Meeting Oregon’s Moment
Oregon is at a critical inflection point. The state has extraordinary strengths, including world-class natural resources, innovative small- and medium-sized businesses, founder-led enterprises, family farms, hospitality businesses, entrepreneurial talent, and globally competitive industries that create local jobs, drive tourism, and shape the cultural identity of communities across the state, but its economic future is increasingly uncertain. Over the past decade, rising costs, slowing population growth, declining competitiveness, and fragmented policymaking have made it harder for small and medium-sized businesses to invest, communities to thrive, and Oregonians to access opportunity. Addressing these challenges will require more than incremental policy changes; it will require confronting structural barriers that limit growth, innovation, and government effectiveness. Too often, Oregonians are paying more while feeling they receive less in return. Without meaningful change, Oregon risks falling into a cycle of economic stagnation, declining public confidence, eroding services, and fewer pathways to upward mobility.

The Prosperity Council believes Oregon can and must pursue a more ambitious future. Prosperity requires bold leadership, accountable government, strong educational outcomes, a competitive business climate, and an economy that creates family-wage jobs and opportunity across the state. Incremental change will not be enough to meet the scale of Oregon’s challenges. The recommendations that follow are intended to help the Governor and Legislature take urgent, coordinated action to modernize Oregon’s systems, improve competitiveness, and position the state for long-term growth, innovation, and broad-based prosperity shared by Oregonians at every economic level.

Click here to view the full report: Oregon Prosperity Council Report June 2026.pdf