Nominate Products for 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Oregon
Nominate products for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest. The nomination window will remain open through July 10.
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CHAIR:
Betsy Earls, Weyerhaeuser Company
STAFF:
Duke Shepard
MANUFACTURING UPDATES
Q&A with Outgoing OBI Board Chair Lori Olund
OBI asked Lori to talk about the role of OBI, the challenges Oregon businesses face, what motivated her to join OBI’s board, and more.
Vision Oregon Event Celebrates Entrepreneurs, Visionaries
OBI’s 2025 Vision Oregon event was a celebration of Oregon entrepreneurs, visionaries and producers of cool products.
Bullseye Glass Wins Coolest Thing Made in Oregon Contest
Portland art glass maker Bullseye Glass voted Coolest Thing Made in Oregon in 2025.
OBI’s Annual Manufacturing and Innovation Roadshow
OBI’s annual Manufacturing and Innovation Roadshow has visited dozens of locations across the state since its creation in 2022. Go here to learn more.
OBI is the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers.
Mission: To protect, promote and grow a positive, globally competitive business climate for manufacturing and related industries in Oregon.
OBI Report Describes Condition of Oregon’s Manufacturing Sector
A 2024 report by ECONorthwest shows that manufacturing contributes $36.3 billion to Oregon’s GDP and employs more than 200,000 people, and the opportunities from growth in this diverse and innovative sector are enormous. For example, a 10% growth in manufacturing would create nearly 51,000 more jobs and provide $800 million more in resources for state and local governments. However, the state’s manufacturing sector has been underperforming relative to the rest of the country in recent years. Between June 2023 and June 2024, Oregon ranked only 45th nationally in manufacturing growth.
Read the full report here and view a slide deck about the report’s findings here.
About MCO
The Manufacturing Council of Oregon is a strong voice of manufacturing and related industries in Oregon. We are a diverse community of makers and innovators dedicated to providing opportunities, removing barriers, and creating the jobs that fuel Oregon’s economy and quality of life. We are proud to be the official state affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers and our goal is to build and enhance a healthy business climate for manufacturing in Oregon.
2026 Manufacturing Policy Principles
OBI recognizes that a robust manufacturing sector is foundational to strong communities and a thriving economic and business climate that helps produce revenue for critical public services. Manufacturing jobs and careers create top-tier wages, benefits and opportunities for the advancement for Oregon workers and families.
Through the Manufacturing Council of Oregon (MCO), OBI’s statewide Manufacturing & Innovation Roadshow bus tour, the Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest and our efforts to develop and grow pro-manufacturing stakeholder groups and initiatives, OBI will continue its focus and leadership on pro-manufacturing advocacy efforts.
OBI/MCO’s broad goal is to protect, promote and grow a positive, globally competitive business climate for manufacturing and related industries throughout Oregon. Working with a broad base of diverse stakeholders, makers and innovators, we will continue our advocacy to provide opportunities, remove barriers and help create the jobs and careers that fuel Oregon’s economy and improve its quality of life.
In addition to the high-level principles noted below, the MCO supports the principles articulated throughout this document in areas such as taxation, energy, workforce and others.
OBI’s manufacturing policy principles:
Business Environment: Promote tax and regulatory policies that support the industry and encourage manufacturing investment, innovation and growth. Specifically, capital equipment in manufacturing (machinery and equipment) should be exempt from property taxes.
Competitiveness: OBI will work to ensure that Oregon provides a sustainable, nationally and globally competitive environment that supports a diverse manufacturing sector by fostering capital investment, innovation, development, education, employment opportunity, workforce training and supply-chain resiliency.
Do No Harm: At the forefront of the MCO’s advocacy will be the principle to do no further harm to the health and competitiveness of the industry in Oregon.
Industry Neutrality: OBI will advocate for policy improvements that benefit all manufacturers and guide policy to avoid creating competitive imbalances within manufacturing or picking “favorite industries” as specific winners or losers.
Infrastructure: Promote local, state and regional infrastructure improvements to facilitate shipping, surface transportation and port access/throughput to enhance access to regional, national and global markets.
Intellectual Property: Support policies that protect intellectual property and proprietary information of manufacturers.
Land Supply and Readiness: Promote policies, including land use system modernization, that will result in increased industrial land supply, expedited industrial site readiness and adequate workforce housing supply.
Resource Availability: Promote sustainable practices, including land-use and energy policies, that ensure Oregon manufacturers have cost-effective access to the resources necessary to compete in regional and global markets.
Workforce Development: Improve career manufacturing employment opportunities through enhanced investment and support of career and technical education and promotion of education-workforce-employer collaboration.