My Thoughts:
This is the first “President’s Newsletter” for my term as President of Oregon Economic Development Association. First, I’d like to say thank you to the Association members for giving me the honor to serve as the Association’s President for 2009! What a time to be in the field of economic development! I know that each of you face the same type of numbers with regard to job losses as I’ve seen here in Southern Oregon. This is surely a time for our entire professional organization to step up our commitment to enhancing the economy of Oregon in any way we can!
I want to say thank you especially to Renate Mengelberg, OEDA President for 2008! Renate left the office of president following an outstanding Fall Conference held at the Resort at the Oregon Gardens. Renate, Jody Christensen and all of the other members that helped to shape and hold the 2008 OEDA Fall Conference deserve a big thank you! I would like to thank my fellow members of the 2009 OEDA Board of Directors for agreeing to serve the Association in a leadership capacity. The OEDA has a long and successful history of addressing important issues relating to enhancing Oregon’s economy; and the willingness of the Board members to share their valuable time on Association issues is what will continue to make OEDA the leading advocate for Oregon’s economy.
OEDA undertakes a research study of Oregon Enterprise Zones
OEDA has hired ECO Northwest Eugene, Oregon, to undertake a three phase investigation of the efficiency of Oregon’s Enterprise Zones as a tax incentive tool to reinforce our widely held belief that Enterprise Zones result in an expanded and enhanced economy for communities who have implemented zones. Phase I of the contracted study by ECO Northwest will determine if sufficient data can be aggregated to demonstrate the effectiveness of Oregon’s established Enterprise Zones. Phase II of the planned assessment will then conduct a statistical analysis of a “difference-in-differences” among communities with and without Enterprise Zones on variables such as employment. Phase II of the Enterprise Zone analysis would further contrast results in Enterprise Zone served communities to assess the benefit-cost impacts along with a detailed assessment of the resultant impacts such as job growth, wages and other economic indicators. Phase I of the three part assessment will be delivered on approximately March 1, 2009 with Phase II following around April 1, 2009 and concluding with the delivery of Phase III by about May 1, 2009. Funding for Phase I of the Enterprise Zone Analysis will be paid for jointly by OEDA and OECDD while Phase II and Phase III funding is expected to be supported by contributions from various Enterprise Zone Managers or sponsor organizations around the state. If your organization has not been contacted by OEDA for support please contact Renate Mengelberg at 503-747-4327 or renatem@co.clackamas.or.us.
OEDA hires professional lobbyist to represent Association issues
OEDA entered into a professional lobbying agreement in December 2008 to hire Jack Isselmann, Tonkon Torp, LLC to represent the OEDA’s legislative agenda before the 2009 Oregon Legislature. Jack Isselmann has a long history of involvement with economic development as well as business competitiveness issues in Oregon. Jack was formerly the Deputy Director for the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
under Director Marty Brantley. Prior to joining OECDD as the department’s Deputy Director Jack served as legal counsel for ESI, an Oregon high technology business. The scope of work for OEDA’s contract with Tonkon Torp focuses on tracking and lobbying the six primary issues as outlined in the OEDA’s legislative agenda below:
OEDA Legislative Agenda – 2009
- Protecting Oregon’s current incentive programs.
- Supporting the creation of new incentive programs for the 21st century
- Increasing funding for community investments.
- Restore the funding for Regional Strategies/RRIF programs.
- Advocate for State of Oregon funding for workforce training.
- Advocate for legislation needed to improve OECDD effectiveness.
To coordinate Jack’s work at the Oregon Legislature on behalf of the OEDA; the Association’s Legislative Committee holds a twice monthly conference call meeting at 8:30am on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. If you would like to participate in these conference call meetings with Jack and our Legislative Committee please join via: 1-605-475-4333 code: 688414#. Special conference call meetings necessary to address timely coordination of testimony or representation at legislative hearings will be called as required.
