Economic Development Division

The City of La Grande Economic Development Division is primarily responsible for implementation of the City's Urban Renewal Plan. The current primary focus is downtown revitalization activities and the management of the La Grande Main Street program. Downtown revitalization has been a top priority for the City Council. In addition, the Economic Development Strategic Plan was adopted by the Council in 2010. The Plan is comprehensive and covers all aspects of local economic development strategy. The City aims to grow its economic base through the creation of family wage jobs and the expansion, retention and attraction of businesses.

The City's economic development efforts provide support to those of other organizations, as well, including the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD), Union County, La Grande Main Street Downtown,and the Union County Chamber of Commerce to name a few. 

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

• 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

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

Most importantly, for existing and new businesses alike, the City's Economic Development division is a part of the Community & Economic Development Department, which includes Planning and Building Inspection services. What this means to the business owner is that under single leadership with a single vision is the assurance of the highest level of business-friendly quality customer service aimed at providing assistance to project completion.