, which provides property tax abatement to qualifying new business investments.

We’ve made every effort to keep the permit process as streamlined as possible.

Yes. Businesses looking for a shovel-ready site, convenient transportation access, affordable property prices, a skilled workforce and a welcoming community should consider locating in the La Grande Business & Technology Park.

The park is 70 acres and is an ideal location for light industrial, warehousing, and general office operations. Lot sizes range from 1 to 8+ acres and can be reconfigured to accommodate the need for a larger parcel.

It also offers several other advantages:  

• La Grande Business & Technology Park is “shovel-ready” with paved streets, sidewalks, underground utilities, fiber ready, municipal water and waste-water
• Interstate 84 is just 1.5 miles from the La Grande Business & Technology Park entrance
• La Grande Business & Technology Park is situated in the City of La Grande Urban Renewal District and financial incentives are available from the District

The Call for Projects infrastructure grant is designed to promote economic growth in La Grande. Businesses within the Urban Renewal District may qualify for grant funds. These funds can be used for new construction or business expansion and are a 1:1 match.

There’s a special set aside for businesses in the LaGrande Business & Technology Park, and qualifying projects may be eligible for up to $100,000.

Interested in applying? Please contact us at 541-962-1307 or tbishop@cityoflagrande.org 

It is beautiful here. This is a community where adventure awaits just outside your backdoor. Within five minutes from leaving the office or your home, it’s possible to be biking, running, hiking, river rafting, mountain climbing, fishing and hunting.

We’re also a family-friendly community, with locally owned shops lining our historic downtown and award-winning Main Street, as well as fun activities like our farmer’s markets and Handmade Holidays Makers Market

Within about an hour, you can reach Baker City or Pendleton. Boise is about three hours southeast while Portland is around four hours to the west. 

La Grande is tucked into the base of the beautiful Blue Mountains, ideal for those looking for a small-town lifestyle and outstanding outdoor recreation. How ideal? If the frenetic pace and high cost of living in a major metro is stressing you out, you’ll absolutely love living here in “The Valley of Peace.”

But we’re also just a few hours from Boise and Portland; perfect for a weekend getaway or a day trip when you want to experience the bright lights of the big city. 

Absolutely. According to Zillow, the average home in Oregon is around $490,000 but in La Grande, our homes average around $287,000. From cozy cottages to fixer uppers and new construction, there’s truly something for everyone! 

Significantly lower! It’s around 111% lower than the Oregon state average.

Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics is an independent, not-for-profit health system located in the heart of beautiful Northeast Oregon.

Yes! La Grande is home to the 121-acre Eastern Oregon University.