City of Bend launches yearlong 'Invest Bend' economic-development planning process

City of Bend staff outlined a yearlong economic development planning process called Invest Bend that will develop a 10-year strategy to “cultivate stable, long-lasting and equitable opportunities for upward economic mobility,” the project team told the Environmental Conservation Committee (ECC).

The plan will expand an earlier “investment strategy” into a broader economic development framework, integrating housing, workforce, climate resilience and other priorities. City staff said they expect to complete data analysis and stakeholder interviews over the summer, hold three focus-group sessions open to public input, and seek formal adoption by the City Council in December 2025.

“Invest Bend…is an economic development strategy for the next 10 years,” said Jonathan, a staff member presenting the plan to the ECC. He said the initiative aims to stabilize and diversify the local tax base, promote entrepreneurial and retail growth, and preserve the city’s historic character while strengthening infrastructure and parks.

Why it matters: City leaders framed Invest Bend as a way to keep housing production, job creation and local services moving during likely economic downturns and to create better paying jobs and more opportunities for local workers. The plan will fold previously adopted work such as the Climate and Community Action Plan (CCAP) into a single strategy so council and staff can better align budgeting and departmental resources.

Staff described a four-phase timeline. Phase 1 (data and foundation work) will include demographic, labor market and housing analyses and updating a housing needs analysis. Between May and June staff will complete stakeholder interviews and data work. The first public focus group is scheduled for June 10, with additional sessions on July 10 and Aug. 28. The project team expects a draft plan to be developed in August and adoption by council in December 2025.

Cyrus, the staff liaison to Bend Development Advisory Panel (BDAP), told the ECC that BDAP will lead focus-group organization and community interviews and will appoint up to 20 community members to participate. The project team also plans a worker survey and a business survey to ground recommendations in local experience.

Project staffing and partners: City staff said the Invest Bend project team will include BDAP leadership and multiple city departments. Jonathan named team members during the ECC presentation: Kate (executive policy officer), Carrie Bell (middle income housing coordinator), Damien (growth management), Carrie Carl (disaster preparedness), Matt Stewart (real estate), and Renee Mitchell (communications). Councilor Bridal and mayor pro tem Perkins were identified as council champions on the project team.

Committee engagement: ECC members expressed interest in crosscutting coordination between Invest Bend and the CCAP and other advisory bodies. Councilor Bridal and several ECC members suggested using advisory-body summits or targeted sessions to provide detailed feedback rather than only two-minute public comments at separate meetings. Staff said they will share upcoming BDAP agenda items with Cassie (the ECC staff liaison) so advisory bodies can decide whether to participate.

Next steps and public input: Staff will begin interviews and analysis immediately and run the three public focus-group sessions this summer. The ECC was asked for advice about how it wishes to participate; staff said ECC members can be engaged via the project team, BDAP focus groups or joint sessions with other advisory bodies.

The Invest Bend initiative will incorporate CCAP priorities and previously adopted plans, and staff said the process will honor past work by advisory bodies rather than replace it.

Ending: Staff asked the ECC for suggestions on how to be involved and said they will return with opportunities for crosswalk exercises comparing Invest Bend outputs and CCAP strategies. The project remains on a path for council consideration and possible adoption in December 2025.