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Nine months after the city of Gresham put together an incentives package to entice businesses to locate in downtown Gresham, local brokers have netted nearly 75,800 square feet of new commercial leases.

Last April the city of Gresham started waiving business license fees, development-related fees and all system development charges for existing or new businesses looking to move into spaces less than 5,000 square feet in Gresham’s downtown, Civic and Rockwood neighborhoods.

Since the fee holiday went into effect, 82 businesses have used the incentives, saving a total of $68,000 in city fees and charges, said Laura Shepard, communications director for the city of Gresham. This has resulted in 154 jobs being retained or created as well as the positive absorption of 75,800 square feet of vacant commercial space in the city’s core, she said.

“It’s been a very successful program,” Shepard said. “It’s been a benefit not only to the businesses of Gresham, but the people as well.

“Just look at the numbers.”

The incentives last through Mar. 31. To find out more about the program, contact the Gresham Small Business Center at (503) 618-2872.