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Coolest Thing Voting Begins as 16 Finalists Revealed

Finalists revealed: This morning, OBI revealed the 16 finalists in the fourth annual Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest, which recognizes the breadth and ingenuity of Oregon’s manufacturing sector. This year’s finalists represent a wide variety of products manufactured throughout the state, from Ashland to Boardman.

Time to vote: The finalists appear on a bracket that will be used to determine the Coolest Thing Made in Oregon (click image to the right to see a larger version). The first round of voting, which will cut the list to eight products, is now open and will continue through noon on Sept. 28. Learn more about the finalists below – and, more importantly, vote – on the Coolest Thing Made in Oregon web page here.

Coolest Thing finalists:

 

What comes next: The next round of voting will begin on Sept. 29. The winner will be announced on Oct. 28 during OBI’s annual Vision Oregon Event (learn more and register here).

Oregon Leadership Academy Launches in Salem

The inaugural Oregon Leadership Academy cohort met for the first time in Salem last week. Over two days, participants met with legislators from around the state, observed committee proceedings, toured the state Capitol and heard from legislative staff, professional advocates and other leaders about how policy is developed and how business professionals can engage in the process.

Additionally, the cohort visited the Willamette Career Academy to learn more about workforce development and partnerships between education and industry. The academy will continue this fall with sessions focused on communications, advocacy and leadership development. If you are interested in learning more about the Oregon Leadership Academy, visit its page here or email Ryan Tuthill at OBI (ryantuthill@oregonbusinessindustry.com).

Latest Podcast: Dave Chown and Ahna Ward of Chown Hardware

Our interview: Iconic Chown Hardware has operated in Portland for more than a century. Dave Chown ran the company for many years with his brother Fred, and Ahna Ward is its current CEO. In this episode, they discuss Chown Hardware’s evolution, its current lines of business, its supportive company culture and the benefits – and challenges – of operating in Portland and Oregon.

Listen to our interview with Dave and Ahna here.

More episodes: Check out our recent interview with Amy Lewin, director of arts and culture at the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust. Links to this and other interviews can be found on the Oregon Business Matters website.

The Oregon Business Matters podcast can be found on major podcast platforms, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Policy and Rulemaking Updates

Climate Protection Program: DEQ’s rulemaking to establish a carbon intensity benchmark for designated emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) businesses within the Climate Protection Program (CPP) will hold its third meeting on Sept. 15. The rulemaking is intended to address the risk of carbon and economic leakage caused by the CPP’s costs and burdens and enable businesses to continue to grow in Oregon under the new program. The rulemaking is critical to the 37 businesses directly regulated under the CPP. The challenge is that DEQ’s current approach in the rulemaking is unlikely to provide businesses the flexibility and regulatory certainty they need to continue investing in Oregon operations. Additionally, by regulating different sectors (EITEs, natural gas and transportation fuel) under the same greenhouse gas emissions cap, improving regulatory outcomes for one sector would result in negative impacts to other sectors. OBI and 17 regulated entities are serving on the rulemaking advisory committee (RAC) and have provided extensive input into the process. A final RAC meeting will be held Oct. 21, and public notice and comment on a proposed rule is expected later this year.

Prosperity Council hearings: Both the Interim House Economic Development, Small Business and Trade Committee and the Senate Commerce and General Government Committee heard testimony last week from the Governor’s Prosperity Council co-chairs, Curtis Robinhold and Renée James, about the council’s work and recommendations. Also testifying were members of the council representing labor and other advocates who disagreed with some or all of the council’s conclusions and its recommendations, particularly on tax policy. It remains unclear whether the council’s recommendations will gain traction with legislators heading into the 2027 session. You can read OBI’s memo to the council here and OBI’s statement about the council’s recommendations here.

Surveillance pricing hearing: On Sept. 9, the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational hearing on so-called “surveillance pricing,” which refers to the practice of charging customized prices using personal data and algorithms. The committee invited advocates for such policies but failed to include industry stakeholders. Thus, the hearing relied on anecdote and conjecture rather than fact-based examples of what companies are – or are not – doing. By and large, surveillance pricing does not happen. Yet regulations aimed at the practice could jeopardize loyalty programs and other discounts that help consumers. Further regulating loyalty programs and other discounts also would layer additional regulatory compliance onto retailers, which already contend with Oregon’s broadly restrictive business environment. OBI will work with other stakeholders to ensure this effort targets only demonstrable harm and does not expand the state’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act or regulate industries the state is preempted from regulating.

