Encouraged by a recent set of surveys, the State of Oregon will look to recruit
California food processing companies that might be interested in relocating or
expanding.

Earlier this year, the Oregon Economic Development Association, consisting of
city, county and regional economic development organizations, surveyed its
members on what kind of companies and industries they are most interested in
recruiting.  Apparently as identified by an article written by a state official
in the Yamhill Valley NewsRegister, agriculture and food processing got more
votes than any other sector to recruit.

Another and different survey conducted by a California firm found that about 40
percent of the businesses were planning on moving or expanding their operations
outside the state. 

The results of the survey have prompted both the Oregon Business Development
Department and Dept. of Agriculture to develop a plan to seek out food processors
through upcoming trade shows - particularly in California.

Representatives of several local communities are expected to join specialists
from the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Business Development
Department early next year at some large California food shows.

A state official quoted in the article identified, “There seems to be quite a bit
of willingness on the part of companies to look elsewhere, because California may
not be meeting their needs. We think there is fertile ground to bring a company
from California to Oregon."

Recommendation: This should be a call to action for all economic developers in
California as it pertains to business retention as Oregon successfully pulled
Amy’s Kitchen from California to relocate in Medford, Oregon even with Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s retention efforts.