Genentech reaches tax relief pact with county, Hillsboro

Governor, county commissioners praise tentative agreement with biotech firm as a boost to region’s economy

By AmyJo Brown

The Beaverton Valley Times, Aug 10, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

ADVERTISEMENTS

Washington County’s top public official said Wednesday that the county and the city of Hillsboro have agreed to a tax relief agreement for Genentech Inc., a pioneer biotechnology firm that will begin building a packaging facility in Hillsboro this year.

Details of the 15-year agreement, negotiated under the state Strategic Investment Program, were not released to the public.

(County officials were due to release the information Friday, but it could be delayed until early next week.)

Tom Brian, chairman of the board of county commissioners, said he believed the county got a good deal in the agreement.

“It’s another good day in Washington County,” Brian said.

A draft of the agreement is expected to be released Friday, and public hearings are scheduled for Aug. 22 in Hillsboro during a joint meeting between the Hillsboro City Council and the board of county commissioners.

“I don’t think it’s possible to exaggerate the impact this will have for the region,” said Hillsboro Mayor Tom Hughes, who compared the presence of Genentech to that of the Intel Corp. for the local economy.

San Francisco’s Genentech (www.gene.com) is known not only for its discoveries of cancer-treating pharmaceuticals, but also as the No. 1 business on Fortune Magazine’s list of the 100 best companies to work for.

In March, the company announced that it was purchasing 100 acres of vacant land near the intersection of Shute and Evergreen roads in Hillsboro.

1 | 2 Next Page >>