HB 3104
Directs the Oregon Business Development Department to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization or local government association to serve as a statewide rural community resource center.
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
92%
Oppose
8%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a statewide Rural Community Resource Center to support Oregon’s rural communities. The Oregon Business Development Department will partner with a nonprofit organization or local government association to create this center. It will provide technical assistance to rural cities and counties, economic development districts, and regional councils of government to help them develop grant proposals and manage awarded funds. The center will also serve as a hub for funding resources and connecting communities with project development assistance, funded through a dedicated state fund.
Key provisions
- Designates a statewide Rural Community Resource Center.
- Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to select a suitable partner (nonprofit or local government association).
- Establishes a staff of seven professionals with expertise in public works, engineering, community development, housing, transportation, project management, and public administration.
- Provides technical assistance to rural service jurisdictions for grant development and management.
- Creates the Rural Community Resource Leverage Fund to support the center's activities.
- Specifies how the Leverage Fund will be funded through appropriations and other sources.
- Allocates $6 million in general fund money to the center for its operations and grant assistance.
- Defines ‘rural’ and ‘service jurisdiction’ for the purposes of the center’s work.
Who is affected
- Rural cities and counties
- Economic development districts
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Cosponsor
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of HB 3104 agree that rural communities in Oregon face significant infrastructure challenges due to inadequate staffing and capacity. They argue that the proposed Rural Community Resource Center would provide essential technical expertise and resources to address these challenges, enabling small towns like Oakridge and Sutherlin to improve their local economy and infrastructure. Advocates believe that adopting the bill will facilitate public-private partnerships, promote economic development, education, healthcare, and quality of life in underserved communities, and bridge gaps in wastewater capacity, ultimately fostering collaboration and efficient deployment of vital infrastructure.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
the bill as written due to its narrow definition of rural areas, which excludes cities with populations between 5,000 and 30,000 that already have sufficient resources for economic development. These smaller cities, such as Heppner with a population of 1,200, are in greatest need of support to attract housing developers and new businesses, but the bill fails to provide adequate assistance due to its restrictive definition. The exclusion of these cities is deemed unnecessary and will not address the real needs of rural communities, which face unique challenges that the bill does not adequately address.