Oregon Business Council (OBC)

Oregon has been at the forefront of America's food and beverage evolution for decades. From innovative farmers and boundary-pushing chefs to independent winemakers and visionary product creators, our state has shaped the culinary landscape nationwide. After the December 9th Leadership Summit at the Oregon Convention Center, we invite you to head across the street to Avenue to join us for Food Forward: A Celebration of Oregon's World-Class Culinary Ecosystem. This exclusive event brings together the chefs, makers, leaders, and innovators who have made Oregon a hub of culinary excellence. As we look ahead, we celebrate the vital role food and beverage will continue to play in defining our state's identity and fueling its global ambitions. Please note: This is a separately ticketed event with limited space, be sure to secure your spot early. To attend, you must also register for the Leadership Summit. When registering for the Leadership Summit, you will have the opportunity to add this optional reception. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/giugJeNf

Registration is now open for the 2024 Leadership Summit! Join us on December 9th at the Oregon Convention Center to renew the collaborative effort between Oregon's business, community, and elected leaders. The Summit will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with breaks in the afternoon, followed by a special reception at Avenue where we will celebrate Oregon's vibrant food and beverage industry. Advancing World-Class Ambitions, the theme of this year's Leadership Summit, speaks to the extraordinary opportunities for Oregon to compete on a global scale with innovative products and services - from specialty cheeses to sneakers, and from advanced wood products to computer chips and beyond. It also speaks to the opportunity we have to develop talent pathways that give Oregonians access to fulfilling careers in our advanced economy. Register today to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/giJsiYUx

Happy Manufacturing Month! As a significant driver of Oregon’s economy, Oregon Business and Industry and ECOnorthwest have taken a deep dive into the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. A 2024 analysis of Oregon’s critical manufacturing sector shows that while Oregon’s manufacturing industry historically outperformed others and provided high-wage jobs, growth has slowed since 2021, falling behind the national average. Despite this, there are bright spots ahead. Oregon’s wood products industry is rebounding, high-tech and electronics sectors remain strong, and workers in these industries are among the most productive in the nation. Manufacturing jobs in Oregon still offer a significant wage premium, making it a key economic driver. As we celebrate this Manufacturing Month, it's clear that supporting this vital sector requires collaboration and innovation. Whether through developing new technologies, improving workforce training, or enhancing infrastructure, we all have a role to play in ensuring manufacturing thrives in Oregon. https://lnkd.in/d9URvg8b

The Leading Edge: September Edition On September 18 Gov. Kotek announced plans to utilize a provision within the Oregon Chips Act (SB4) to bring 373 acres into the Hillsboro UGB to accommodate additional semiconductor facilities connected to the US CHIPS Act. The Oregon Semiconductor Task Force reported in 2022 that Oregon currently has no sites available within existing UGBs suitable for large chips facilities, making this proposed designation critical for continued economic growth in the state. Governor Kotek’s Office, Washington County, and the City of Hillsboro will hold a public meeting on October 10 for community members to learn more about the Governor’s proposed determination to bring identified lands into the urban growth boundary near Hillsboro, Oregon. There will also be a written public comment period until October 30. Industry stakeholders and supporters are encouraged to submit public comments in support of this extraordinary opportunity, either at the public meeting or via email. Read more in this month's edition of The Leading Edge: https://lnkd.in/gW2TnM8g

Governor Tina Kotek, Senator Ron Wyden, and leaders in the public and private sectors released the Clean Technology Manufacturing Task Force Report, outlining a strategy to capitalize on the growing clean energy technology sector. Formed in 2024, the Task Force brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to develop recommendations aimed at positioning Oregon as a leading hub for clean energy innovation and manufacturing. The report emphasizes the need for competitive incentive packages, improved industrial land readiness, and the development of clean energy transmission infrastructure. With strong leadership and coordinated action, Oregon has the potential to become a national leader in clean energy manufacturing, fostering innovation, job creation, and economic prosperity across the state. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g89eUXZC

