| Rebuilding Oregon's Economy |
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GROW: GOVERNOR´S RECOVERY FOR OREGON WORKERS
AN ACTION PLAN FOR JOBS
Creating jobs for Oregon workers and stimulating the economy is Governor Ted Kulongoski´s top priority for the state of Oregon. By providing leadership on economic development, marketing Oregon´s many assets and investing in infrastructure and workforce development, he plans to lift Oregon and its citizens out of the recession and position the state to thrive in the coming decade.
Governor Kulongoski´s action plan encompasses steps that can be taken immediately and others which will be put in place in the coming weeks and months. The Governor is encouraged and appreciative of the leadership exhibited by the legislature by advancing economic development to the top of their list of priorities.
Executive Leadership
The state of Oregon must create a predictable climate for job creation, so that in-state businesses can expand and out-of-state businesses will be interested in locating jobs within Oregon. Sound fiscal management of the state, coupled with executive initiatives designed to help the private sector do business in Oregon, can help position the state to do well in the coming years.
- Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion
- Governor Kulongoski has redirected the mission of the Economic and Community Development Department toward business expansion, retention and recruitment. He will give the Department the tools it needs to create jobs in Oregon.
- Governor Kulongoski will be taking a series of steps to modify, expand and create enterprise zones, to attract additional businesses to hard-hit areas of our state.
- Regulatory Streamlining
- The Governor has issued an executive order to streamline Oregon´s permitting processes. The order establishes an Office of Regulatory Streamlining within the Department of Consumer and Business Services to facilitate and coordinate statewide efforts to reduce regulatory burdens. The Governor has also ordered that the Office establish an online license and permit website, providing "one-stop" information.
- Industrial Lands Readiness and Availability
- The Governor issued an executive order intended to increase the supply of "shovel-ready" industrial sites and ensuring a long-term supply of industrial land. The Governor will also establish a commission to travel the state to investigate industrial lands issues and prepare recommendations to him. State agencies and the commission are directed to recommend legislative actions needed during this session to resolve issues relating to the supply of industrial lands
- Community Solutions Team
- The Community Solutions Team, (CST) through the Governor´s office, is a statewide network of multi-agency teams that focuses on developing cooperation between state and local government and communities. The Governor has directed the Community Solutions Team to focus its efforts in two areas: economic recovery and assisting rural communities. CST has been involved in projects in every county in the state and will use these connections ensuring that rural Oregon is part of the economic recovery.
Marketing Oregon´s Assets
The Governor of Oregon must be the top marketing executive for the state´s many assets. He can help bring the state and its qualities and goods to the national and global marketplace.
- Brand Oregon
- From our products to our quality of life, Governor Kulongoski will convey to the world that things look different in Oregon. Our state has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. We have natural resources, agriculture, high tech and manufacturing. We have internationally renowned art and cultural institutions. Our people are top notch, our environment is pristine, our schools are good and our workforce is skilled. We create more high-quality products than any other state our size. And we do so without compromising our way of life.
- International Trade
- Oregon must position itself as a premier trading partner with the rest of the world. Governor Kulongoski will actively seek out international trade opportunities for Oregon businesses over the coming years, and plans trade missions to Asia and Europe. Governor Kulongoski supports increasing Oregon´s international trade presence by working more directly with Oregon-based businesses to enhance their international marketing efforts as well as working more directly with international businesses that are looking to establish a presence in the United States.
- Governor Kulongoski plans to go to China at the end of March in order to promote international trade with the world´s most populous nation. He will discuss opportunities for investment in agriculture and high technology, as well as in our traditional natural resource sectors.
- Governor Kulongoski has introduced legislation to enhance the profile of the International Trade Commission and increase the participation of Oregon agriculture, freight and shipping interests and Oregon manufacturers in the making of international trade policy.
