Oregon’s Economic Reset Plan
Restarting Growth Through a Talent Flywheel
Oregon Is Falling Behind
For decades, Oregon attracted people seeking opportunity, lifestyle, and economic mobility. From 1990 to 2020, our population grew by 1.5 million people.
Today, warning signs are everywhere:
Oregon ranks near the bottom nationally in education
Population growth has stalled or declined
The cost of living keeps rising
California and Washington have poured resources into their universities, research funding, and technology ecosystems. The result is some of the strongest innovation economies in the world.
If Oregon does nothing, we will continue to fall behind.
See the 2026 Portland Metro Chamber report for the dismal picture.
The Core Problem
Oregon’s economy runs on workers.
Unlike most states, Oregon does not have a sales tax.
Instead, the state relies heavily on income taxes paid by workers and businesses.
That means when jobs disappear:
tax revenue falls
public services suffer
economic decline accelerates
The solution is not complicated.
Oregon must grow its workforce.
The Strategy: The Talent Flywheel
The Oregon Economic Reset Plan focuses on one idea: build the strongest talent economy in America.
The strategy works like a flywheel:
Invest in education and skills
Graduate more talented workers
Employers move here for the talent
New jobs are created
More people move to Oregon
The economy grows
Then the cycle repeats.
This is how cities like Austin, Denver, and Raleigh became economic powerhouses.
Oregon can do the same.
Priority #1: Make Higher Education Free
If Oregon wants the best workforce in America, we must remove barriers to education.
The Oregon Economic Reset Plan proposes:
Tuition-free public universities for Oregon residents
Free trade schools and apprenticeships
Expanded workforce training partnerships
Education should be treated as economic infrastructure, just like roads and bridges.
Priority #2: Attract Talent
Oregon already has one of the most attractive lifestyles in America.
We should actively recruit:
entrepreneurs
remote workers
young professionals
skilled trades workers
Few places combine:
natural beauty
outdoor lifestyle
culture
innovation
Oregon should compete aggressively for talent.
Priority #3: Make Government Work Better
Economic growth requires government that works.
We should focus on:
faster permitting
streamlined regulation
modernize outdated government technology systems
eliminating outdated programs
Efficient government helps businesses grow.
The Opportunity
Oregon has everything needed for success:
incredible natural beauty
strong universities
creative culture
a tradition of innovation
What we need now is a clear strategy.
If Oregon builds the best talent economy in America, businesses will follow.
And when businesses grow, the entire state prospers.
A Choice for Oregon
We can continue drifting.
Or we can reset the economy and build the next generation of opportunity.
The Oregon Economic Reset Plan is a roadmap to do exactly that.