Summary of Issues and Action Items from Business Roundtables
During the month of October EDCO held six Business Roundtables across the tri-county region in an effort to better connect private employers with local public leaders. Roundtables focused on the exchange of information around critical issues facing traded-sector businesses and key projects and efforts of cities and counties in the region. In case you missed The Bulletin’s articles about each roundtable, outlined below are brief summaries of each meeting with action items to be pursued.
| Madras/Jefferson County Business Roundtable |
| General discussions focused on increasing amenities (K-12 & higher education, retail and commercial establishments, entertainment, fine dining) to attract talent, new residents and business activity. |
| Action Items (partial list) |
- Continue research on Jefferson County Economic Development Manager position and program with goal to have in place within the next year
- Include community members to school district superintendent interview panel. (Chamber / City)
- Begin discussions about adding Culver to Jefferson County Enterprise Zone
- Coordinate companies to secure rail shipping containers
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| Prineville/Crook County Business Roundtable |
| A common theme from Prineville employers in attendance was the challenge they face in finding and keeping a drug-free labor force and in finding the number of workers needed. Affordable/workforce housing was also discussed, and how city policies may impact the ability to have lower-cost housing. |
| Action Items (partial list) |
- Continue promotion efforts through Prineville Chamber for a Drug Free Workplace, where all local companies have active drug testing programs.
- Improve coordination and communication between city and developers to find alternatives to develop more workforce housing
- Notification of local employers about layoffs and closures in other parts of Oregon and the Northwest.
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| Redmond Business Roundtable |
The third annual Roundtable to be held in Redmond, this year conversations revisited the issues of workforce housing and child care. Industrial company representatives voiced a strong need for more affordable housing to both attract and retain existing employees and heard about community efforts towards a solution. A new topic, how the school system and the business community could work better together to create higher quality employees for the future, received considerable discussion.
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| Action Items (partial list) |
- Establish regular meetings with local employers and Redmond School District leaders to explore school-to-work opportunities
- Continue research on a certified, community child care facility in coordination with OSU’s early childhood degree programs.
- Implement policies developed by the Affordable Housing Task Force to provide more entry-level housing and larger-scale multifamily rental units.
|
| Sisters Business Roundtable |
Discussions focused on the community’s interest and unity on attracting and retaining traded-sector employers as a viable component of the local economy. The quality of K-12 education in the community also received considerable discussion.
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| Action Items |
- Form public/private or company partnership to construct first build light industrial building in either Three Sisters or Sun Ranch business parks.
- Update business relocation packet/website – Sisters Economic Development Committee
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| La Pine Business Roundtable |
General discussions focused on La Pine’s competitive position in the region and its ability to attract new jobs and companies due to some key infrastructure constraints (cost of sewer & water utilities and transportation access). Challenges facing the new City of La Pine were also addressed.
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| Action Items |
- Schedule quarterly Business Roundtables to work through infrastructure issues
- Research possibility of applying for a new enterprise zone for La Pine, other parts of rural Deschutes County
- Investigate a fast-track permitting (land use & building permits) for job-creation projects by Deschutes County Community Development.
- Research financial vehicles for transfer of sewer & water districts to City of La Pine
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| Bend Business Roundtable |
The Bend Business Roundtable attracted a diverse group of local manufacturing and technology-based companies, many of which are in the throes of rapid expansion. Issues covered included the effect of high local housing costs on wages and ability to attract talent from outside the region. Availability, cost and timing of industrial land was also a theme along with questions about the message the City is sending businesses about whether the city still wants manufacturing and other businesses.
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| Action Items |
- Develop a local incentive toolbox for recruiting new companies and helping retain existing traded-sector employers (start with City of Bend work session on Columbia retention)
- Hold quarterly Business Roundtables to work through issues (rather than just annually)
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