July Message from Board Chair Karen Vineyard
The economic impacts from COVID-19 are staggering. This is not news to any OBI member, and, indeed, I have written about these impacts in this column in previous months.
June Message from Board Chair Karen Vineyard
Over the last few weeks, we have heard more about Juneteenth, and this year, perhaps more than any other, I hope we will all take a moment not just to mark this historic milestone, but also to reflect on the tremendous challenges still facing our nation in dealing with racial and economic inequities.
May Message from Board Chair Karen Vineyard
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the private sector incredibly hard. Indeed, economists noted that the current COVID-19 recession is the worst since the Great Depression.
Oregon Employment Dept Reports 1 in 7 Oregonians Lost Jobs
In new data released Thursday, April 16, the Oregon Employment Department stated that more than 300,000 Oregonians have been laid off with about 54,000 in the past week alone. That translates to roughly 1 in 7 Oregonians.
Western Governors Coordinating on Economic Restart, Timeline Unclear
In coordination with the governors of Washington and California, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced on Tuesday, April 14, that she will be taking a science-based approach as she decides how to lift her Stay Home, Save Lives executive order and reopen Oregon business.
Oregon Unemployment Claims Outpace the Great Recession Total Job Loss
This week, the Oregon Employment Department reported it received a total of 269,900 unemployment claims in a three week period as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Business Coalition Again Calls on Gov. Brown for Economic Relief
In light of Gov. Brown’s announcement on Wednesday, April 9, that she would be extending K-12 and postsecondary school closures through the remainder of the school year, and that districts should be putting their Student Success Act spending plans on hold, OBI joined with dozens of other business associations to again ask for a delay in the implementation of the Corporate Activity Tax.
Coronavirus Crisis Impacting Oregon Mainstay Manufacturers
Over the last week, three major Oregon manufacturers said they were curtailing operations. Precision Castparts, Evraz and Greenbrier all appear to be reacting to the economic impacts of the coronavirus outbreak. Meantime, Daimler extended its Portland factory shut down that started March 25. Oregon’s Stay Home order allows manufacturers to continue operating so long as they implement social distancing…
April Message from Board Chair Karen Vineyard
My first few months as your OBI Board Chair have been marked by a public health crisis of unprecedented magnitude. Since the first case of the novel coronavirus in Oregon was confirmed, our communities have been enveloped in chaos, fear and uncertainty.
Governor Announces Schools Closed for Rest of School Year
Gov. Kate Brown announced today that Oregon schools would remain closed for the remainder of the 2019/2020 school year, attributing that decision to the difficulty in implementing social distancing practices in a school environment.