Private and Public Sectors Gather in Coos Bay

The fifth annual Oregon Coast Economic Summit took place at the Mill Casino-Hotel in Coos Bay. The summit was instigated by Senator Arnie Roblan (D-Coos Bay) to provide a platform for coastal community state legislators (the Coastal Caucus) to come together to share information, ideas and collaboration for the benefit of their constituents.

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden kicked off the event Monday August 8 with the keynote address to the more than 500 attendees. Among those attendees were state legislators, county officials, representatives from other government agencies, private and public business partners, interested citizens, and more.

More than 29 county commissioners were in attendance, and held their monthly board meeting while at the summit.

Several of these commissioners also spoke on panels on economic development, education and finding common solutions between rural and urban areas. The list of participants includes Lincoln County Commissioners Doug Hunt, Terry Thompson and Bill Hall, Curry County Commissioner David Brock Smith, Douglas County Commissioner Tim Freeman, Tillamook County Commissioner Mark Labhart, Deschutes County Commissioner Tammy Baney and Coos County Commissioners John Sweet and Melissa Cribbins.