La Grande -- August 24, 2004

Partial List of Issues Raised by Panelists & Audience Members

- Research is important in farming -- the University has helped with this -- a lot of farming is being done electronically

- Genetically modified foods could be helpful

- Strengthen trade infrastructure -- rail transportation is key -- rail coming back to Wallowa County is key

- Streamlining regulation is key (1/3 of a field could not be irrigated because is crossed a slew that is dry nine months out of the year)

- Western Oregon land use laws don't make sense in Eastern Oregon

- Brand Oregon is good -- Oregon grass seed is a quality product and should be marketed

- We need to get more output from our forest resources

- Education is key -- most people in farming are college graduates now

- Capital for investment in new technology and equipment (distillers, etc.) is very important

- State enterprise zone and Union County business park is needed

- Regulation -- "spent $800,000 on a new powder-coat system that cannot be used because it cannot be connected to the sewer system"

- Fuel prices and rising shipping prices is a problem

- Cost of paying for social problems is significant (like prisons)

- Drug use is a problem

- Healthcare and rural health is important -- would like to see healthcare used as an economic development tool -- paramedics could be trained in the area and La Grande could be a hub for health education

- Lower barriers/streamline process for investments in tele-health

- Need broadband telecommunications & redundancy -- need public-private partnerships

- Only on commercial airport to Eastern Oregon (in Pendleton) -- Alaska wants to fly people to Seattle first (from PDX)

- Telecommunications is important for University distance learning

- Access to capital/financing -- need a process for getting venture capital to good business ideas in rural areas

- Foreign students and foreign expertise are not coming to the U.S. anymore -- they don't feel welcome

- Expansion of the Chinese market and their demands for metals & other goods are driving up costs

- Renewable energy is very important -- "Oregon Rural Action" -- small wind farms and wind power could be sold to BPA which is maxed out on generation -- there are several people interested in doing small renewable energy projects

- Access to natural resources -- timber and agriculture can be looked at in the same way -- both are important

- Forestry & increased production -- thinning isn't enough

View the Initiative Survey Results from La Grande & See How They Compare to the Issues Raised Above.

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