Oregon treasurer in Bend to discuss C. Oregon economy

Oregon Treasurer Tobias Read was in Bend Thursday to discuss the future growth of business and industry in Central Oregon.

Local businesses owners and investors sat down with Read to give their input on how they want to see the state’s $94 billion budget utilized to best benefit the future of Bend’s economy.

He said the main goal of the Oregon Treasury Department is to support business and education in order to create jobs and better the economy.

Read said he wants to give businesses the opportunity to grow and learn on their own, while assisting the growth process from the state level.

Bend’s growth will inevitably happen, he said, but it is a matter of deciding in what direction the economy should move in.