Report calls for bold action to strengthen Oregon’s economic competitiveness, create family-wage jobs, and expand opportunity for all Oregonians
SALEM, Ore. — On June 25, 2026, the Oregon Prosperity Council presented Governor Tina Kotek with its final report, Recommendations for Oregon’s Long-Term Competitiveness and Prosperity, a comprehensive report for modernizing Oregon’s economy and positioning the state for long-term growth.
The Council was convened by Governor Kotek in January 2026, to develop actionable recommendations to inform the Governor’s Prosperity Roadmap. The Council developed its recommendations through five working sessions held between January and June 2026 in Portland, Pendleton, Eugene, and Redmond, as well as 66 listening sessions in 25+ Oregon communities. More than 45 letters were submitted and reviewed and over 1,000 people responded to a statewide engagement survey.
“Oregon is at an inflection point, and the path we choose will define the state’s economic trajectory for a generation. The Prosperity Council heard the same message everywhere we went: Oregonians want bold action. This report gives the Governor and Legislature a clear path. Now it’s time to use it,” said co-chair Renee James.
“Oregonians showed up for this process. From Pendleton to Eugene to the coast, people took time to tell us what they need to build a better future here. That kind of civic investment deserves to be honored with real action. Oregon has the natural resources, the industries, the talent, and the geographic position to compete with anyone,” said co-chair Curtis Robinhold.
The Council’s report notes that Oregon is at a turning point. Oregon currently ranks 49th in the nation in non-farm employment growth, carries an unemployment rate of 5.2% (above the national rate of 4.3%), and 41% of households statewide do not earn enough to cover basic necessities, ranking 34th among all states.
The council considered five key policy areas and has identified 10 priority recommendations to improve Oregon’s business climate, strengthen its workforce, and modernize the tools needed to support growth. The Council’s 10 priority recommendations are:
Economic Development
- Transform Business Oregon into the Oregon Commerce Authority, governed by a board of business and innovation leaders and the Governor, modeled on best practices for statewide economic development organizations.
Taxes
- Strengthen Oregon’s competitiveness through near-term tax reforms including modernizing the Research and Development tax credit, updating the Estate Tax to support family businesses, reforming the Corporate Activity Tax to reduce burdens on small and medium-sized businesses, and reconnecting Qualified Small Business Stock policies to the federal tax code.
- Convene a nonpartisan tax reform working group to develop a comprehensive long-term proposal implementable by 2029.
Permitting and Regulations
- Establish enforceable statewide permitting timelines and guardrails (a “shot clock”) requiring agencies to approve or deny complete applications within clear statutory deadlines, while maintaining environmental and safety standards.
- Reduce regulatory and administrative burdens by 20% by 2029, removing outdated and duplicative regulations while maintaining protections for public health, essential services and the environment.
- Adopt a market-based Cap and Invest program for greenhouse gas emissions aligned with California and Washington. Upon implementation, the Governor should repeal the Climate Protection Program.
Site Readiness and Infrastructure
- Establish a dedicated, recurring site readiness and infrastructure fund of $250 million per biennium, using bonding authority tied to future economic growth.
- Modernize land use statutes governing industrial and business development sites to ensure an adequate supply of development-ready land across the state.
Talent Development
- Establish a Governor’s Cabinet of Economic and Talent Development to align state agencies around measurable economic, education, and workforce outcomes.
- Strategically align higher education funding with West Coast states, and commit $20 million per biennium to the University Innovation Research Fund to strengthen Oregon’s research, innovation, and industry partnerships in high-growth sectors.
The full report is available here: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/policies/Pages/Prosperity-Council.aspx
About the Oregon Prosperity Council
The Oregon Prosperity Council was convened by Governor Tina Kotek to develop actionable recommendations to strengthen Oregon’s long-term economic competitiveness and prosperity. Co-chaired by Renée James, founder of Ampere Computing, and Curtis Robinhold, executive director of the Port of Portland, the Council includes business, labor, and community leaders from across the state.
