Oregon Tax Incentives
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Oregon Tax Incentives
Page Contents
- Apprenticeships
- Enterprise Zones
- General Business Loans
- Health Insurance for Employees with Disabilities
- Investment Advantage
- Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services
- Statewide Assistive Technology Program
- Worksource Oregon
Apprenticeships
The Apprenticeship is a partnership of employers, workers, the State of Oregon, and a variety of schools and community colleges. An Apprenticeship is occupational skill training that combines on-the-job experience with classroom instruction. Employers provide career training to meet industry standards for a given occupation. The Apprentice is usually a full-time employee who is learning while earning a salary. The beginning salary is about half that of a fully trained worker, increases as the apprentice learns and performs more complex tasks proficiently.
An Apprenticeship is an efficient and cost-effective system that can help businesses become more productive. The Apprentice becomes a highly trained worker, who produces better products and has superior work habits.
The person hired as the apprentice could be someone with a disability who needs specialized on-the-job training to obtain and keep employment.
Enterprise Zones
Oregon Enterprise Zones serve to help attract private business investment and assist resident businesses to reinvest and grow in those communities facing economic challenges. They also assist many local governments that wish to have tax incentives and other assistance available to stimulate sound business investments that support and improve the quality of life.
In exchange for locating or expanding into an enterprise zone, eligible (generally non-retail) businesses receive total exemption from the property taxes normally assessed on new plant and equipment for at least three years (but up to five years) in the basic program. An enterprise zone typically serves as a focal point for local development efforts and incentives.
Very often, people with disabilities live in areas that are depressed and in need of revitalization. Investing in businesses located in these zones and hiring individuals with disabilities would reverse the unemployment trend among this population and give their neighborhoods a much needed economic lift.
The following website has additional information and links relevant to Oregon’s Enterprise Zone program:
General Business Loans
The following websites contain general information on loans offered to Oregon businesses. These loans can be used to purchase ADA compliant property or Assistive Technology to make an employee with a disability more productive. Job creation, especially for people with disabilities, is another appropriate use of these loans.
Oregon Business Development Fund (OBDF)
Oregon Business Development Fund Business Application Download Form
Oregon Credit Enhancement Fund (CEF)
Oregon Local Revolving Loan Funds
The following websites contain information on loan programs for small/start-up businesses:
Oregon Capital Access Program (CAP)
Oregon Capitol Access Program Loan Application Download Form
Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF)
Oregon Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund Application Download Form
Health Insurance for Employees with Disabilities
The Employed Persons with Disabilities (EPD) program is a Medicaid program designed to help people who have disabilities go to work while maintaining their Medicaid coverage.
In order to be eligible for the EPD Program a person must meet the following criteria:
- Have a disability as defined by the Social Security Administration
- Be employed and have countable earnings of at least $920 per quarter
- Have an adjusted income less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for a family of one. If income is higher than the FPL, certain impairment related work expenses and employment and independence expenses may be considered to reduce the individual’s adjusted income.
Investment Advantage
The Oregon Investment Advantage helps businesses start or locate new activities in Oregon. Companies setting up operations in a qualifying county are eligible for a 10-year waiver on all income/excise taxes related to those operations—potentially avoiding state business tax liability for that period.
Company must create at least five new full-time, year-round jobs; facility operations need to be the first of their kind in Oregon for that company and not compete within the local economy. The jobs created as a result of this program can go to qualified persons with disabilities who are seeking employment.
Exemption of taxable income can be combined with an enterprise zone exemption on taxable property where available.
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) – Employers Services
If you have room in your business for a motivated employee who truly wants to do the best job possible, OVRS can suggest a candidate with the right skills to fill the position. OVRS will provide the follow-up support to ensure that the work is being done to your satisfaction.
When you hire workers through Oregon's Rehabilitation Services program, personnel are actively involved throughout the training phase to ensure than new employees meet your performance expectations.
Furthermore, workers with disabilities are strongly motivated to perform. Studies show that workers with disabilities have lower-than-average on-the-job accident rates and higher-than-average attendance and length of service rates.
Statewide Assistive Technology Program
Oregon’s Statewide Assistive Technology Program is a part of a national network of technology-related assistance programs to increase access to assistive technology (AT) devices and services for individuals with disabilities and their families. Program staff works with consumers, service providers, state agencies, private industry, legislators, and other interested individuals to facilitate the development of a statewide system to provide AT services.
Assistive technology is any device that enables a person with a disability to be more functional. Using the proper technology at work will allow a disabled person to be more productive, and in turn, a better worker.
The following website has information and links to various resources pertaining to acquiring and utilizing assistive technology. .
The following website has more information on assistive technology and links to the Device Loan Library and the Device Demonstration Centers. It also has the phone number to Access Technologies, Inc. in Oregon.
Ergonomics is also an important consideration for a worker with a disability. A workstation that is properly designed ergonomically will make a person with a disability a more productive worker.
The following website contains information on how Access Technologies, Inc. can assist an employer have an ergonomically sound workplace.
Worksource Oregon
The Governor has established the Employer Workforce Training Fund that will apply some federal workforce resources to solve statewide workforce challenges. WorkSource Oregon offers these resources to businesses to help train workforce and prepare to compete in the global marketplace.
A person benefiting from the Governor’s Workforce Training Fund can be someone with a disability who is searching for employment or needs a skills’ upgrade to get and keep gainful employment.
The following are links to these various resources:
Oregon Governor's Workforce Fund
Oregon Governor's Workforce Fund Overview
Oregon Governor's Workforce Training Fund Guidelines
Oregon Governor's Strategic Training Fund
Oregon's Workforce Response Teams Overview
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