• Join us for industry tours, and discussions focused on economic updates, federal and state policy updates, and more.

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About this Event

The Eastern Oregon Economic Summit will include industry tours, speakers, and a series of discussion panels focused on regional economic updates, federal and state legislative updates, program and industry updates, and more.

The Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition hosts the Summit. It is for private and public sector leaders throughout Oregon interested in learning how to tap into the growth and potential of Eastern Oregon’s economy.

Industry experts and state and federal lawmakers will be the speakers. They will provide updates on current legislation and economic trends and emphasize leveraging Eastern Oregon’s growing economy to develop stronger communities. 

 

Thursday, June 16


Economic Development & Workforce Tour

The Economic Development & Workforce Tour will begin and end at Hermiston High School. Transportation will be provided and leave Hermiston High School at 8:00 am. Lunch will be provided on the tour. The bus will then return to Hermiston High School at 4:30 pm, giving attendees time to return to their hotels and prepare for a 5:00 pm dinner and reception.

Tour Objectives

Learn about regional Career Technical Education (CTE), apprenticeship, and other workforce programs. View industrial port, tribal, and regional economic development projects.

Tour Highlights

– Columbia Basin Homebuilders Program
– Hermiston Construction CTE Programs
– Port of Morrow Tour
– Workforce Training Presentation
– CTUIR Wanapa Industrial Site & Coyote Business Park Presentation
– BMCC Workforce Training Center

Tour Documents

– Click Here to Download the Economic Development & Workforce Tour Flyer

Buy Tickets

Tour tickets include transportation and lunch for the tour you select. They also include admission to the Thursday evening dinner and reception. They do not include access to Friday’s General Session. General Session tickets must be purchased separately. 

– Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets Today


Housing Tour

The Housing Tour will begin and end at Hermiston High School. Transportation will be provided and leave Hermiston High School at 8:00 am. Lunch will be provided on the tour. The bus will then return to Hermiston High School at 4:30 pm, giving attendees time to return to their hotels and prepare for a 5:00 pm dinner and reception.

Tour Objectives

Learn about housing development challenges and solutions from cities and counties with insight on working with developers, creative infrastructure financing, incentive programs, energy programs, and meeting workforce needs.

Tour Highlights

– Columbia Basin Homebuilders Program
– Hermiston Housing Projects
– Boardman Housing Projects
– BMCC Workforce Training Center
– Umatilla Infrastructure
– Pendleton Housing Projects

Tour Documents

– Click Here to Download the Housing Tour Flyer

Buy Tickets

Tour tickets include transportation and lunch for the tour you select. They also include admission to the Thursday evening dinner and reception. They do not include access to Friday’s General Session. General Session tickets must be purchased separately. 

– Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets Today


Water Tour

The Water Tour will begin and end at Hermiston High School. Transportation will be provided and leave Hermiston High School at 8:00 am. Lunch will be provided on the tour. The bus will then return to Hermiston High School at 4:30 pm, giving attendees time to return to their hotels and prepare for a 5:00 pm dinner and reception.

Tour Objectives

Local, state, and federal leaders are investing in projects that will increase the sustainability of water resources for decades to come. Learn how water is managed, stored, transported, conserved, and used in the Columbia Basin and the value of sustainable water supplies to the state and local economy.

Tour Highlights

– Groundwater and Surface Water 101
– Regional Water Bus Tour
– East Project Pump Station
– Precision Irrigation
– Golden Canyon/Golden Valley
– Madison Ranches

Tour Documents

– Click Here to Download the Water Tour Flyer

Buy Tickets

Tour tickets include transportation and lunch for the tour you select. They also include admission to the Thursday evening dinner and reception. They do not include access to Friday’s General Session. General Session tickets must be purchased separately. 

– Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets Today


Forest Management Tour

The Forest Management Tour will begin and end at Hermiston High School. Transportation will be provided and leave Hermiston High School at 8:00 am. Lunch will be provided on the tour. The bus will then return to Hermiston High School at 4:30 pm, giving attendees time to return to their hotels and prepare for a 5:00 pm dinner and reception.

Tour Objectives

Learn how proactive forest management meets ecological needs, fire protection and resiliency, and economic benefits for the region. 

Tour Highlights

– Umatilla National Forest
– Pilot Rock Lumber Mill

Tour Documents

– Forest Management Tour Flyer (Final)
– Click Here to View Visitor Dress Code Requirements

Buy Tickets

Tour tickets include transportation and lunch for the tour you select. They also include admission to the Thursday evening dinner and reception. They do not include access to Friday’s General Session. General Session tickets must be purchased separately. 

