With approximately half the landmass of Bend, yet one-third the population, Redmond has been among the fastest growing communities in Oregon for the past decade. Geographically, Redmond is at the center of the tri-county area (Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson), and consequently has several unique regional amenities that serve all of Central Oregon. Redmond is home to the region's commercial airport with direct service via carriers Horizon Air, United, Delta and Allegiant Air to Portland, Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake, Las Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa. The Deschutes County Fairgrounds and Expo Center, arguably the nicest in the state, is also located in Redmond. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) has a campus in Redmond that is actively utilized by residents of Crook and Jefferson Counties and is also home to the region's Manufacturing & Applied Technology Center (MATC), which is a technical training resource for area manufacturers.
Livability
The community could be best characterized by the following phrases: progressive, openly pro-business, blue collar, and focused on creative solutions to maintain and improve its quality of life (including keeping a perpetual inventory of housing affordable for most families). Its "Flag City" status is well-known in the area - hundreds of American flags line the streets on major patriotic holidays, and its many festivals and parades make it feel like typical small town, down home Americana. Redmond's history is rooted in agriculture, and a work and civic ethic from these roots that has carried through the generations despite the community's dramatic economic diversification.
Recreation is important to Redmondites who have easy 30-minute access to downhill and cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in winter, and waterskiing, fly fishing, big game hunting, sailing, kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain and road biking, ATVing, mountaineering and most of region's 27 golf courses the rest of the year. In fact, with the high desert climate (sunny and little precipitation in valleys), there is little that outdoor enthusiasts can't do any time of year.
Development
With rapid growth has come major capital investments in Redmond, which has seen its tax base expand by $676,378,925 over the past 5 years. Recent investments include a new $70 million re-route of U.S. Hwy 97, $30 million expansion of St. Charles Medical Center - Redmond, $110 million in new school improvements currently underway including a new high school and elementary, and the construction of over one million square feet of commercial and industrial space over the past two years. The City of Redmond has also prepared its infrastructure for the future and has planned, engineered and constructed sewer and water capacity, as well as expanded its Urban Growth Boundary to serve residents and businesses for the next 20 years.
From an economic development standpoint, one of the defining attributes of Redmond is its pro-business, solutions-driven approach to business development. For example, it has one of Oregon's most active and successful rural Enterprise Zones, which offer qualifying businesses 100% property tax exemptions on certain capital investments. In the past decade 52 projects (companies) have applied for and received this incentive, which has generated 1,038 new jobs. As part of the Redmond Enterprise Zone, the City also offers many local enticements including reduction of sewer and water rates, reduced System Development Charges (SDCs), and reduced or waived permit fees. Affordable industrial land is available from both private and public sector, which have combined to develop many new industrial/business parks in Redmond. New large-scale projects are emerging at 300+ acres adjacent the Redmond Airport (a corporate park, specializing in green technology tenants, with executive golf course) and 900 acre development south of the Fairgrounds and Expo Center for large industrial users and those companies needing access to the Class I railroad mainline that borders this property.