AUGUST 2008: AROUND THE STATE
A tasty new alliance
HERMISTON Thirty new jobs are expected in Hermiston as
Snack Alliance expands its line of healthy snacks.
The Vancouver, B.C.-a-based snackfood maker employs 90 people
making potato chips, cheese curls and flavored popcorn. The
company was considering making the new product, Riceworks, at
its other factory in Bristol, Va., because its Hermiston plant
wasn’t large enough, so local and state officials
partnered to offer incentives to keep the jobs in Oregon.
The city and Umatilla County expanded the industrial enterprise
zone to include the plant, which provides a tax break, says
Jill Miles, with the Oregon Economic and Community Development
Department.
The company also got $250,000 in loans to purchase equipment
and build infrastructure, says Miles, with $150,000 of that
forgivable if the company delivers on its promise to create 30
jobs within the next two years. Money from the
governor’s strategic reserve fund was directed to the
deal, she says.
Hermiston city manager Ed Brookshier says the incentive makes
sense because he believes the increasing popularity of healthy
snacks such as Riceworks will grow, thus leading to more
economic growth for the area.
Patrick Lindenbach, chairman of Snack Alliance, says he was
astounded how well city, county and state offices worked
together to make it happen.
“Oregon has always been open for business,” he
says.
JASON SHUFFLER
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