Oregon has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. In the Metro region alone we’ve lost 60,800 jobs since 2008. Our future depends on putting people to work, but within a sustainable economy that continues to create new employment opportunities for living wage jobs.
When Congress passed the Stimulus Bill (ARRA) last spring, we were ready. Under my leadership the region’s leaders approved $38 million of new transportation projects in only two weeks, creating 1,600 jobs to the tri-county region – we have 500 new jobs already and over 1,000 more jobs will be filled by 2010. I also went to Salem to fight for our fair share, doubling what ODOT spent here and creating additional jobs.
But the stimulus package is a one-time thing. As our representative on the crucial statewide committee spending Connect Oregon funds, I successfully brought millions of dollars to build freight rail and port projects critical to trade and our economy. Businesses are now better able to transport goods by rail and by port, supporting industries that supports tens of thousands of jobs in the metro region.
Prosperity in the future will depend on innovation, flexibility and responding to the key challenges of our time- dependence on foreign oil and global warming. Through an effort I am heading – the Climate Prosperity Strategy – we can grow local businesses that reduce energy use, along with cutting carbon and creating thousand of new, green jobs.
A Record of Success:
- Under my leadership the region’s leaders approved $38 million of new transportation projects in only two weeks, creating 1,600 jobs to the tri-county region
- I went to Salem to fight for our fair share of the Stimulus Bill, doubling what ODOT spent here and creating additional jobs.
- I brought millions of dollars to build freight rail and port projects critical to trade and our economy
- Spearheading the Climate Prosperity Strategy, fostering local businesses to reduce energy use, cut carbon and create thousand of new, green jobs.
