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The city of Tigard is set to receive $1.5 million in state lottery bonds for infrastructure investments aimed at encouraging more business development along Hunziker Road.

The state funding will go toward an estimated $5.5 million city project to expand public infrastructure in Tigard’s industrial core on either side of Hunziker Road, southwest of Highway 217 and west of Southwest 27^th Avenue. New roads, water service, sewer and stormwater infrastructure will improve access and development potential for 138 acres of underutilized property in the area that is zoned for industrial and other business uses, such as office parks, said Lloyd Purdy, Tigard’s economic development director.

鈥淭his type of investment helps us attract developers that want to do a higher density level of building,鈥� he said.

Currently, the Hunziker Road area is home to 90 manufacturing firms, but most of the developed land contains warehouses and storage yards that employ few people and 50 acres is vacant, Purdy said. City officials are hoping infrastructure investments will encourage the development of office buildings and other projects that create more jobs, he said.

鈥淲e’re trying to spur more private sector development,鈥� Purdy said. 鈥淭he goal is to more effectively use the commercial properties we have.鈥�

Although the Oregon Legislature recently approved the latest round of state lottery bonds, the funding won’t be distributed until the spring of 2017. In the meantime, Tigard officials still have to secure the remaining $4 million to fund the planned infrastructure project, Purdy said. This could include a mix of city and federal funding.

鈥淲e have a couple more money trees to shake before we can fund the full $5.5 million,鈥� he said.