Oregon Leaps Ahead: Semiconductor Coalition August Newsletter Oregon is a national leader in semiconductor research, development, and manufacturing, well-positioned for dynamic growth, new investments, and strategic partnerships. Government and industry leaders are paving the way for cutting-edge projects in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. This week, the Biden administration announced up to $50 million in federal CHIPS Act funding for HP Inc. to upgrade and modernize its Corvallis campus. HP Inc. stated that this proposed investment will support the expansion of its efforts to further develop microfluidics technology and is expected to create 100 permanent factory jobs and 150 temporary construction-related jobs. The announcement follows the Commerce Department’s decision earlier this summer to award $500,000 in continued funding to the Corvallis Microfluidics, or CorMic, Tech Hub. This consortium, led by Oregon State University in partnership with HP Inc., was established to support the rapid commercialization of microfluidic technologies related to advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Read more in this month's issue of The Leading Edge. Be sure to subscribe and stay tuned! https://lnkd.in/gvuhekeG

Just over a year ago, Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 4 – the Oregon #CHIPSAct to boost semiconductor industry. Today, I’m incredibly proud to share HP has taken another huge step forward. We have signed preliminary terms for a proposed $50 million award from the US Department of Commerce from the CHIPS and Science Act in support of our microfluidics semiconductor fab in Corvallis, Oregon!   As we continue to pave the way for the next generation of #innovation, this award is going to play a major role in accelerating our team’s work in microfluidics and MEMS technology.     Thank you to the Administration, Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, the Oregon congressional delegation, and bipartisan leaders in Congress who championed the CHIPS Act – your support is crucial as we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible!    The collaboration across public, private and academic sectors has been incredible! I’d like to acknowledge Oregon State University, Jayanthi Murthy and Edward Feser, along with Oregon Business Council (OBC), Duncan Wyse, and Andrew Desmond for all your support and partnership! As well as Maria Pope, who led the Oregon Semiconductor Task Force.   Big shoutout to the exceptional team Albert Serra, Mary Snoozy Pikl, Paul Benning, Quentin Scholtz, Juan Carlos Ramos, Libby Priske, Katrina Sloma, Craig Romrell and James Thom, along with the many others who have contributed throughout this two-year journey leading to this accomplishment.

Join us on December 9 for the 2024 Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit at the Oregon Convention Center. For over 20 years, this influential forum has been pivotal in shaping state policies and investments that are crucial to Oregon’s future. Following the plenary session, there will be a special reception celebrating Oregon's vibrant food and beverage industry. Registration opens in October. Stay tuned for further updates.

Over the past 5 months, a dedicated group has convened to discuss how the state (and the broader ecosystem) can better support and connect Oregon's incredible food & beverage community -- a community that touches every region and part of the state. It's been an honor to serve as co-chair of the Growth & Innovation committee with Nikki Guerrero. We have helped to oversee committees focused around Innovation, Trade, Capital and Copacking/Distribution. These are all big issues to tackle, and while we most likely won't be able to address all of them in deep ways, our hope is that this work creates programs that can have immediate impact, but just important lays the foundation upon which to help create the framework to help more Oregon based F&B companies become long term sustainable/profitable companies. Big thanks to the folks who have dedicated their time to working on all these issues - Hannah Kathryn Kullberg, Kristen Penner, Sheri Cole, Thomas Angel, Paul Evers, Joth Ricci, Sam Tannahill, Amori Rix, Chris Joseph, Lois Cho, Chris Nemlowill, Erik Andersson, Erick Garman, Jess Paulson, Jaime Lynne Tulley, John Boyle, Katherine Lam, MBA, Martin McClanan, Nathan Kadish, Chris Barhyte, Lindsey Morse. And a note of thanks to Andrew Desmond from the Oregon Business Council (OBC) for helping to steer all of us towards some actionable outcomes. This work is critically important to Oregon, and I'm humbled to be able to play a part in helping to create some impactful and meaningful initiatives. https://lnkd.in/gTj_HJfS

Following the success of the Oregon Semiconductor Competitiveness Taskforce, a new initiative is underway to boost the food and beverage industry. The Food and Beverage Council, led by A to Z Wineworks co-founder Sam Tannahill, has been working since March to identify the needs of companies across the state. This fall, they will present a report and recommendations to align state resources and support growth. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gum3cTUY