Prosperity Council Recommendations Focus on Oregon’s Business Climate

(Photo Courtesy of Tina Kotek for Governor)

Draft recommendations from Governor Tina Kotek’s Prosperity Council are drawing attention across the state for their strong focus on improving Oregon’s economic competitiveness and business climate. According to reporting from the Oregon Journalism Project, the draft recommendations include proposed reforms related to tax policy, regulatory processes, industrial land availability, and economic development strategy—many of which directly impact Oregon’s small business community.

Among the proposals highlighted in the draft are efforts to streamline the Corporate Activities Tax, reform Oregon’s estate tax, reconnect portions of Oregon’s tax code to federal investment incentives, and reduce regulatory barriers that increase the cost and complexity of doing business. The draft also emphasizes the importance of creating a more “competitive, predictable, and supportive” environment for long-term business growth and investment.

For small businesses in Bend and across Oregon, many of these conversations reflect ongoing concerns around rising operational costs, workforce challenges, tax complexity, and barriers to growth. While the recommendations are still in draft form, they signal a broader statewide conversation about how Oregon can better support entrepreneurship, business retention, and long-term economic vitality.