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Business Q&A -- Gordon Safely Q: What is your assessment of Southern Oregon's current economy and how does it differ since you joined SOREDI in 1992? The current non-timber based manufacturing is more diverse and provides much more stability to the region's economy. The economy of the early '90s was still heavily dependent upon agriculture, including both timber and production crops. During this period the economy lost close to 2,000 jobs in the timber industry and we have seen a major reduction in the number of acres of production crops, especially pear orchards. Q: Has SOREDI been able to stick to its original objectives and what obstacles have cropped up to make its job more difficult? SOREDI has been able to maintain its original objectives that are devoted to assisting in job creation through business expansion & retention of existing businesses and the recruitment of new businesses. We have adjusted the amount of resources devoted to business expansion and retention, and recruitment several times during the past 10 years in order to address changes in the economy and the needs of our private and public partners and communities. The obstacles we face generally deal with how do we maintain the flexibility to react quickly to the changing needs of the economy and the business community. Q: What specific type of industry do you see this area attracting in the next two or three years and perhaps 10 years? The Rogue Valley offers an unsurpassed quality of life that attracts small businesses that are not tied to a specific location due to raw materials, suppliers or customers. The businesses that have the flexibility to locate in places like the Rogue Valley include back office and call center facilities. We are centrally located to major West Coast centers, such as Seattle and San Francisco, which is attractive to warehouse and distribution facilities. We have an international airport that provides access for cargo activities to and from the Pacific Rim countries. How this changes over the next 10 years will depend on many factors including air shed considerations, water supplies and perhaps utility costs. Q: What do you think of state Sen. Lenn Hannon's economic development strike force proposal and what can be done to make this area more hospitable to economic development? The region owes a lot to Sen. Hannon for the economic success he has brought to Southern Oregon, as well as the rest of the Oregon. He has been steadfast in his support of economic growth and job creation within the state. The key to current and future economic development efforts will be our ability to react quickly to rapidly changing business and economic conditions. The ability to quickly site a company will be the critical decision factor for most companies looking to relocate to new areas. Q: What does SOREDI do on a day-to-day basis? SOREDI works with existing businesses to help them expand and grow by providing assistance in areas such as site locations, financing, and permitting. We provide community development assistance to smaller communities within Jackson and Josephine counties, ranging from how to locate and access funding sources, to grant administration, to providing help with the formation of a water district. Finally, we market and prospect leads for the region to new businesses interested in locating a new facility. We work with our local partners, cities and private sector, to develop marketing materials and process prospective leads with the goal of locating new businesses in the region to create new employment opportunities for our citizens and increase the property tax base for our communities. To suggest a subject for this column, please contact business reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.