Oregon Prosperity Council ReportJune 2026 · progressive-disclosure index

Chapter 1: Statewide Economic Development Strategy & Structural Reform

Section indexSource PDF pp. 13–15 ↗view raw markdown

Chapter 1: Statewide Economic Development Strategy & Structural Reform

Full Report > Chapter 1: Statewide Economic Development Strategy & Structural Reform -- 3 pages · pp. 13-15

Contents

Section PDF pages Description
[doc] Background & Problem Statement pp. 13-14 Chapter 1 identifies Oregon's fragmented economic development system as a structural barrier to growth. With more than 850 organizations and Business Oregon managing more than 90 legislatively directed programs, the state lacks consistent gubernatorial leadership ('tone at the top') and coordination. Business Oregon operates without clear mandate or political support, making it difficult for businesses to navigate programs or receive coordinated support. The fragmentation constrains Oregon's ability to respond quickly to business needs and time-sensitive investment opportunities.
[doc] Summary of Stakeholder Feedback p. 14 Stakeholders characterize Oregon's economic development functions as underperforming relative to peer states, lacking clear priorities, alignment, and agility. They value Business Oregon's entrepreneurship and capital access programs, and foundational regional and rural support tools, but criticize limited responsiveness, weak influence over peer agencies, and small program scale. The Semiconductor Task Force is cited as a model for the collaborative, cross-functional approach needed to support target industries.
[doc] Shared Vision pp. 14-15 This section outlines Oregon's shared vision for economic competitiveness through institutional reform and the Priority Recommendation to transform Business Oregon into the Oregon Commerce Authority. The vision emphasizes modernizing economic development governance with board-level business leadership and private-sector engagement. The recommendation calls for consolidating economic, community development, workforce, energy, and innovation functions into a responsive agency with measurable statewide goals and a public transparency dashboard. Planning and implementation funding is requested for the next biennium, with Arizona and North Carolina cited as best-practice governance models.
[doc] Additional Recommendations p. 15 The report recommends Oregon develop a comprehensive statewide economic development strategy with measurable goals for job and income growth, prioritizing business retention, expansion, and attraction with small business support. Public-private partnerships should catalyze innovation districts through state investments of $10 million per project to unlock long-term traded-sector employment (examples: Confluence Innovation Campus, Southern Willamette Valley Innovation Corridor). A Governor-directed concierge function through the Regional Solutions Program and Regional Development Officers should coordinate state agency support for strategic projects from inception through completion.

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