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Economic Development

A train along the Roseburg Lumber Mill near Dillard.Implementation of Statewide Planning Goal 9 ensures that cities plan and designate an adequate land supply for future economic development and employment growth in Oregon. DLCD offers a variety of resources to assist local governments in achieving their economic development planning goals. We provide training, information, and resources on economic development planning. We also lend a hand to any agency working to improve local economies. If there is a plan to revitalize downtown or improve the supply of employment land, we are happy to help make it happen.

We also help planners conduct Economic Opportunities Analyses (EOAs). These reports help cities and counties identify likely industrial and other economic development opportunities and corresponding employment land needs over a 20-year planning period. The results help inform future investors and developers on what industries will best fit the region.

Economic growth is a bit like the weather – while we never know what will happen for sure, knowing the forecast helps us plan for the most likely situation. An Economic Opportunity Analysis (EOA) is like an economic forecast for an area: it equips cities with information to help prepare for growth over time. These analyses help cities and counties understand which industries and services will thrive in their area, and how they can best use land within their urban growth boundaries (UGB).

To build an EOA, communities research their area's economic history and use that data to build economic forecasts. Then they examine how land is used in the region to determine whether or not there will be enough buildable land to accommodate the projected growth. Buildable land includes vacant lots, and land that could be redeveloped to better serve the area over time.

DLCD provides grants to help cover the cost of conducting an EOA. For more details on DLCD's grant programs, please visit the Grants Information page.

Take a look at the following resources to learn more or contact us.​ These sources provide answers to some frequently asked questions and common issues that come up during an economic opportunity analysis:

EOA Examples

Take a look at the examples below if you're curious about what a complete EOA looks like. Please keep in mind that each EOA is unique to a community's circumstances. The examples provide insight for a variety of city sizes and conditions and should not be copied and used without adding information specific to your community.​

For land use planners and community and economic development professionals, economic recovery presents an opportunity to rethink local codes and planning programs, and consider the best, most effective ways to use them as tools for planning and community development. DLCD is committed to assisting local governments in these efforts.

DLCD is a member of the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition. Funding provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration under the "Build Back Better Regional Challenge"​ will support DLCD'​s work in providing technical assistance and modernized community development codes that will catalyze the development of modular mass timber housing.

Additional economic recovery resources are available through Business Oregon's website​.

In 2018, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) received $300,000 for economic development planning assistance from the Oregon Legislature via HB 52​01​. The bill allocates funding "for the purpose of providing technical assistance grants to eastern Oregon counties for economic opportunity analyses (EOAs)." Funding from this program must be spent in its entirety by June 30, 2019. For more information about this project, go to the Eastern Oregon Economic Development Project page​.

This guidebook should help you analyze the land within your community for industrial and other employment needs.

The guidebook is intended to be an ongoing resource and will be updated over time. Your feedback and comments are welcome. Please send questions or suggestions to our Economic Development Specialist​.


Contact

Leigh McIlvaine
Economic Development Specialist
leigh.mcilvaine@dlcd.oregon.gov
Phone: 971-701-1041