economy
Posted inOutside

Is a Big Win for Conservation a Blow to Climate Action?

As extinction and climate crises loom, the Great American Outdoors Act and recreation industry continue to rely on oil money.
Carl Segerstrom, High Country News

On July 22, Congress passed the biggest public-lands spending bill in half a century. The bipartisan bill, called the Great American Outdoors Act, puts nearly $10 billion toward repairing public-lands infrastructure, such as outdated buildings and dysfunctional water systems in national parks. It also guarantees that Congress will spend the $900 million it collects each […]

Posted inNews

The Slow Boat to Recovery

On the last weekend of June, the occupancy rate at local hotels and short-term rentals was at 92%. Will tourism keep Bend’s economy and city budget afloat?
Laurel Brauns

During the Great Recession, some believed tourism in Bend rescued the local economy. Travelers poured money into Central Oregon’s restaurants and coffeeshops, millhouses were transformed into profitable vacation rentals and national sports events attracted first-time visitors. Some visitors decided to relocate to the area, which reinvigorated the real estate market and construction industry. “As far […]

Posted inNews

Bend is Awesome. Don’t Come Here.

In an city dominated by tourism, Bend’s city manager makes an order aimed at keeping visitors away
Laurel Brauns

Eric King, Bend City manager released an order Friday, “discouraging tourist travel” through the end of April. It doesn’t outright outlaw it, however, nor does it pose any fines for violations, nor demand cancellations for current bookings. But for some locals, it’s just the type of direction around outside visitors that they’ve been looking for […]

Posted inNews

Recession Proof?

Local economists report on Bend’s growing tech sector, low unemployment and a strong housing market
Laurel Brauns

As whispers of the next economic downturn grow to a roar in the national news, two regional economic experts believe Central Oregon will not be “bulldozed” this time around. A host of insulating factors—like sustainable job creation in the professional sector, and an unmet demand for affordable housing—may combine to shield the region from a […]

Posted inNews

Facebook Data Center Expansion: Keeping It Local

Crook County residents make up 73 percent of employees at Facebook’s Prineville campus
Jaclyn Brandt

Facebook is growing its presence in Prineville and adding more jobs for local people. Late last month, the company announced an expansion of its data center in Crook County, from 1.2 million square feet to more than 3.2 million square feet. Facebook will invest an additional $750 million into the community and 100 new jobs, […]

Posted inNews

As Expected, Bend Real Estate Market Ends with Another Strong Year

Bend’s median prices increased by 8 percent
Avatar photo Nick Nayne, Principal Broker

The Beacon Report, based on real estate statistics from our local MLS, released its report of the December 2017 figures on Bend single family residence sales of 1 acre or less. The latest report also gives us the complete statistics for the year 2017, with some interesting comparisons to last year for Bend and surrounding […]

Posted inNews

Legal Cannabis is a Boon to Oregon’s Economy

Steve Holmes

Legal sales of so-called “recreational” cannabis have been ongoing in Oregon for only about eight months. Non-medicinal cannabis became legal on July 1, 2015, but sales through existing medical marijuana dispensaries did not begin until Oct. 1, 2015. Data from those initial sales are starting to become public, and show that Oregon’s new legal cannabis […]

Posted inNews

Making local habits a priority

Kelsey Rook

Taped to the register at Bend’s Workhouse in the Old Ironworks Art District is an old tea bag tag that says “Together we can do what we can never do alone.” Owner Cari Dolyniuk told me that this little nugget of wisdom sums up the way that she and the other three shop owners at […]

Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides

Taking The Economy’s Temperature

Housing sales are warming up. Is that good?
Avatar photo Phil Busse

Like predicting the weather in Central Oregon during the finicky spring months, economic forecasts are tricky; sunny afternoons do not necessarily promise warm and dry evenings. Likewise, in the mid-2000s, thousands in Central Oregon were basking in a booming housing market. By 2006, construction and real estate employment was effortlessly adding jobs, and quickly had […]

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