City staff outline 'Invest Bend' economic strategy timeline and outreach plan

City staff presented an update on Invest Bend, the city’s economic development planning effort, outlining a process to develop a 10‑year economic development strategy and an associated urban renewal investment strategy.

Cyrus Mooney, business advocate in the City Manager’s Office, and Jonathan Taylor, urban renewal project manager, told the Stewardship Subcommittee the project will produce a vision and a work plan aimed at adoption of an economic development strategy by the end of 2025. Taylor said the final plan will set a 10‑year vision through 2035 and recommend priority strategies and a two‑year implementation cadence tied to five objectives (a “5 by 2” approach).

Why it matters: staff said the plan will guide how the city deploys resources to support business growth, workforce development, housing access and preservation of community character. Mooney said the project will align with prior planning efforts and the Bend Urban Renewal Investment Strategy.

Engagement and schedule

Staff said they aim to collect extensive input: a target of 100 stakeholder interviews spread across business, civic and community partners, and three facilitated focus‑group sessions scheduled for June 10, July 10 and Aug. 28. The team anticipates presenting material to full council on July 16 and a streamlined annual update thereafter.

Staff described four companion technical products that will feed the strategy: a state‑of‑housing report, a state‑of‑economy report, an industry and labor analysis, and a real‑estate…