Targeted Urban Areas (TUA’s) are a new recruitment, retention, and expansion tool available in Washington per Chapter 84.25 of the Revised Code of Washington. It allows cities and counties to offer certain exemptions from property taxes for the value of new construction of industrial and manufacturing facilities in qualifying designated geographic areas for up to ten years. The City of Richland designated the “Horn Rapids Triangle Targeted Urban Area” in 2023, making it the first TUA in the state. Benton County is also allowed to grant similar exemptions within Richland’s TUA. Other cities in the county may create their own TUA’s in the future, Richland could create another TUA or expand the Horn Rapids Triangle, and Benton County could create its own TUA in an unincorporated area. Currently, the Horn Rapids Triangle is the only TUA that has been created in Benton County.
Landowners who might be interested in taking advantage of the TUA opportunity should contact the Sustainable Development office. A simple application is required to initiate the approval process, and that application is available Here.
