Chamber Business Forum: Land, Labor, & Capital
Land provides the resources, labor brings the effort, and capital fuels the growth. Together, they form the foundation of every successful business and thriving economy. When land, labor, and capital align in Corvallis’s economic climate, a resilient and innovative local economy emerges.

Panelist:
Rebecca Robinson - Associate Vice President for Economic Development and Industry Relations at OSU
Amy Burbee - Office of Work-Based Learning Faculty Department Chair at LBCC
Christopher Jacobs - Economic Development Manager, City of Corvallis

This forum will highlight:

• Land: Core Focuses, Key Challenges in Corvallis, OSU's Role, Opportunities & Solutions

  • Define what 'site readiness' means in today’s economic development landscape
  • Explain difference between available land vs. development-ready land
  • Infrastructure limitations (utilities, roads, etc.)
  • Zoning and permitting timelines
  • Limited inventory of industrial-ready land
  • University-driven innovation and research partnerships
  • Opportunities to align land use with innovation economy
  • Public-private partnerships to prepare land
  • Strategic investment in infrastructure
  • Regional collaboration to expand readiness

• Labor: Core Focuses, Current Workforce Gaps, System Challenges, Opportunities & Solutions

  • Overview of workforce pipeline in Benton County
  • Role of community colleges in workforce training
  • Shortage in skilled trades (construction, manufacturing, etc.)
  • Mismatch between employer expectations and worker readiness
  • Decline/shift of SBDC support toward trades
  • Capacity limitations in training programs
  • Expand employer partnerships
  • Increase apprenticeship and hands-on training programs
  • Align curriculum more directly with local industry needs

• Capital: Core Focuses, Current Tools, Challenges, Local Reality, Forward-Looking Solutions

  • Explain economic development tools available in Corvallis
  • Connect land, labor, and capital constraints
  • Tax increment financing (TIF)
  • Enterprise zones and local incentives
  • Projects not penciling due to high costs
  • Competition from nearby cities with stronger incentives
  • Examples of stalled or successful projects in Corvallis
  • How workforce and land issues affect financing viability
  • Potential new or expanded incentive tools
  • Policy changes to improve competitiveness
  • Strategies to better align stakeholders

Whether you’re a business leader, community member, or simply interested in the future of devopment including incentives, workforce needs, and forward-solutions for our city, this forum offers valuable insights and the chance to be part of the conversation!