Bend Economic Development Advisory Board Meeting - 7/6/2026 12:00PM

The Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (BAB) met on July 6, 2026, to discuss several key economic development and urban planning initiatives. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the city’s business registration program, including proposed changes to shift from a flat fee to a scaled fee structure based on employee count to better align with other Oregon cities and to support economic development programs such as small business grants. The board discussed challenges with compliance and enforcement, as well as potential impacts on local businesses. Additionally, the meeting covered updates on the enterprise zone program, including a recommendation to extend enterprise zone agreements from five to ten years to incentivize business investment and growth. The board also received a detailed briefing on urban renewal financing mechanisms, including tax increment financing (TIF) and its role in funding infrastructure and redevelopment projects in key areas like the core district, Murphy Crossing, and Juniper Ridge. Other topics included industrial site readiness, land use planning, and upcoming growth plan efforts to guide Bend’s development over the next 20 years. The meeting included motions supporting the enterprise zone extension and emphasized ongoing collaboration with city council and economic development partners to foster business growth and community development.