Matt Evans, representing the Lake Oswego Chamber of Commerce, told the City Council Tuesday that the chamber’s third annual report under the 2022 economic development strategy shows steady business formation and recommended modest, targeted investments to increase visitation and local spending.

Evans said 270 new businesses were registered under the city’s business-licensing program in the first 10 months of 2025 and described Lake Oswego as a small-business city: more than three-quarters of local businesses have fewer than 10 employees. "Lake Oswego is a city built on relationships," Evans said, noting events such as the downtown wine walk and the Lake Oswego Arts Festival have drawn visitors from across the region.

The chamber offered three main recommendations: a robust shop-local marketing effort to increase resident purchases; coordinated outreach to draw visitors within a roughly 50-mile radius; and a targeted advertising opportunity in the Mount Hood Territory bridal/travel guide. Evans said Mount Hood Territory would subsidize $3,500 of a full-page ad; the chamber recommended budgeting $8,500 for the ad plus design expenses estimated under $2,500 if the city chooses to support it.

Council reaction was supportive of continued partnership. Mayor Buck and several councilors said the chamber’s proposed pilot marketing work and data-driven approach could be incorporated into the council’s upcoming goal-setting and budget discussions. Staff said the Mount Hood Territory deadline for reserving ad space is Dec. 19 and that payment would be due in March 2026.

What’s next: The council indicated general support for the chamber’s recommendations and asked staff to consider the timing of the ad request in the context of year-end budgeting and goal setting.