Business Oregon News

May 2009

Partners,

I want to begin this month by thanking all of you from across the state for your strong show of support at the statewide public hearings on Oregon's budget at the Joint Ways and Means Committee. As you know the committee is traveling the state to solicit the opinions of Oregonians about the difficult choices before them regarding balancing the state's 2009-2011 budget.

I truly appreciate the positive testimony in support of the department and our business development activities at hearings in Lincoln City, Portland, Salem and the other stops on the "Budget Tour '09." I am convinced that with your help this session, we will have educated key legislators to the importance of OECDD's work to create and retain jobs at existing Oregon businesses and the critical role our staff play in that success. We would not have been able to successfully convey that message without your help, so I thank you for your continued support.

In addition to the numerous budget hearings, the agency's reorganization legislation (HB 2152) is also advancing. On April 14, the House Sustainability and Economic Development Committee unanimously approved the bill. It is now before the Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development for action early this month.

There are many exciting things to update you about as well as several upcoming events I hope you can attend.

Thanks,



Tim McCabe