Advocacy Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Bend Chamber of Commerce

City Receives Funding for Hawthorne Avenue Pedestrian and Bicyclist Overcrossing

Bend Chamber helps secure $25 million for Hawthorne Avenue Overcrossing.

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...

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...

City Adopts New Programs to Support Local Businesses

Earlier this week, the Bend Urban Renewal Agency approved two business assistance programs to support Core Area business development. Read more about these programs and their impact on our community

Legislative Bills Aim to Provide Tax Relief to Small Businesses

This session the Chamber is tracking over 125 bills in a variety of issue areas from economic development and tax reform to childcare and housing issues. This week we’re focusing on the Corporate Activities Tax commonly known as the “CAT tax.”

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.

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.

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.

Survey Shows Bend Residents Support More and Denser Housing

New poll released by Bend Chamber of Commerce reveals depth of concern in Bend over rising housing costs. Poll also shows that Bend residents support more multi-family housing, greater urban density, followed by expanding the urban growth boundary.

2021 Legislative Review

The annual legislative session in Salem was anything but ordinary this year, as lawmakers gathered for the 160 day long session lasting from January through mid June. From the start, the session was unique as the Capitol building was closed to the public and all...

Collaborative Childcare Pilot Receives Funding

The Bend Chamber has worked through advocacy and collaboration to find solutions for the lack of childcare, including supporting a new pilot program that will provide up to 100 new slots in Bend.

County Should Kick Start Little Kits Child Care

By Bulletin Editorial Board Child care should enable parents to work and help start children on the path to learning. Oregon’s child care flops. The well-connected and well-paid may be able to find good solutions. Many other families cannot find child care when they...

A Tumultuous but Productive Legislative Session

The 2021 legislative session was characterized by Zoom meetings, COVID-19 restrictions and disruptions. It was surprisingly productive, however. In a normal year, the legislative process is not one for the faint of heart, as over 3,500 bills are introduced in a long session addressing a vast range of issues.

Bend Chamber Advocates for Return-to-Work Bonuses

Virtually every industry in the state is experiencing a workforce challenge. Quality jobs are going unfilled: if this continues, it could hinder economic recovery for Oregon. We know that qualified workers are not yet returning to their jobs for several reasons.

Updates from the State Capitol

The legislative session is well underway and the Chamber's Advocacy Council is actively monitoring 36 bills under our broad policy agenda. With over 3000 bills introduced thus far, the Chamber has leveraged partner organizations to engage in support or opposition of...