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Panel warns Oregon faces competitiveness and permitting challenges; manufacturing and downtown Portland cited as priorities
Summary
An informational panel at the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade highlighted a manufacturing downturn, permitting slowdowns, workforce and housing constraints, an office‑vacancy crisis in downtown Portland, and sector‑specific needs for food and beverage manufacturers and rural small businesses.
After committee hearings on two bills, the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade held an informational meeting with business groups and local business owners.
Representatives of Oregon Business and Industry (OBI) told the committee that Oregon’s manufacturing sector has lagged recovery and that the state must act to improve competitiveness and permitting. “The number 1 complaint that we hear is the regulatory environment,” Duke Shepherd of OBI said, and Paloma Sparks said Oregon’s competitiveness ranking slipped in recent national lists, with notable declines in the cost of doing business and business friendliness.
OBI urged legislation and administrative reforms to…
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