A new economic development proposal introduced at the Oregon Legislature is seeking to position the state for long-term competitiveness in advanced manufacturing while protecting family-wage jobs and expanding opportunities for future investment. The Oregon JOBS Act, formally known as the Jobs, Opportunity, and Build-Ready Site Act, was introduced by Janeen Sollman and is being advanced as a bipartisan, bicameral effort to address structural barriers that have limited Oregon’s ability to attract and retain major employers.
The legislation is designed to respond to concerns raised by both industry leaders and state task forces that Oregon is losing ground to other states due to a lack of development-ready industrial land, outdated economic incentives, and inconsistent permitting timelines. Supporters of the bill argue that while Oregon has a highly skilled workforce and a strong history of innovation, those advantages are increasingly undermined by land-use and regulatory constraints that discourage large-scale investment.
Central to the Oregon JOBS Act is the designation of a single industrial site in North Hillsboro, located south of Highway 26, for inclusion within the urban growth boundary. This land would be reserved exclusively for advanced manufacturing and related supply-chain uses. The proposal explicitly excludes stand-alone data centers and limits development to traded-sector industries that generate sustained employment and economic activity. Lawmakers backing the bill say the narrow scope of permitted uses is intended to ensure the land supports high-quality jobs rather than speculative or low-employment development.
The legislation builds upon findings from the Clean Tech Task Force and the Semiconductor Competitiveness Task Force, both of which concluded that Oregon’s shortage of large, build-ready industrial sites has become one of the state’s most significant economic disadvantages. In regions such as Washington County, where demand from semiconductor and biotechnology firms is especially high, available land suitable for advanced manufacturing has become increasingly scarce.
In addition to land-use changes, the Oregon JOBS Act proposes updates to the state’s economic development incentives. These include expanding Oregon’s research and development tax credit, strengthening enterprise zone programs, and improving predictability in the permitting process. Supporters argue that these changes would make Oregon more competitive with neighboring states that have aggressively pursued advanced manufacturing investment through streamlined approvals and modernized tax structures.
Advanced manufacturing remains one of Oregon’s strongest economic drivers. Industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and food manufacturing provide wages that significantly exceed the statewide median, with typical annual earnings around $65,000. Economic modeling by ECOnorthwest suggests that sustained investment in this sector could support tens of thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars in economic output, and create long-term revenue streams for public services including education, transportation, and infrastructure.
Proponents of the bill emphasize that the Oregon JOBS Act is not a short-term stimulus measure but a strategic effort to align land use, workforce development, and economic policy around industries that offer durable growth. By focusing on job-creating manufacturing rather than low-employment facilities, supporters say the state can protect its tax base while ensuring that economic expansion translates into tangible benefits for working families.
The proposal arrives as Oregon faces increasing competition from states that have made aggressive investments in industrial readiness, particularly in the semiconductor sector. With federal incentives accelerating domestic manufacturing nationwide, lawmakers backing the Oregon JOBS Act argue that failure to act could leave the state at a disadvantage during a critical window of opportunity.
As the bill moves through the legislative process, it is expected to generate debate around land-use planning, environmental safeguards, and economic priorities. Supporters maintain that the narrowly tailored approach strikes a balance between growth and accountability, while critics are likely to scrutinize how urban growth boundary changes align with Oregon’s long-standing planning principles.
If enacted, the Oregon JOBS Act would represent one of the most significant shifts in the state’s economic development strategy in recent years, signaling a renewed emphasis on advanced manufacturing as a cornerstone of Oregon’s future economy.