– Click Here to Purchase Your Tickets Today

Description

A dinner and reception will occur from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC). Your dinner/reception ticket is included if you purchased a tour ticket. Click here to buy a dinner & reception-only ticket and select “Thursday Reception Only.”

Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HAREC)
2121 S. 1st St.
Hermiston, OR 97838

Dinner & Reception Sponsors

Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition

Operating Engineers Local 701

Pac/West Lobby Group

Friday, June 17

General Session & Breakout Discussions

(Hermiston High School) Friday will include the General Session with keynote speakers, state policymakers, and more. In addition, lunch will be provided, followed by breakout discussions.

Description

Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition President welcomes summit attendees and introduces EOWC board members. The Master of Ceremonies will provide opening remarks to attendees and introduce special guests. 

Description

Oregon Governor Kate Brown welcomed summit attendees and provided remarks to summit attendees. 

Description

Eastern Oregon’s congressional delegation will address summit attendees and provide updates from Washington DC. 

Speakers

– Senator Jeff Merkley
– Senator Ron Wyden (via video)
– Congressman Cliff Bentz (via video)

 

Description

Summit attendees will receive object forecasts on the state and Eastern Oregon’s economy, population, and more. The information will help provide direction for Eastern Oregon leaders, governments, and private organizations. 

Speakers

– Robert Whelan, Director, EcoNorthwest

Description

Wildfire is becoming a significant concern, especially in the past few years as we have seen less winter precipitation and hotter/dryer summers. Couple that with increased forest densities and fuels from years of wildfire suppression, and Oregon is primed for uncharacteristic mega-fires. These mega-fires have severe ecological, social, and economic impacts across Eastern Oregon. We discuss how we can change the focus from fire suppression to learning to live with fire and mitigating those impacts through science-based management and prescribed fire. 

Speakers

– Joe Justice, Manulife
– Nils Christoffersen, Wallowa Resources

Description

Rural Oregon must connect with policymakers. Summit attendees will hear directly from top lobbyists representing a broad cross-section of Oregon. They will discuss how they approach advocacy with legislators and agencies, the environment they now advocate in, and how they adjust when the environment changes. Summit attendees will also hear how they successfully advocate issues in a manner that connects with lawmakers and statewide policymakers. 

Speakers

– Ryan Tribbett, President, Pac/West Lobby Group
– Angela Wilhelms, President/CEO, Oregon Business & Industries
– Rich Angstrom, President, OCAPA

Description

State Policymakers will present a wrap-up of the legislative session. In addition, state budget and committee chairs will provide an update on policy and budget issues. Summit attendees will also participate in a Q&A segment with legislators. 

Speakers

– Representative Bobby Levy (R-Echo)
– Representative Greg Smith (R-Heppner)
– Senator Bill Hansell (R-Athena)
– Senator Lynn Findley (R-Vale)

– Representative Ken Helm (D-Washington County)
– Representative David Gomberg (D-Central Coast)
– Senator Janeen Sollman (D-Hillsboro)
– Senator Lew Frederick (D-Portland)
– Senator Michael Dembrow (D-Portland)
– Senator Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-NW Portland/Beaverton)

Description

Oregon’s Democratic, Republican, and Independent gubernatorial candidates will visit with attendees during the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit lunch hour. They will answer questions about their plans to address pressing issues facing Oregonians. 

– Christine Drazan
– Betsy Johnson
– Tina Kotek

Sponsors

Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition
Coalition For A Healthy Oregon (COHO)

Breakout Sessions

Description

Although housing is primarily a city function some counties have been proactive with aspects of housing development. For example, counties can play a role in advocacy, legislation, rural residential zoning, support for infrastructure, and more.  Will Groves (Deschutes County Planning Manager) and Tanya Saltzman (Deschutes County Planner) will discuss the county’s support of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and Senate Bill 391. Shawna Peterson (Eastern Oregon Border Board Executive Director) will talk about the Eastern Oregon Border Board and its role in housing. The lack of rural residential housing options and regulatory impacts on development was and is a prime issue behind the creation of the Eastern Oregon Border Board. Mr. Evans will also talk about Senate Bill 16 (2021) which allows 200 acres outside city limits to be rezoned for residential development. 

