Advocacy

Advocacy in Oregon

Economic Development in Oregon is a team sport. As we work together to help grow our communities and our economy, advocating for smart, strong policies to create a healthy business environment is a piece of this.

As Economic Development professionals we have a unique opportunity to support both private business and our communities. We see our role as working to inform both on how economies, business and government can all work together to create the best possible outcomes. It is the goal of all of us to help build the economic strength and sustainability of our communities, where our youth can live, work and prosper.

OEDA uses the grassroots strength of the association and our members to advocate for policy, resources, and tools supportive of economic development. Economic developers today need to maintain and enhance the economic development tools in order to remain competitive in an increasingly complicated business environment.

Traditionally, Oregon has used lottery proceeds, bonding authority, and other mechanisms to establish economic development incentives designed to promote job growth and the strengthening of wages. While OEDA will be broadly supportive of many business development and business climate programs and policies, OEDA will focus its proactive legislative activity in arenas where OEDA can be particularly targeted and effective.

OEDA Legislative Agenda

OEDA works to educate and inform our elected officials about the economic impact of their policies and how these can impact their constituents. We focus our efforts on legislation that can have an immediate and long-term effect on the growth of Traded Sector industry in Oregon and our respective local Communities. To do this, we are represented at the State Capitol; however, we strongly believe that one of the best assets we possess are the relationships our members have with their local elected officials.

View OEDA’s Legislative Priorities for the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session here: OEDA’s 2025 Legislative Priorities

CLICK HERE to view OEDA’s current 2025 Oregon Bill Tracker

Legislative Victories

PROTECTED ENTERPRISE ZONES ✔
Together with our members, staff and key partners we built and sustained opposition to House Bill 2408 which proposed that certain projects in Enterprise Zones comply with reporting requirements for prevailing wage.  Our involvement continues as we work to secure a representative onto the interim work group.

PRESERVED OPPORTUNITY ZONES ✔
OEDA took a lead role to preserve the newly developed Opportunity Zones program. House Bill 2144 proposed disconnecting the program from the federal code, thereby disallowing the Capital Gains advantages for Oregon tax payers. OEDA organized testimony from members, particularly in rural areas, focusing our messaging on the benefits of Opportunity Zones to rural community investment and the drawbacks of limiting Oregon taxpayer’s ability to invest in Oregon.

PRESERVED URBAN RENEWAL ✔
In 2019, OEDA’s TIF Program shepherded a bill reflecting a compromise to modernize the urban renewal process and effectively preserve the tool for use in Oregon.  House Bill 2174 reflected 18 months of negotiation and collaboration with special districts and other partners to tackle issues related to the confer and consent process, taxing jurisdiction approval and the types of projects that should be eligible for Urban Renewal dollars.

This work for OEDA is led by the Policy Council, comprised of members who exclusively work in government affairs across Oregon.

How We Can Help

To help sustain this effort, we need you to help by getting involved. If you are not already, become a part of the monthly Government Affairs Call (GAC), conducted by our partners at Tonkon Torp, LLP. Let OEDA be your voice, as a statewide organization, tell us what is helping or creating hurdles in your community.

Email info@oeda.biz to learn more about our monthly GAC and get involved.