Cleaner Air Oregon: Although DEQ held its fourth and final RAC meeting on the Cleaner Air Oregon Toxicity Reference Value rulemaking in late June, the agency has taken the unusual step of proposing an additional RAC meeting, likely in October. OBI, with technical support from ToxStrategies, submitted extensive comments on DEQ’s proposal in July. ToxStrategies identified 11 chemistries for which there are major questions about the scientific underpinnings of DEQ’s proposal as well as the necessity of increasing program stringency to protect public health. At the Environmental Quality Commission’s Sept. 11 meeting, OBI requested that the 11 chemistries be excluded from the current rulemaking and further action paused until significant scientific questions can be resolved through additional, objective inquiry. As part of the request, OBI staff noted that Gov. Kotek’s Prosperity Council urged a pause in the rule in its July recommendations report.

Data center hearing: On Sept. 8, the House Interim Committee on Climate, Energy and the Environment held an informational hearing on data centers in Oregon. The hearing was fact-based and well-focused, even with many anti-data center protestors in the audience. Starting with a broad economic overview from ECONorthwest and enlightening facts provided by OBI member Amazon Web Services, the hearing also covered tax policy from the Legislative Fisal Office and included presentations from DEQ, and Water Resources Department, Public Utility Commission and Department of Energy covering their respective regulatory and policy engagements with the industry. OBI member Torus also presented information about its energy storage and reliability technology that is of use to data centers. OBI is committed to ensuring that fact-based information is infused into the highly political policy discussions about data centers in the state.

Fuel Terminal Rulemaking: The first RAC meeting took place Aug. 28 on DEQ’s proposal to require certificates of financial responsibility of up to $300 million for bulk fuel terminals in Multnomah, Columbia and Lane counties. The rulemaking is required by HB 4100, which the Legislature passed in 2026. OBI and bulk fuel terminal stakeholders supported this legislation because it provides financial assurance for cleanup activities in the event of a spill and pre-empts local governments from layering on additional requirements. However, OBI has several concerns about DEQ’s rulemaking proposal, which is likely to increase fuel costs for Oregonians and businesses. OBI’s concerns involve duplicative financial assurances, the methodology used to calculate risk, requirements that expand liability beyond the statutory authority of HB 4100, and restrictions on the ways in which companies may demonstrate financial assurance. OBI is serving on the RAC and will provide comments about the initial proposal. A second and final RAC meeting will be held Oct. 9, and a proposed rule will be issued for public comment later this year.

Toxic-free cosmetics: On Sept. 10, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) held its third RAC meeting to implement SB 546, which passed during the 2023 session. The law requires OHA to make a list of high-priority chemicals of concern used in cosmetic products. It also prohibits manufacturers from selling certain cosmetics in Oregon despite the lack of evidence justifying the ban. OBI opposed this law because it targets broad classes of chemicals, requires Oregon to regulate cosmetics more strictly than any other state except for California and Washington, disregards the existence of strict federal laws and ignores the rigorous safeguards and protections the cosmetics industry already employs. During rulemaking, OHA has declined to align with California’s list of high-priority chemicals of concern, adding three chemicals that New York alone has deemed worrisome. During rulemaking, OBI has consistently argued that Oregon’s program should regulate these products no more strictly than our neighboring states to avoid disrupting the state’s supply of cosmetics.

Undersea cable rulemaking: The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) has extended the public comment period for proposed changes to administrative rules covering easements for uses of the territorial sea – most critically for business, undersea cables. The extended comment period is now open until Monday, Sept. 21, at 5:00 p.m. DSL’s stated reason is to allow time for more input. OBI already submitted comments. DSL indicated it will present proposed rules at the Dec. 8 meeting of the State Land Board (made up of the governor, secretary of state and treasurer) with implementation in January 2027.

Data center committee releases findings: The Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee, appointed by Gov. Kotek in January, has released its Preliminary Learnings and Questions Document. The report summarizes the information, data and evidence received since the group started and presents a variety of questions and considerations. It does not contain recommendations. A recommendations document will be released in December. Despite the tone of current public discourse, the impacts of data centers on water, power, air and land are relatively modest. Meanwhile, water discharged from data centers must meet the same federal and state water quality standards as other industrial uses. The only air quality impact noted involves diesel-fueled backup generators, which run for less than half an hour each month (and many use renewable diesel). Land use impacts reported by this committee are the same industrial land challenges Oregon faces across industries. With respect to electricity use, state ratepayers are protected while data centers have the capacity to improve grid utilization and increase flexibility. The economic benefits of data centers, meanwhile, are significant. Prineville’s unemployment rate fell from 20% to 6% following data center development, and data center operations jobs account for about 15% of employment in Morrow County. Also worth noting: 70% of submitted comments thus far were “near-copy form letters” opposed to data centers, with the majority coming from the Portland metro area.

