Incentives

Rural County Business & Occupation Tax Credit

A $2,000 or $4,000 credit against the B&O tax is available for each new employment position created by a qualifying manufacturer.

Rural County Business & Occupation Tax Credit for New Employees

.09 Rural Economic Development Fund

This fund is directed by the local people of Lewis County for qualifying public facilities improvements.

Download Application

CERB Fund

An excellent state program to provide loan and grant funding for public improvements needed to serve industry.

Community Economic Revitalization Board

Education & Training Grants

Both Federal and State programs are available to help in recruitment and training of new workers.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption on Machinery & Equipment

For qualifying manufacturers, processors for hire, and manufacturers who perform research and development are not required to pay the sales or use tax on machinery and equipment used directly in the manufacturing or research and development process. Charges for labor and services for installing machinery and equipment are also not subject to the sales or use tax. Major distribution centers, over 200,000 sq. ft. also qualify for sales and use exemptions.

Manufacturers’ Sales/Use Tax Exemption

Sales and Use Tax Deferral for Manufacturers

The Rural County Sales/Use Tax Deferral Program grants a deferral of sales/use tax for manufacturing, and computer-related businesses, research and development laboratories, and commercial testing facilities (excluding light and power businesses) locating in rural counties. The sales and/or use taxes on qualified construction and equipment costs for such businesses located in these specific geographic areas are waived when all program requirements have been met and verified.

Washington State Incentive Programs

Logistics & Transportation

Highway

Lewis County is located on Interstate 5 midway between Portland and Seattle. In addition, U.S. Highway 12 is one of two major east/west transportation corridors in Washington State. Lewis County is home to several transportation companies including Sorensen Trucking with routes to: Los Angeles, Boise, Salt Lake, and Phoenix.

Portland	85 miles	San Francisco	721 miles
Seattle	85 miles	Salt Lake City	844 miles
Vancouver B.C.	229 miles	Los Angeles	1,048 miles
Boise	508 miles

Deep Water Ports

The Port of Tacoma, 54 miles north of Chehalis, provides containerized cargo, roll-on/roll-off, bulk, breakbulk, and heavy-lift cargoes. The Port of Olympia, 20 miles north of Chehalis provides break bulk shipping.

Other ports that may serve your needs are the:

Port of Olympia Port of Longview Port of Kalama Port of Seattle

Air

The Chehalis-Centralia Airport is a general aviation airport which can meet most corporate needs. The airport has a LPV approach allowing for operations throughout the year. A full pilot lounge is available to pilots and crew in addition to a courtesy car. Full-service jet fuel is available along with self-service AVGAS. There are 10 conventional hangers and 48 tee hangers and recently a project for a runway viewing area was completed for families to come and enjoy the air traffic.

Approximately 80 miles to the North is the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and approximately 80 miles south is the Portland International Airport. Both of these airports have three main runways and should meet any international needs.

Rail

All major railroads serve Lewis County. We have connections to Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Union Pacific (UP), PSAP, and Tacoma Rail. There are rail reloading facilities in Centralia, Chehalis, as well as other additional sites.

Department of Transportation: Information

Washington State Incentive Programs

Demographics

POPULATION – 2020
Centralia	17,216
Chehalis	7,734
Unincorporated	45,475
Lewis County	81,845
Labor Force – 2020	33,136
In-Commute: Thurston County	8,737
Reside & Work in County	11,190
Out-Commute: County	17,680
Unemployed	2,169
Unemployment Rate – 2020	7.1%
Average Annual Wages – 2020
Manufacturing	$60,469
Public Administration	$61,199
Healthcare & Social Assistance	$49,938
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting	$36,822
Major Local and State Taxes – 2020
Sales Tax (Incorporated)	8.2%
Sales Tax (Unincorporated)	7.8%
WA B&O Tax (Most Manufacturers)	$.00484
Property Tax (Industrial)	$11.36

TAX FACTS
No corporate income tax	No inventory tax
No personal income tax	No unitary tax

MAJOR EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT – # OF EMPLOYEES
Providence Hospital	Health Care – 800
Fred Meyer Distribution Center	Distribution Center – 400
UNFI	Food Distribution – 300
Hampton Lumber Mills	Sawmill – 296
Cardinal Glass Corporation	Glass Manufacturing – 241