- Tourism
- Governor Kulongoski supports the leadership exhibited by the Oregon lodging industry and the League of Oregon Cities in their call for additional dollars to market Oregon tourism by implementing a 1 percent statewide dedicated tax on the cost of lodging. Oregon´s tourism industry is the third-largest employment sector in Oregon, employing nearly 90,000 people. Yet Oregon´s investment in tourism is less, on a per capita basis, than 45 other states. Every dollar spent on tourism marketing is returned to the state threefold and has a similar positive effect on local communities.
- Foster Creative Services Industry
- The Governor will aggressively market Oregon to Hollywood and others in the entertainment industry in order to attract the film industry to make movies in our state. Oregon not only has stunning scenery, it has both urban cityscapes and small towns that inspire nostalgic charm. The Governor will also work to support the arts and humanities in Oregon, which brings in significant tourism dollars.
Investment in Infrastructure, Workforce & Businesses
Governor Kulongoski believes it is essential to make certain investments to prepare our state for the future. Some of these investments are in infrastructure, which not only facilitates business, but creates jobs in the near-term. Other investments involve training and education for our workforce.
- Infrastructure
- The Governor supports a plan to invest in Oregon roads and bridges and to put Oregonians to work repairing and rebuilding Oregon´s transportation infrastructure. The Governor supports the Oregon Transportation Commission´s call to take the bold steps toward repairing and replacing over 450 bridges in the critical I-5 and I-84 transportation corridors and along the key transportation routes connecting Oregon communities to the interstates.
- Oregon communities are also in need of dollars to pay for upkeep and maintenance of local roads. The Governor supports providing new dollars to repair local roads and ensure that the investment the citizens have made in their state and local roads is protected.
- The Governor is asking the Department of Transportation to aggressively spend the dollars we currently receive from the federal government and has asked our congressional delegation to work closely with the Oregon Transportation Commission in pursuing additional federal dollars for Oregon road and bridge projects.
- The Governor supports raising the revenue necessary to pay for these critical improvements through his support of a package that will include raising Oregon´s registration and title fees. The Governor is willing to work with other legislators and constituency groups to put a plan before the legislature early in session that will address these critical needs.
- The Governor supports the Columbia River channel deepening project. When the environmental review is complete, the Governor wants to ensure that the work commences as soon as possible.
- The Governor is committed to maintaining and expanding air service throughout Oregon, He is also hard at work in seeking additional direct international flights.
- The Governor will seek to ensure that job creation in rural communities is facilitated by implementing the Northwest Forest Plan.
- Workforce Development and Training
- A skilled and job-ready workforce is critical to Oregon´s economic recovery and a high quality of life for Oregonians. Governor Kulongoski´s agenda is to create a responsive training system that meets the rapidly changing needs of business and labor and that supports economic development. In this vein, he will create a strategic training fund, pooling lottery and federal funds, to support recruitment and retention of family-wage jobs.
- Governor Kulongoski will create state and regional teams to bring together economic development and workforce development agencies.
- Higher Education
- Universities are in the business of promoting the intellectual growth of the students in their system. New ideas, creativity and innovation, as well as a highly trained workforce are the engines of economic growth. Investment in the development and application of ideas created in our universities attracts business and capital investment to the region. If business finds innovation and creativity in Oregon´s universities, job creation and competition will result, setting the stage for growth in Oregon´s economy.
- Research and Development
- New businesses, new products and new family wage jobs flow from research and development. Governor Kulongoski is committed to seeking opportunities to expand R&D opportunities in Oregon in both the public and private sectors.
- Sustainability
- The Governor has appointed Secretary of State Bill Bradbury as Chair of a new state sustainability board. From that position, Secretary of State Bradbury will play a lead role in promoting sustainable economic development opportunities in Oregon. o The Governor also announced that the administration in launching a sustainability initiative within state government, in order to promote environmentally, socially and economic sustainable practices by government agencies.
Conclusion: An Action Plan for Jobs
These actions will create family-wage jobs, both in the near-term and the long-term, for Oregon workers. This will not be a jobless recovery, which leaves some workers out in the cold. Governor Kulongoski believes that only a comprehensive plan for the economic health of the state can assure a recovery for all Oregonians.
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