Advocacy

Local Updates

SDC Methodology Update  Earlier this week, city staff presented stakeholder feedback and policy considerations for revisions to the SDC Methodology. The initial proposal, presented in January, generated significant concerns about double and triple digit increases to...

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State Updates

The 2024 Legislative Session is underway and moving quickly towards adjournment on March 10th. Nearly 300 bills have been introduced, of which half or less are moving forward after the first round of deadlines last week. As expected, the focus has been on housing...

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What’s Ahead in 2024 – State and Local Policy Changes

With the new year comes change, and businesses in Oregon can expect 2024 to be a big year. Policy discussions at the State Capitol and closer to home in City Council chambers will have implications for businesses in the coming year.   The Oregon Legislature will meet...

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City Plans to Adopt Transportation Utility Fee

As Bend continues to grow, so does the wear and tear on the City’s transportation system. Until now, the City has relied on the State Gas Tax and local property taxes to underwrite road maintenance. However, new revenue modeling has shown that those sources are...

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Local Investments in Workforce Housing

Oregon has a housing crisis, and in Central Oregon, we know this all too well. Our community has seen a drastic increase in housing prices, double-digit rent increases and low inventory. Investments in housing were a focal point for legislators during the 2023...

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City Sets Budgets for Next Biennium

Springtime is the season for budget setting, and as such the City of Bend is engaged in budget setting processes for the next cycle. The city runs a biennial budget and adjusts annually based on projected revenue and community expenses. Citizen engagement is key as a...

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Legislature Passes Halfway Mark; Plans 2023-25 Budget

–The Legislature has hit the halfway mark and several important deadlines have come and gone. Notably, the April 4th deadline for bills to pass through their first Chamber committee of reference (or be referred to Rules or Revenue Committees). Roughly half of the...

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Update from the State Capitol

The Chamber is tracking nearly over 75 bills in a variety of issue areas from economic development and tax reform to child care and housing issues. In short, there is a lot under discussion in Salem.

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Time for Solutions to Bend’s Housing Shortage

Ask any employer in town whether the labor shortage is affecting them, and they will likely answer yes.

Most will tell you that lack of workers has shortened operating hours, increased workload for others and decreased their revenue.

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Bend Chamber — Tackling Big Problems, Together

The Bend Chamber of Commerce spent 2021 ramping up our mainstay leadership, networking, advocacy and resource programs impacted in the first year of COVID. But we spent much of our energy working on longer-term issues that have taken a toll on employers and the workforce.

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The Bend Chamber is actively supported by these Signature Investors