Archive for July 2023
HB 2984 – Commercial to Residential Conversion
HB 2984 passed and is awaiting the signature of Governor Kotek – The bill requires local governments to allow conversion of a building from commercial to residential use without requiring a zone change or conditional use permit. Shifts in the retail industry toward online shopping, and the advancement of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic,…
Read MoreOregon’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.7% in May
Oregon’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.7% in May, down from 4.0% in April. This was the fourthconsecutive monthly drop in the unemployment rate, down from a recent high of 4.8% in January. TheMay rate was similar to rates in February through May 2022, when it ranged from 3.5% to 3.7%.Oregon’s May unemployment rate of 3.7%…
Read MoreOregon Economic Update: No Recession in 2023
by Amy Vander Vliet Oregon Regional Economist July 11, 2023 Inflation is slowing, wages are rising, and job growth remains strong. For these reasons, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) believes we will avoid a recession in the near term. However, we’re not out of the woods yet. Inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve’s…
Read MoreCommercial Strategic Energy Management
By Oregon Energy Trust – https://www.energytrust.org/commercial/strategic-energy-management/ Save energy and build resilience Improving energy efficiency is one of the easiest ways to reduce operating costs. You can reinvest savings in your organization and employees, operate more sustainably and respond more effectively in a rapidly changing world. Strategic Energy Management (SEM) is an Energy Trust of Oregon…
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