Nike Inc. plans to expand its operations in Oregon and hire hundreds of
workers but wants the the state’s government to promise it won't change
the state tax code. In response to Nike’s request, Oregon Gov. John
Kitzhaber called a special session for Dec. 14. Nike told Kitzhaber that
other states have been aggressively courting the company.
Nike
stated it would would create at least 500 jobs and $150 million in
capital investment over five years as part of its expansion plan in the
state.
The Legislature is due to meet in its regular annual
session beginning Jan. 14, but Kitzhaber said Nike needed certainty
sooner.
"Getting Oregonians back to work is my top priority,"
Kitzhaber said at a news conference, according to Portland Business
Journal.
Kitzhaber said that Nike’s expansion would represent $2
billion in investment per year and could create as many as 12,000 jobs
by 2020. Construction would generate about 2,900 jobs and $440 million,
he said. Nike’s employment in Oregon has grown 60 percent since 2007
with an average annual compensation of over $100,000, about double state
and regional averages.
The proposed legislation would allow any
company planning an investment that would result in at least 500 jobs
and $150 million in capital investment over five years to enable them to
lock in the state’s corporate tax rates over a set period of time.
The governor hopes legislators will pass the legislation this Friday.
“They’re
prepared to commit to a very serious long-term investment if we can
give them certainty on the investment climate during that time,” said
Kitzhaber, according to the Oregonian.
Nike built its current headquarters campus in Beaverton in 1990.
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