Pendleton -- August 23, 2004

Partial List of Issues Raised by Panelists & Audience Members

- Workforce training is important -- working with local high school during senior year -- working with other companies outside the state for specialized working training (Quantum 9 Distributing LLC)

- Open markets around the world are important -- Port of Portland handles much of the nation's wheat -- channel deepening is key

- Bring genetically modified wheat into market

- Less regulation -- pesticide reporting system will add to farmers' cost

- Need good roads and good rail service -- break the 'monopoly' on railroads

- National debt is a problem for farmers because they depend on federal government dollars that will increasingly go to paying off the debt

- Energy costs -- diesel supplies eroding -- costs rising

- Value added products with agriculture are key to staying in business

- Economic development should also focus on communities east of the Cascades

- Community needs water -- extremely important -- an increase of just 3/10th of 1 percent in the water from the Columbia will increase jobs by 21,000 in the Hermiston and Pendleton area

- Increase renewable energy production -- wind energy or crop-based energy (such as ethanol)

- Industrial land is important -- zoning makes it hard to do

- Establish some a 'brain trust' to develop value added ag products

- Need energy & not just from hyrdo -- fish are important

- Accelerated depreciation right-off is important for tribes

- Workforce training -- the community college can help -- small business development is important

- Disinvestment in post-secondary education -- access is a problem

- Retaining existing businesses is key

- Water supply -- people won't come to area because we can't supply enough water

- Pacific Northwest National Laboratories could put some of its research into Pendleton

- Venture capital / investment in farms on an ongoing basis is important

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

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