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Gov. Brown Focuses on Oregon Economy in State Of Address
By Lauren Dake, Oregon Public Broadcasting
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown gave her state of the state address Monday, focusing on the state’s economic growth and need to boost workforce training.
Oregon is in the midst of an economic recovery, the governor said, but there are still too many people who are struggling in the state. The state is seeing job
growth in a variety of sectors from advanced manufacturing, bioscience, healthcare, energy and information technology, Brown said.
“We should be preparing our high school graduates for these jobs,” Brown said. “For some, even right out of high school.”
Brown announced she is launching what she’s coined “Future Ready Oregon” to provide skills and job training to students and adults. The program will dedicate $300 million to career technical education jobs in the 2019-2021 budget. Brown said she will also emphasize making hands-on learning available in every school district.
The governor also promised a focus on increasing the affordable housing supply in the state.
“It can be just as difficult to find housing in Pendleton as it is in Portland,” Brown said.
Brown noted that while Washington, D.C., is stymied in partisan gridlock, Oregon will continue to work together.
“This legislature is more diverse than ever — and a more accurate representation of our state. This diversity is a major asset,” Brown said.
Brown said the state would continue to fight to keep its public lands public. Oregon will continue to be a welcoming space for immigrants, she said. And, she noted, this session, lawmakers need to tackle the state’s pension system, the opioid crisis and focus on closing the skills gap.
