State increases size of designated area in Spokane for manufacturer tax breaks, incentives

The designated area in Spokane where manufacturers can qualify for tax breaks and incentives was significantly expanded Monday, after approval by the state Department of Commerce.

The city’s Community Empowerment Zone now encompasses all industrial-zoned land within city limits, including the areas in Hillyard and the West Plains.

Lisa Brown, the commerce department’s director and a former state senator from Spokane, said the expansion would provide “opportunities to attract manufacturing businesses that support good, family wage jobs.”

The empowerment zone program was created in 2001 and allows “economically disadvantaged urban areas” to attract manufacturers through tax incentives.

Mayor David Condon said in a statement the boundary expansion “adds value to the City’s economic development toolkit.” The expansion would “diversify our growth,” he said, noting that 62 projects brought 1,300 jobs to Spokane through the program.