With Budget Cuts Looming, Kotek Launches 2026 Prosperity Roadmap to Jump-Start Oregon’s Economy
On Tuesday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced her 2026 economic plans, unveiling a Prosperity Roadmap detailing strategies to focus on the state’s contribution to economic development.
Oregon Prosperity Roadmap Prioritizes Businesses & Job Growth To Accelerate Economic Growth
In her vision for 2026 and beyond, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s Prosperity Roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy to boost the state’s economic development.
| Roadmap goal | Numeric target | Key tools |
|---|---|---|
| Grow Oregon’s GDP | Lift growth from 1.7% to 2.2%, adding over $4B to the general fund by 2029-31 | FastTrack permitting, critical infrastructure, land readiness fund |
| More living wage jobs | Move from #23 into the top 10 in CNBC’s workforce ranking | Sector aligned training, workforce development, regional strategies |
| Retain and grow businesses | Move from #39 into the top 10 in CNBC’s overall business ranking | Oregon Prosperity Council, modernized incentives, global trade focus |
The plan centers on retaining and growing businesses, creating jobs, and accelerating economic growth, suggesting that a state/public partnership is key.
Governot Kotek said:
“Oregon is on the brink of a decade of extraordinary economic growth and greater affordability, if we put the right partnerships, policies, and strategies in place now.”
With continued federal uncertainty and projected budget cuts in the state, the Governor has been reaching out to business, labor, and community stakeholders. The roadmap includes features such as:
- The formation of an Oregon Prosperity Council led by Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland, and Renee James, founder and CEO of Ampere Computing.
- Legislative action in 2026 to fast-track projects and modernize economic tools.
Here are the core targets Kotek’s Prosperity Roadmap is built around.
Sources: Oregon’s Prosperity Roadmap (December 2025) – CNBC Top States for Business rankings
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The remaining council members will be announced before the end of the year.
The following steps are:
- Strengthening partnerships with the business community, growing opportunities for global commerce, strengthening long-term trade partnerships, and promoting Oregon as a destination for foreign investment.
- Recruiting additional leadership and expertise to execute and further develop initiatives.
- Directing Business Oregon to produce a state economic development strategy to modernize and strengthen Oregon’s economic development systems.
- Developing recommendations for possible legislative action in 2027.
- Leveraging state agencies to prioritize investments in critical infrastructure and support local economic development.
- Fast-tracking projects and modernizing current economic development tools through a new program.
- Exploring targeted tax relief for job creation and increased GDP.
Nearly three years into her term, the Governor explained that while her early focus was on housing, education, and behavioral health, the economic landscape has shifted over the past year.
Here is what makes up Oregon’s general fund that the roadmap is trying to grow.
Sources: Oregon Blue Book – Oregon Office of Economic Analysis general fund forecast
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Tariffs and uncertainty around regulations have been curveballs thrown by the federal administration.
The Governor said the state foresees headwinds ahead, but sees the roadmap as a starting point. She plans to introduce a bill during next year’s legislative session to implement some of the business goals included in the Prosperity Roadmap.
“I know we can do this. We can beat these headlines, and we can create the jobs we need for people around the state.”
Gov. Tina Kotek