Washington County, OR
08/11/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/11/2026 14:12
Washington County and City of Tualatin approve a proposed agreement with Lam Research, teaming up to support the Silicon Forest Economy
Media release
Posted August 11, 2026
Hillsboro, Ore. -- The Washington County Board of Commissioners and the Tualatin City Council are pleased to announce the approval of a proposed Strategic Investment Program (SIP) agreement with Lam Research Corp., under which the company intends to invest up to $1.7 billion in Tualatin through 2041. This investment is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Washington County and surrounding communities.
The proposed agreement will next be considered for approval by the Oregon Business Development Commission in an upcoming meeting to be determined.
"Lam is already a major employer in our region, and this investment strengthens Washington County's leadership in Oregon's semiconductor ecosystem by supporting careers that fuel local prosperity," said Board Chair Kathryn Harrington. "The growth of these quality jobs will generate new tax resources that help the state fund schools and other state, county and city essential public services."
"Lam has long been an important part of our community, and we're pleased they have chosen to continue investing here locally. This investment is a win for our region, bringing new jobs and advancing innovative technology that will strengthen our local economy. We appreciate Lam's continued confidence in our community and look forward to the opportunities this investment will create for our residents, businesses and future generations," said Mayor Frank Bubenik, City of Tualatin.
The proposed 2026 Lam SIP agreement includes payments to the county and city partners, structured as payments in lieu of property taxes to support community-wide services. Additional terms support the county's objectives to drive job retention and growth developed by capital-intensive company investments. The proposed agreement follows Washington County's SIP policy as well as state laws, collecting statutorily mandated taxes and fees.
Key terms in the proposed 2026 Lam SIP agreement include:
- Eligible investment: up to $1.7 billion through 2041
- Partial abatement begins: 2028 or 2029
-
Payment-in-lieu increases by $200,000 each year for 15 years
- Initial fee: $400,000; final fee: $3.2 million
- Estimated $111 million in property tax and fee revenue over the 15-year life of the agreement
Final approval of the proposed SIP agreement will help Lam Research to move forward with plans for a large research and development (R&D) campus consisting of multiple buildings and equipped with state-of-the-art, advanced, multi-million-dollar technology. The corresponding property tax abatement is designed to help facilitate this long-term investment while contributing to regional job creation. This facility will continue to allow Washington County and the State of Oregon to be a key U.S. location for R&D in the semiconductor industry, an industry that underpins many of the goods and services people rely on every day.
"The proposed agreement will support our continued investment in Oregon. The expansion of our world-class research and development hub in the Silicon Forest will help drive the advancement of critical next-generation semiconductor technology, while creating jobs and reinforcing Washington County's position as a global leader in semiconductor innovation. We're proud to continue investing in a community we've called home for more than 20 years," said Sesha Varadarajan, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Lam Research.
A recent independent economic impact analysis by Optimal Solutions Group projected that Lam's investment would generate significant employment during multiple phases of the project, including:
• More than 1,400 estimated jobs related to construction of the expanded facility
• Approximately 670 estimated indirect jobs supporting equipment installation, transportation and technical services
• Nearly 450 estimated direct jobs dedicated to research and development activities, including laboratory work, engineering and testing
Approved by the Washington County Board of Commissioners on August 4 and the Tualatin City Council on August 10, this agreement is the seventh SIP agreement implemented in Washington County. Past SIP partnerships include multiple agreements with Intel beginning in 1994, as well as a 2006 agreement with Genentech. Since 1993, Washington County's SIP agreements have brought in over $50 billion in investment and helped create and retain over 19,000 local jobs.
To learn more about the Strategic Investment Program, please visit Business Oregon and Washington County's frequently asked questions.
# # #
Washington County is a leading-edge, mission-focused organization that successfully serves the community now and in the years ahead. We are a human-centered organization that integrates equity into decision-making and supports the health, effectiveness, creativity and talents of our employees as public servants and the residents whom we serve. The organization is supported by a budget of $2.1 billion and is staffed by 2,442 full-time equivalent employees serving a diverse and growing population of 618,737 on the western side of the Portland metropolitan area. More information about Washington County can be found at washingtoncountyor.gov.
The City of Tualatin is a dynamic community of 28,000 on the southern edge of Washington County. It serves as a regional employment hub, employing more than 30,000 non-residents, mostly in the advanced manufacturing, construction, goods & materials manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Residents and visitors enjoy regionally renowned parks, premier shopping destinations, and signature community events like the West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta. More information about the City of Tualatin can be found at tualatinoregon.gov.
Contacts:
Philip Bransford, Communications Officer, Washington County Administrative Office,[email protected]
Sid Sin, Economic Development and Urban Renewal Manager, City of Tualatin Community Development Office, [email protected]
Laura Bakken, Director of Public Relations, Lam Research,[email protected]
Washington County, OR published this content on August 11, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 11, 2026 at 20:12 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]