Speakers

– Shawna Peterson, Executive Director, Eastern Oregon Border Board

– Will Groves, Planning Manager, Deschutes County

– Tanya Saltzman, Planner, Deschutes County

Description

In 2015, the Oregon Water Resources Department received funding from the Legislature to fund four place-based planning across Oregon. The goal of these four pilot projects was to build collaborative and inclusive processes at the regional level to address region-specific water challenges. This panel will feature representatives from the eastern Oregon place-based planning projects to discuss their respective challenges and successes. 

Speakers

– Donna Beverage, Union County Commissioner representing the Upper Grande Ronde Sub-Basin Place-Based Planning Project
– Karen Moone, Harney County Watershed Council Coordinator representing the Harney Basin Place-Based Planning Project

Description

New investment should be part of a community’s strategy because it is what pays for essential services and brings new jobs and benefits. Creating jobs, increasing private investment, and tax revenues provide stability and growth of a local economy. This session will focus on how a community can better prepare for new investments and provide updated information on Oregon’s incentive programs. 

Speakers

Jill Miles, Senior Business Recruitment Officer, Business Oregon
jill.a.miles@biz.oregon.gov

Jill started her career in economic development in 1991.  She was an Economic Development Specialist for the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District for five years and has spent the last twenty-six years with the State of Oregon. Jill’s responsibility is to manage the Relationship Based Business Recruitment program for the State of Oregon.  She also manages inbound recruitments across many industries, which include data centers, headquarters and back office, software, value added wood processing, advanced metals manufacturing, distribution and logistics, and food processing.  She is one of two Recruitment Officers who focus on both domestic and FDI inbound opportunities.

Jill is a graduate of Eastern Oregon University, a Certified Economic Developer and a graduate of the Economic Development Institute (EDI) through the University of Oklahoma.  Jill is a member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA), a founding board member of the Oregon and Southwest Washington 7×24 Exchange Chapter, and is a Fellow Member of the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC).  Jill also was awarded the 2013 Economic Development Leader of the Year at the OEDA Annual Conference.  Recently, Jill was named as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers of 2016 by Consultant Connect, nominated by the site selection consultant industry.

Jill teaches economic development related courses for elected officials, Leadership Classes and is on the faculty of the Northwest Economic Development Course in Ellensburg, Washington and an instructor at the Community Development Institute.

Art Fish, Business Incentives Coordinator, Business Oregon
arthur.fish@biz.oregon.gov

Arthur L. Fish has overseen tax incentives and other related matters at Business Oregon since 1995 in active partnership with Oregon communities. A past recipient of the Oregon Economic Development Association’s annual leadership award, he also maintains state membership with the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). He previously worked on international environmental issues with the Argonne National Laboratory in Washington, D.C. and for the Portland consulting firm of Barney & Worth. Mr. Fish earned a Master of Arts in international economics at Johns Hopkins University after graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Colorado College, before which he attended Oregon’s Sunset High School. He lives in Salem with his wife, Kathleen; they have a daughter and son, aged 28 and 17, a son‑in‑law and three grandchildren.

Description

This discussion will center on state, federal, and private efforts to mitigate fire danger across Oregon from the federal, state, and local perspectives. There are multiple legislative and collaborative efforts across public and private sectors to reduce wildfire risks and increase forest resiliency, sustainability, and productivity. 

Description

Cities play an important role in housing development. While most homes are built by private developers, cities’ investments in infrastructure, zoning codes, and incentives are important tools for encouraging new housing development and housing rehabilitation. Sean Edging, Housing Planner with the Department of Land Conservation & Development (DLCD) will give a presentation on HB 2001 and HB 2003 (2019) grant projects. The panel will also talk about (1) new grant opportunities for housing planning, (2) Eastern Oregon Middle Cities update on HNA, BLI, HPA, (3) UGB expansion for affordable housing as a possible tool for other cities, (4) zoning as incentives, and (5) next round of housing grants – available to small/rural cities. 

Description

This panel will focus on lessons that Oregon can learn from its neighbor to the north regarding regional water planning. The panel will feature representatives from the Washington State Department of Ecology, Office of Columbia River and Yakama Nation to discuss their experiences with regional water planning and the factors that have contributed to regional planning successes.

Speakers

– Tom Tebb, Director, Office of Columbia River
– JR Cook, Director, Northeast Oregon Water Association 

Description

In this session, attendees will learn about the Oregon Broadband Office and what it means for your broadband project. The session will also discuss the state of broadband in Oregon, program funding opportunities, and state initiatives. This will be an engaging session, so be prepared to share about your community’s efforts. 

Broadband Grant Program Development Presentation

Speakers

Brian McGurik, Oregon Broadband Office, Business Oregon
brian.mcguirk@biz.oregon.gov

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