BDAB approves extra Invest Bend focus sessions; staff to seek input from underfunded and minority‑owned firms

An Invest Bend update presented to the Bend Development Advisory Board outlined the economic and housing analysis behind the city’s draft economic development strategy and won board approval to add two focus‑group sessions: one targeted to “higher risk or underfunded businesses” with emphasis on minority‑owned firms, and an additional final review session for the strategy’s investment recommendations.

A staff presenter told the board the project is approximately 55% complete overall. Work‑product status cited in the presentation included: the state of housing assessment at about 90% complete and the state of the economy assessment about 80% complete; labor and industry cluster work had just begun and the draft strategy was roughly 45% complete. The presentation said the BRRRR investment strategy work stream was roughly 50% complete because it began earlier in the process.

Staff described two specific recommendations for board action: 1) authorize staff to create a focused engagement session for higher‑risk or underfunded businesses with an emphasis on minority‑owned firms; and 2) add a fourth meeting for the existing investment focus group so members can review the final draft and provide a recommendation to BDAB before the board forwards the strategy to city council.

When explaining the first recommendation, staff said the request came from a board member and was intended to increase outreach to businesses perceived as marginalized, underfunded or higher risk. On the second recommendation staff said an extra session would allow participants to "see the final product and give review," which was not achievable within the originally scheduled three focus‑group sessions.

Board member Dwayne asked how staff would identify “higher risk or underfunded” firms; staff said they were working within current administrative guidance on accessibility and equity and would return with more specific selection criteria.

The board discussed timing and engagement. Staff told members that one planned focus session is scheduled for Aug. 28 and that the plan’s adoption target is Dec. 3. Staff also described outreach steps: stakeholder interviews, a business survey in September, and three remaining focus‑group meetings leading to a September–November period where the draft plan would be refined.

A motion drafted during the meeting — offered as sample language by staff — was: "I move to direct staff to move forward with the recommendations as presented." A board member moved to approve the two recommendations, another board member seconded, and the chair asked if anyone opposed; no recorded opposition was stated and the recommendations were advanced.

The presentation included demographic and economic findings staff said underlie the strategy: Bend grew 4.73% year‑over‑year per U‑Haul data cited by staff, net migration accounted for 88% of population growth, median household income rose but income gains concentrated among higher‑earning households, and 38% of households are renters with many renter households cost‑burdened by current rents. Staff also reported that Bend had a roughly $2.5 billion trade deficit in 2023 and that 51.8% of people who work in Bend commute from outside the city, while roughly 25–29% work from home depending on data source.

Next steps: staff will schedule the additional focus‑group sessions, refine outreach and selection criteria for the targeted session for underfunded businesses, conduct stakeholder interviews and the business survey in September, and return with a near‑final draft for BDAB review before transmitting the strategy to council for consideration.