Portland-based multi-tool manufacturer, Leatherman, will take advantage of the Enterprise Zone (E-Zone) program for the expansion of their NE Portland facility.
The company is expecting to invest close to $21 million into the Portland economy with the expansion of its production facility and relocation of shipping, packaging, and customer service operations to a 60,000 square foot warehouse close to its primary operations facility. At least 60 new jobs will be created as a result of this investment.
Leatherman will receive approximately $2 million in tax abatements through the city’s E-Zone program. The program has been instrumental in attracting and retaining a diverse array of companies including Leatherman, Daimler, New Seasons Market and Cascade Energy.
The E-Zone program helps incentivize capital purchases and improvements that are directly linked to creating living wage jobs in the City of Portland. Leatherman’s manufacturing and warehouse facilities are both located within the new East Portland E-Zone boundary. Since 1996, the City’s E-Zone programs have leveraged more than $1 billion in private investments and have created and retained more than 5,000 full-time, quality jobs.
“We are grateful to the PDC for the work that they have done with us, to help identify opportunities within the scope of the E-Zone charter,” said Jake Nichol, CEO of Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. “We plan to reinvest the funds that we receive through the E-Zone incentives into our aggressive innovation plans and into growing our overall tool production capacity. We have made a very public commitment to continue to grow the manufacturing of our Leatherman business right here in Portland….forever. We have enjoyed a very effective partnership with the PDC and we look forward to continuing to work together now, and in the future.”
Founded in 1983 by Tim Leatherman, Oregon-based Leatherman Tool Group is the world’s largest manufacturer of high quality multi-tools (Leatherman) and LED lights (LED LENSER), with more than 120 million tools and lights sold, and distribution in more than 86 countries.
For more information on Leatherman, visit www.leatherman.com, www.ledlenser.com
For more information on the E-Zone program and if your company might qualify, visit- https://www.pdc.us/for-businesses/business-programs/e-zone.aspx
