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Economic development contractor to leave; county plans work session, RFP and enterprise-zone outreach
Summary
Harney County’s economic development contractor notified the court he will end services in 30 days. Commissioners said they will hold a work session with Business Oregon, GEODC and local stakeholders to define a new strategy, determine an RFP scope and discuss enterprise-zone coordination with cities.
Harney County Court heard on July 16 that the county’s economic development contractor submitted notice that he will terminate his relationship with the county effective in approximately 30 days.
The county judge said he had previously planned to send 30‑day notice as part of a review of the county’s economic‑development approach. The contractor’s own notice, the judge said, effectively made that change immediate. The judge said he will ask the contractor to complete several near‑term tasks before the contract end date, including assistance with a jail‑related RFP process and outreach to municipal partners on an enterprise zone resolution.
Commissioners agreed to convene a work session to evaluate the county’s economic‑development strategy and next steps, and asked staff to invite Business Oregon, GEODC (Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation), BizHarney and other relevant entities so the court can better understand services available and avoid duplicating existing programs. Commissioners and staff discussed that some services (for example, grant administration or financing programs) are already provided by regional partners and that a local contractor’s role should be tailored to complement, not duplicate, those offerings.
Court members also discussed the county website and current webmaster contract and suggested budgeting or procurement options to reduce website costs so economic‑development funds can be allocated to programmatic activities.
Ending: The court set a tentative work‑session date and asked staff to reach out to stakeholders to confirm availability and to bring the existing contract and any ownership/transfer information for county‑paid branding assets to clarify what remains county property after contractor departure.