OEDA Spring Conference scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2009
The 2009 OEDA Spring Conference will be held on Thursday, March 19th, beginning at 9:30am and ending at 3:00pm. It will be held at the Salem Convention Center, downtown Salem. The preliminary agenda for the 2009 Spring Conference will include presentations on:
How companies are making money with “Lean” energy practices How to leverage your area’s high value tourism for business development goals 2009 Oregon Legislative update from OEDA lobbyist In addition to these three themes the conference committee has extended an invitation to Tim McCabe, Director, OECDD to address the conference during the luncheon segment. A formal invitation to register for the conference will be forthcoming with a few days. The registration fee for the Spring Conference will be $50.00 for OEDA members and $65.00 for non-OEDA members
The scheduling of the OEDA’s Spring Conference on March 19th was to coincide with the 2009 edition of the Rural Development Initiatives’ Regards to the Rural VI conference set for Friday and Saturday, March 20th and 21st – also set for the Salem Convention Center. If you’d like to learn more about the Regards to Rural VI Conference please go to: www.rdiinc.org.
OEDA forms a Team Oregon tradeshow committee headed by Colin Sears
Colin Sears, Portland Development Commission, as well as former President of OEDA, has agreed to become the chair for a new OEDA committee to be called the Team Oregon Tradeshow Committee. Many OEDA members participate in targeted tradeshow events as part of their business recruitment goals. This new OEDA Tradeshow Committee was developed to facilitate cooperation, coordination and re-establish a Team Oregon tradeshow effort. If you and your organization would like to become a participating member of the OEDA Team Oregon Tradeshow Committee please contact Colin Sears, Portland Development Commission, 503-823-3320 or searc@pdc.us. Participation on the OEDA Tradeshow Committee is voluntary and each participating OEDA member will be expected to contribute financially to jointly sponsored tradeshow event costs as well as planning details. Early dialogue has been made with OECDD leadership in connection with seeking OECDD financial support for the Committee’s efforts to plan, coordinate and execute targeted tradeshows either at domestic or international industry events.
OECDD will host Business Development Day at Oregon Capitol on February 18, 2009
Oregon Economic and Community Development Department will be hosting a Business Development Day at the Oregon Capitol on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. For Biz Dev Day there are currently three key activities; the “exhibit space” set up in the Galleria area (1st floor on the south side of the building, just past the info desk) with some signage on projects throughout Oregon, and our success story videos running on a screen. Second, there are legislative meetings set up throughout the entire day with key staff and partners meeting with individual legislators. Third, will be a reception for partners, legislators and others in the Galleria at the exhibit space at the end of the day. These events have the following general schedule:
- 8 AM - 5 PM Galleria area a set up with staff and signage for guests to learn about business development in Oregon
- 8AM - 5 PM Private meetings scheduled with key legislators
- 4:30 PM - 6 PM Reception in Galleria with light Hors d'oeuvres
Please review your calendar and plan to participate along with our partners from OECDD in this very important event!
Planning already underway for OEDA’s Summer and Fall Conferences
The OEDA Board of Directors has asked Jody Christensen to head our conference and professional development committee for 2009. Jody did such an outstanding job in the planning and execution at the 2008 fall conference the Board asked her to continue that role for 2009. The dates for the summer and fall conference have not been set yet but preliminary planning is underway to have a yearlong, coordinated conference and professional development agenda for OEDA. If you would like to participate with Jody’s committee in planning and conducting the summer and fall conferences hosted by OEDA please contact Jody at 503 474-0544 or info@mcminnvilledp.com.
OEDA Earned Media Campaign continues strong into 2009
Our Earned Media Campaign is going strong and continues to build national attention for Oregon. However, we need to hear from all of our members about newsworthy economic development stories that are happening in your local communities. Topics can include (but are not limited to): business expansions; new sustainability programs initiated by local governments or businesses; innovative workforce programs; and innovative business success stories. OEDA’s Earned Media effort will be posting successfully placed stories on our OEDA website so please check out the stories, if you have an idea for a business success story from your community, please call or e-mail Krista Hildebrand: 503-467-4686 or khildebrand@frause.com.
2009 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism, April 19 - 21, 2009
Travel Oregon will host the 25th anniversary tourism conference on Sunday, April 19th thru Tuesday, April 21st at the Salem Convention Center. For more information on the Conference agenda and to register please go to:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Agenda.aspx?i=9a274a62-d02c-458c-a227-838c9c449e93.
Economic Development Employment Opportunities
Oregon Economic and Community Development Department is seeking candidates for a new position within the Department as an Industrial Lands Specialist. The primary purpose for this position is to manage and administer the Oregon Industrial Site Certification program and certification process on a statewide basis. For more information please go to: http://econ.oregon.gov/ECDD/jobs.shtml
