Oregon is home to thousands of manufacturers that employ more than 200,000 people. In October, OBI will lead a three-day tour featuring members of this critical sector. The tour will allow policymakers and community leaders to learn more about the state’s varied manufacturers and the ways in which they benefit Oregon and its economy.
Day two of the Roadshow (Oct. 3) is full. If you would like to register for day one or day three, please email Katie Koenig at katiekoenig@oregonbusinessindustry.com.
ITINERARY
Oct. 2: Pendleton Chamber of Commerce Roundtable Breakfast (Pendleton), Pendleton Woolen Mills (Pendleton), Tillamook Columbia River Processing (Boardman), Hood River Distillers (Hood River)
Oct. 3: Daimler Truck North America Proving Grounds (Madras), Bend Chamber of Commerce Roundtable Lunch (Bend), Epic Aircraft (Bend), BASX Solutions (Redmond)
Oct. 4: Freres Engineered Wood (Lyons), Salem Area Chamber of Commerce Roundtable Lunch (Salem), Machine Sciences Corp. (Tualatin), PGE Sherwood Training Center (Sherwood)
CELEBRATING MANUFACTURERS IN 2023
OBI will celebrate the contributions of Oregon’s manufacturing sector throughout 2023. In addition to the annual Manufacturing and Innovation Roadshow, OBI has launched the annual Coolest Thing Made in Oregon competition, which allows Oregonians to vote on the coolest product made in the state. This year also will mark the inaugural Manufacturer of the Year Awards. On Manufacturing Day, marked on Oct. 6, OBI’s Manufacturing Council of Oregon will present awards recognizing businesses in three categories: Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Environmental Sustainability and Excellence in Workforce and Community Impact. Follow the links below to learn more.
LEARN ABOUT TOUR STOPS
Pendleton Woolen Mills
Pendleton Woolen Mills operates two of the four woolen mills still operating in the United States.
Tillamook Boardman Processing Facility
Tillamook’s processing facility in Boardman can produce up to 170 million pounds of cheese per year.
Hood River Distillers
Founded in 1934, Hood River Distillers is the oldest and largest distillery in the Pacific Northwest.
Daimler Truck North America
Reliability and durability testing for all models takes place at DTNA’s High Desert Proving Grounds in Madras.
Epic Aircraft
Epic Aircraft manufactures a high-performance, single-engine aircraft at its facility in Bend.
BASX Solutions
BASX Solutions manufactures high-efficiency HVAC systems for data centers and other industries.
Freres Engineered Wood
Freres Engineered Wood’s MassPly product consists of layers of wood glued together to form panels.
Machine Sciences Corp.
Machine Sciences Corp. manufactures complex parts for space, aerospace and similar industries.
PGE Sherwood Training Center
The Sherwood Training Center focuses primarily on training line apprentices to become journeyman linemen.
FAQ
OBI’s Manufacturing and Innovation Roadshow, now in its second year, highlights the incredible work of Oregon’s growing manufacturing sector. We’ll spend three days in October driving across Oregon to showcase the state’s manufacturers. Joined by our local, state, and federal leaders, tour guests will have a front row seat as we explore the ways that manufacturing contributes to a healthy, prosperous Oregon.
Oregon’s manufacturers support our state and local tax base. Employers in this sector contribute more than $33 billion each year to the state’s GDP, according to a report conducted by ECONorthwest on behalf of OBI and the Oregon Business Council. The report found that a 10% increase in manufacturing output would provide more than $800 million in additional annual revenues for state and local governments.
Oregon’s manufacturing economy helps everyone. Manufacturing offers substantially higher-wage jobs for minority workers than other sectors.
Oregon ranks among the national leaders in per-capita manufacturing output. A 2021 report conducted by ECONorthwest on behalf of OBI and the Oregon Business Council found that employment in Oregon’s manufacturing sector increased 14% between1969 and 2019. U.S. manufacturing jobs overall declined by 34% during the same period.
BY THE NUMBERS
IN THE NEWS
Sept. 29, 2023
Epic Aircraft of Bend Given Innovation Award from Oregon Business & Industry Group
The Bulletin writes about OBI’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards, which recognize Epic Aircraft, Radius Recycling and the Tillamook County Creamery Association.
Sept. 25, 2023
Innovation Roadshow Highlights Daimler in Madras
The Madras Pioneer previews the Manufacturing Roadshow’s Oct. 3 visit to Daimler Truck North America’s High Desert Proving Grounds
Sept. 24, 2023
OBI President and CEO Angela Wilhelms Previews Manufacturing Roadshow in Bulletin Op-Ed
Wilhelms discusses central Oregon Roadshow stops and urges legislators to continue work to improve the state’s competitiveness.