Governor’s new Prosperity Council visits Redmond’s BASX and Hayden Homes, meets with local business leaders

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Gov. Tina Kotek's new Prosperity Council traveled to Redmond on Tuesday for their second official meeting, to discuss strategies for Oregon's economic growth. The session included a tour of the BASX manufacturing facility tour and a roundtable discussion at Hayden Homes with Central Oregon business leaders.

The meeting was part of the council's charge to identify ways to make the state more competitive. During the visit, members gathered feedback from local employers to help shape policy recommendations and received a briefing on the state's latest revenue forecast, according to a news release from the governor's office.

The council began the day with a tour of BASX, a Redmond-based manufacturer of high-efficiency data center cooling solutions, cleanroom systems, custom HVAC systems and modular solutions. Members observed the manufacturing processes first-hand, to understand the caliber of businesses operating in Central Oregon.

Following the facility tour, the council convened a business roundtable at the headquarters of Hayden Homes, the Redmond-based homebuilders. Council members met with area employers to hear directly about what actions the state should take to encourage economic growth. The discussion focused on identifying what programs are currently effective and what policy changes are necessary.

Gov. Kotek emphasized that the state must be proactive in maintaining its economic standing. "Oregon's prosperity is not a given. We have to act with intention to be more competitive," Kotek said. She noted that the meeting in Redmond was specifically designed to help the council understand the perspectives of businesses in the region.

Renée James, co-chair of the council, said the tour demonstrated the type of industry Oregon can support.

"Seeing firsthand how companies like BASX are manufacturing here in Oregon demonstrates the caliber of businesses we can attract and grow in this state," James said. She added that the council is committed to translating "real-world experiences into practical policy recommendations" to improve state competitiveness.

Co-Chair Curtis Robinhold explained that the council is traveling across the state because economic needs vary by region.

"Central Oregon's business community showed us that economic prosperity isn't one-size-fits-all," Robinhold said. He stated that the group is "taking this council on the road" to hear from workers and communities in every part of the state to build a strategy for shared prosperity.

The day concluded with a briefing on Oregon's revenue forecast and economic outlook. Members held a discussion regarding the state's financial trajectory following the presentation of the economic data.

Former state Senator Tim Knopp of Bend,, who Kotek recently chose as the state’s Chief Prosperity Officer, will attend council meetings and work closely with the council. 

The council has launched an online statewide survey and other engagement tools on its website. Oregonians can use these resources to share insights and ideas about the state's economic future to help guide the council's upcoming work.

Engagement tools are available on the Council’s website: https://www.oregon.gov/gov/policies/Pages/Prosperity-Council.aspx. A list of the 16 council members can be found on the Governor's Prosperity Council website here.