North Plains, a small city on the edge of Oregon’s Silicon Forest, now has the unique distinction of being the state’s only city designated by statute as a semiconductor-related
development zone, a new type of enterprise zone.

Since the early 2000s, North Plains has been the only city in Oregon defined by statute as an “electronic commerce zone,” designed to encourage e-commerce investments. The 2024 Oregon Legislature, in furtherance of the state’s key economic development goal of fostering further expansion of the semiconductor industry, added “semiconductor-related development activities” to North Plains’ electronic commerce zone, effective July 1, 2025, as part of SB1526. Retail fulfillment centers are not eligible for electronic commerce zone benefits.

This designation means new, semiconductor-related development in North Plains is eligible for enterprise zone tax incentives. The city will begin working on rules of how this new incentive can deliver maximum benefit for the community. The city is also currently working through the state’s land use process to bring nearly 700 acres of industrial development land inside its Urban Growth Boundary.

“We will leverage this unique economic development tool to attract high-paying jobs within the semiconductor ecosystem to our expanding city, enabling more residents to both live
and work here,” says North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan.

“I commend the Legislature and North Plains for working together to send a strong signal to the semiconductor industry that we want it to grow here,” says Duncan Wyse, president of the
Oregon Business Council.

See facts about North Plains here.