23. Jordan Papé, CEO, The Papé Group (Individual, Eugene)
23. Jordan Papé, CEO, The Papé Group (Individual, Eugene)
April 1, 2026 Oregon’s Economic Development Strategy: Lock, Barricade and Delay Investments If you were searching the world for a nearly ideal climate with ability to grow abundant food and ready access to construction, specialty materials, and technological know-how, it is hard to beat Oregon. Oregon’s strengths: Access to fresh water Historically low-cost hydroelectric and nuclear power Diversified, high value, specialty food crops Direct access to abundant high-value fisheries Abundant natural resources, especially for building materials – o Large healthy forests o Strong specialty metals hub near Albany. Silicon Forest knowledge and experience High value minerals I-5 trade corridor gives us ready trade access to great markets from BC to Mexico Deepwater ports connecting Oregon to the Pacific Rim and beyond High value Universities Our greatest challenges are man-made. Our policies shun investment, our cultural priorities mock investment, and our tax system punishes investment. What’s Holding us back? Most companies use consultants and attorneys when planning a major investment. A state that is high-tax, high-regulation, poor-education, and low economic base is analytically a low-priority investment for businesses. Businesses focus on eliminating risks but Oregon specializes in creating uncertain and contentious outcomes. Investments are typically time sensitive, states (like Oregon) that delay development are deprioritized for investment. 541-683-5073 PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440
th Oregon is the 7 highest regulated state in the country: o Literally EVERY other state is easier to develop. Oregon has the ONLY statewide: Zoning Urban Growth Boundaries, and Exclusive Farm Use designations. o Our land use system is designed to create multiple layers of development vetoes. If you think a project fits the zoning and UGB requirements, Water Watch or 1,000 Friends of Oregon will tie you up in court to kill your project. State income taxes are high for corporate and personal income tax. Additional local level taxes, in places like Multnomah County, become tests of sanity for anyone thinking about investing in Oregon. o Why would decision makers prioritize bringing a business to a place where their business will be financially less successful and they will be financially punished personally? Our Ballot Measure System creates a low barrier for radical legislative ideas. Why risk coming to Oregon when we allow ourselves to be the petri dish for extreme and unpredictable legislation? Our K-12 education system is among the worst performing education systems in the country. o Our education system rewards adults and ignores student achievement. Inflation adjusted, we provide 50% more funding per student than pre- Measure 5 Our teachers are paid in the top quartile Our NAICS ratings are in the bottom decile Our instruction time is among the lowest in the country In an age where Ai and Robotics are going to begin reshaping how work is performed, states that aren’t attracting new jobs and investments will end up in an economic doom loop that could crush working families and government services. What are we competing against: North Carolina has a the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC) that moves faster than the speed of government to connect companies to sites, workforce and incentives - quickly 541-683-5073 PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440
Arizona has economic development offices around the world (7) States get more of what they invest in Oregon ranks last in economic development dollars Oregon ranks high in homelessness funding o Ironically – we’re creating an ecosystem of homelessness initiatives, but we’re driving out the taxpayers that we’d need to make programs like this sustainable over time. The Fixes aren’t complicated and don’t need to be unique to Oregon Oregon needs to: Mandate a 10 year budget analysis of state revenue and expenditures, identifying costs that are escalating beyond what the state’s GDP can support. Move from a land use system designed to restrict investment to one that mandates investment. We should be looking out 3-5 biennia, working on what our expected budget will be, then backing into the investments we will need to generate the revenue required to fund the state’s expenditures. A growth mindset to fund expanding services. Create and fund a Department of Commerce to oversee the mandates to grow, review barriers to investment, and propose regulatory fixes to moderate overly restrictive policies. Properly zoned land, inside a UGB, should no longer be subject to additional state-level wetlands restrictions. The land has already gone through a public information process, elected leaders have weighed the trade-offs, and the state has an opportunity to weigh- in during the UGB expansion process. Once the land is part of the city’s growth plan, the state cannot maintain additional land use restrictions. Expand funding for shovel-ready industrial and commercial land. Review rules and regulations to moderate state agencies. Reform prevailing wage requirements that discourage public-private investment. Regain our focus on being a world leader in low-cost energy. Establish a sunset for administrative rules and programs, requiring a thorough review of the cost and benefits before renewal. Undergo a comprehensive tax reform process. We cannot continue to push away capital by maintaining the highest income and estate taxes. Preempt local jurisdictions from raising taxes, already preempted at the state level, by calling them licenses or fees. 541-683-5073 PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440
th th Overhaul our K-12 system to improve our 4 and 8 grade reading, math and science scores so that families are proud to move to Oregon rather than questioning if they are sacrificing their children’s future by livinWith appreciation, Jordan Papé CEO, The Papé Group 541-683-5073 PO Box 407, Eugene OR 97440
Parent: Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback · PDF: pp. 254-257