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Van builder credits Clackamas County enterprise zone and county grant for expansion

North Clackamas County Chamber of Commerce / Clackamas County · March 24, 2026

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Summary

A representative of Overland Van Project told a Clackamas County business forum the company relocated from Multnomah County after being outpriced, used an enterprise zone and a county grant to invest about $800,000 in a new 30,000 sq ft facility, hired two people and reduced outsourcing.

A representative of Overland Van Project said the company moved operations into Clackamas County after rising costs in Multnomah County and credited county economic-development supports with enabling rapid growth. "We were inspired to move into Clackamas County" because of an enterprise zone, the representative said, adding the business invested "$800,000 into this building and a bunch of new equipment."

The speaker said Overland Van Project has completed roughly 350 full builds since 2017 and moved into a larger facility of about 30,000 square feet for nearly the same price as a smaller space in Multnomah County. The company representative said the enterprise zone allows businesses to defer or reduce taxes on renovation and equipment costs for a number of years, which lowered the cost of expansion.

The presenter said a county grant arrived at a timely moment and enabled the firm to hire two additional employees (a welder and a brake-press operator) and bring more fabrication work in-house. "Since receiving the grant, we've been able to hire 2 more people," the company representative said. The speaker said those hires reduced the need to subcontract small fabrication tasks and helped accelerate production timelines.

County officials at the forum praised Overland Van Project for locating in the county and noted the county's workforce and trade education partnerships contribute to industry growth. Tina Irvine, the event moderator, highlighted Clackamas Community College's skilled-trades programs as a source of talent that supports local manufacturers.

The forum's discussion of the enterprise zone and grants was framed as part of the county's broader effort to attract traded-sector businesses, expand capacity and retain living-wage jobs.