Notable News

Data center politics: Gov. Tina Kotek this month embraced growing calls in Oregon for a statewide moratorium on date centers, joining a rally of close to 200 industry opponents on the Capitol steps in Salem. It wasn’t enough for some of the Democratic governor’s allies, though, who want her to move faster (The Oregonian).

Oregon labor market: The historic wave of layoffs that rocked Oregon in 2024 and 2025 appears behind us now, with the pace of job cuts down sharply this year. Fewer layoffs doesn’t mean more new jobs, though. Not so far (The Oregonian).

Health insurance costs: Tens of thousands of patients with UnitedHealthcare insurance could soon face higher costs for care at Legacy Health if the two sides can’t reach a new contract agreement. Legacy has notified UnitedHealthcare that it plans to end its contract if the two sides can’t reach a deal by the end of the month (The Oregonian).

Marion County incinerator: Reworld Marion’s iconic red-and-white smokestack, a familiar sight for drivers passing Brooks on Interstate 5, will soon come down, the garbage burner’s owner has told the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (Salem Statesman Journal).

Spotted owl extinction: Northern spotted owls have been on the endangered list since the 1990s. Researchers say that’s due to habitat loss from logging and invasive barred owls outcompeting them for prey and space. But a new study from Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service has found that, in many areas, the owls have crossed the line into functional extinction. That is, there are so few left that reproducing or recovering with the help of conservationists isn’t possible (Oregon Public Broadcasting).

Oregon geothermal energy: A company known for solar power and renewable projects in other parts of the country said Sept. 10 it’s investing in geothermal energy in Oregon and Washington. Hexagon Energy says it has reached an agreement with Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser Company to eventually develop as much as 3 gigawatts of power on the timber giant’s lands in Oregon and Washington. If Hexagon can reach that, it would be enough to power more than 2 million homes — and it would double the amount of energy Hexagon has developed or financed over the past decade (Oregon Public Broadcasting).

Oregon student testing: Researchers say it’s become progressively more difficult to gauge how much Oregon students are learning in the 11 years since former Gov. Kate Brown signed a law making it easier for parents to opt their children out of state reading and math tests (The Oregonian).

Vancouver apartment construction: Vancouver continues to lead the metro area in the construction of new apartment units. The city has just under 1,300 new units of housing currently under construction, two-thirds of the total 1,880 apartments in the metro in the pipeline, according to a quarterly report from Colliers (Portland Business Journal).

Nike turnaround: Nike CEO Elliott Hill on Sept. 8 told shareholders he has “growing confidence” in his ongoing turnaround plan, even as the company’s stock continues to struggle (The Oregonian).

Portland vacancy fee: A proposal to create a fee or tax on vacant retail spaces and apartments in Portland has been dropped — for now. City Councilors Jamie Dunphy and Sameer Kanal told the Business Journal in separate statements they are no longer pursuing such a fee (Portland Business Journal).

Agility Robotics financials: Ahead of its upcoming public market debut, Salem manufacturer Agility Robotics offered the first public glimpse of the company’s financials. In a regulatory filing this month, the company reported 2025 revenue of $1.8 million, a jump from $310,000 in 2024. The company reported a net loss of $138 million in 2025. It lost $70 million the year before (Portland Business Journal).

Western energy market: The Bonneville Power Administration‘s new leader, just two months into the job, has outlined a potentially far-reaching shift for the regional energy heavyweight. It involves a new wholesale energy market in the West, which many see as vital to meeting demand, affordability and reliability challenges, but where the region is split (Portland Business Journal).

Check Out OBI’s Member Benefits

OBI offers members a range of programs that can save money or help small businesses offer benefits normally available only to much larger companies. Benefit programs include:

  • HealthChoice: Helps businesses with fewer than 100 employees offer comprehensive health-care benefits through our partnership with Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.
  • Partners Retirement Plan: Allows multiple employers to offer a 401(k) benefit to employees through a group structure while maintaining individual company design and control over the benefit – such as eligibility, employer match, and vesting.
  • CompSAFE: Helps eligible companies enjoy workers’ compensation discounts through SAIF Corporation.
  • Fuel Program: Helps members save fuel costs through our partnership with Ed Staub & Sons.
  • LegalPLUS: OBI members receive 15 minutes of free legal consulting per month from Innova Legal Advisors.

Go here to learn about all of OBI’s member benefits.