>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

An aerial view shows the layout of the La Grande Business and Technology Park. (Photo/Courtesy of UCEDC).

- Bill Rautenstrauch

- The Observer

This fall at the La Grande Business and Technology Park, construction crews built streets, installed street lights, hooked up the sewer, water and telephone, and laid conduit for high- speed Internet.

Now comes the challenge: attracting businesses to the 79-acre complex at Gekeler Lane and Highway 30.

"Once Phase One (of the development) is complete, it's ready to go," said Union County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Craig Thompson. "With the location near Interstate 84 and all that infrastructure in place, it's a bargain."

The UCEDC officially kicked off its marketing effort last Wednesday, hosting a tour of the facility for Realtors, community and business leaders, and others.

Norm Paullus of the La Grande Public Works Department detailed construction efforts.

He said work on Phase One is about 98 percent complete, with some minor work on pavement yet to be done.

Also during the tour, John Howard, a local real estate broker and member of the UCEDC board, said he will list the property on the Multiple Listing Service.

Howard, of ERA Driggers and Associates, said he will be the listing agent only, and will not participate in transactions. Inquiries he receives will be referred to local real estate agencies.

"I've volunteered my services," he said. "As the listing agent, I will be a conduit for the local Realtors."

Realtors participating are Century 21 Eagle Cap, Ranch-N-Home Realty, Valley Realty, ERA Driggers, REMAX Real Estate Team, and Cindy Arnoldus, Broker.

Thompson said this week he expects the local agents will play a key role in the marketing of the park.

"We have a built-in sales force in our local Realtors," he said.

Thompson said the UCEDC is offering a 5 percent commission for buyers' brokers. It is also offering incentives to buyers for job creation.

Depending on how many family-wage jobs a prospective tenant pledges, a place in the park could cost as little as $17,500 or as much as $55,000 an acre.

According to information handed out during the tour, the $17,500 price will apply for those businesses creating five full-time family wage jobs per acre.

For four jobs, the price is $25,000; three, 32,000; two, 40,000; and one, 47,000.

Businesses locating in the park will be subject to city covenants, including those governing building type, landscaping and signage.

The UCEDC and the City of La Grande are co-owners of the park. The city owns about 15 acres, the UCEDC the rest. This year, the city incurred over $2 million in debt for the infrastructure.

Though partners in the park's development, the two entities recently had a falling out over disclosure of information about the La Grande Industrial Development Corp., the private, for-profit corporation that backs the non-profit UCEDC.

The city denied $35,000 in annual funding for the UCEDC because it wasn't satisfied with information provided about the LGIDC.

Despite the rift, Howard said that according to UCEDC's plan, the park will be marketed "as a whole." Agents will not place any special emphasis on whether a lot is owned by the city or the UCEDC.

Thompson said the UCEDC and the city are currently involved in talks about coordination of marketing efforts.

Paullus said this week that interest in the park seems to be running high.

"I've had inquiries from three businesses about development and services," he said.

Howard said the UCEDC plans to update its Web site to include more information about the park and the surrounding community.

Comfort Dental Lab, a locally owned business, is the park's only tenant to date.