“Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area.” The US Economic Development Agency was established under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to “generate jobs, help retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial enterprise…” A lot of taxpayer money is spent in the name of economic development and in Coos County, just from 2008 through June 2012, $78,498,027 in federal stimulus money flowed into, through and almost immediately out of the county. This equates to $1,246 per person or $2,900 per household and does not include the $16.6 million to buy the Coos Bay Rail Link or the $31 million for renovations or the millions spent on the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport or any of the other taxpayer funded subsidies and incentives like enterprise zones and business credits.

During this same 3.5 year period, unemployment has risen more than 3 points from 7.9 to 11%, poverty is at 16% and unlike its neighboring counties, Coos County has seen a decline in population. Empirical evidence indicates that government backed economic development does not benefit the working class. Distributing the $78 million in stimulus between each household like an earned income credit would have done more to stimulate the local economy. This is true across the nation, throughout Oregon and nowhere is this more true than in Coos County.

Economic development agencies are not evaluated and funded based upon performance or results but more out of the “glass slipper” syndrome expressed by the local paper. The public is pitched with the promise of jobs and its heartstrings plucked with claims about a broader tax base to fund schools and besieged by information about poverty and homelessness. These techniques are all part of the developer psyche and they sell projects like the $51 million 12″ gas pipeline because it promised jobs, 2,900 jobs in fact… that was more than a decade ago. Spending money in the pursuit of jobs gives us hope, if you ascribe to the editorial opinions of the local paper, and perpetuates a 17th century fairy tale that we too can be lifted out of despair if we are pretty enough or willing to pay enough in tax benefits for the corporate prince to condescend to ask us to dance. Perpetuating the myth also keeps the developer funded and employed. In fact, the state has legislated “wooing” a mandated “high priority” and funds it accordingly.

777.065 Development of port facilities at certain ports as state economic goal; state agencies to assist ports. The Legislative Assembly recognizes that assistance and encouragement of enhanced world trade opportunities are an important function of the state, and that development of new and expanded overseas markets for commodities exported from the ports of this state has great potential for diversifying and improving the economic base of the state. Therefore, development and improvement of port facilities suitable for use in world maritime trade at the Ports of Umatilla, Morrow, Arlington, The Dalles, Hood River and Cascade Locks and the development of deepwater port facilities at Astoria, Coos Bay, Newport, Portland and St. Helens is declared to be a state economic goal of high priority. All agencies of the State of Oregon are directed to assist in promptly achieving the creation of such facilities by processing applications for necessary permits in an expeditious manner and by assisting the ports involved with available financial assistance or services when necessary. [1981 c.879 §6; 1993 c.106 §1]

To that end, Ray Bucheger a lobbyist who lists amongst his clients the Port of Coos Bay and representing Boost Southwest Oregon, or B.S. for short, is queuing the dance card now via an email rallying support for the Jordan Cove Energy Project and promising once again to “kick-start the economy”.

The Jordan Cove Energy Project is picking up steam, but we need your help! Construction of this $7.5 Billion project is set to begin in 2014, but only if the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) gives Jordan Cove a license to export LNG out of Coos Bay. Whether or not Jordan Cove receives a DOE export license will depend in part on the level of local support for the project.

Boost Southwest Oregon is a coalition of public officials, business leaders, labor groups and other key stakeholders that was created to rally this support and kick-start the local economy.

You are invited to join us at 9:00am on Wednesday, April 10th at the Coos Bay Visitor Center to receive an update on the Jordan Cove Energy Project and to learn how you can do your part to Boost Southwest Oregon. The Coos Bay Visitor Center is located at 50 Central Avenue in Coos Bay.

The power point presentations will be loaded with both dire statistics and positive upbeat predictions about future jobs with above average salaries and stock photos of smiling, handsome contractors wearing pristine hard hats and of happy children studying in state of the art classrooms. We know because this isn’t our first rodeo.

On a related note, Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro, notorious for having introduced the towboat bill that put Captain Yates out of business, has introduced SB 845 which if it passes, would effectively allow the governor to declare a state of emergency in order to exempt large businesses from facing land use appeals.

Authorizes Governor and Director of the Department of Land Conservation and Development to exempt certain land use decisions from appeal by contract with member of traded sector industry that agrees to acquire and develop large-site industrial use employing at least 500 full-time employees.

Apparently, the fairy tale only comes true for big businesses.