Good Things Are in the Air in Oregon

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Good Things Are in the Air in Oregon

Two recent events in Oregon point to things looking up in the state. Last week I felt like I was walking on air when I took part in the tip-off of the WNBA awarding an expansion franchise to Portland. Last month, I was jazzed to see small, locally produced UAV businesses accelerate up in Pendleton.

Back in February 2023, a team of Oregonians passionate about women's sports, gathered at my friend Jenny Nguyen's "The Sports Bra" in Portland with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

At that roundtable with women athletes, women's sports executives and coaches from all over the state, Oregon put on a world-class show of support for women's sports.

The question that night was not "whether" Portland would get a WNBA team, but "when." We know now that our team will take the court in 2026 and I'm already hearing reports of Oregonians planning in Portland, huddling in Hermiston, meeting in McMinnville and brainstorming in Beaverton to discuss what the team's name should be.

The fact that the WNBA chose Portland for its next team is a 'nothing-but-net' kind of endorsement and is definitely one for the W column. Not only will the team generate positive economic impact for local restaurants, hotels and shops, it will also create memorable experiences for families to build on their hoops dreams in Portland.

Chalking up another W for Oregon, last month I was delighted to see the good work of the UAS Accelerator in Pendleton and how it is helping small, local businesses take flight by producing and refining UAVs right here in Oregon.

It's clear that UAVs can be literal lifesavers in emergencies like wildfires where the terrain can be treacherous and hard to reach. UAVs also help the environment by using precise spraying methods, which reduce the unintentional spread and needless overuse of herbicides and fertilizers, as well as conserving energy and water. And potentially the application with the most impact is the security that comes with domestically-produced technology-the kind of technology we depend on in emergencies must be resistant to foreign interference.

That's a W for crucial technology and another for generating meaningful jobs for Oregonians.

The potential to create good-paying jobs is always on my radar, and I was particularly struck with Phenix Solutions Inc. out of McMinnville. Its Ultra 2XL UAV model's ability to haul heavy loads of water or equipment to aid with emergencies in difficult terrain has already earned it contracts with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, with potential for much more.

Phenix Solutions is not only innovating with fire-fighting technology the West Coast so dearly needs in an escalating climate crisis, it's also creating job opportunities for Oregonians, making it possible for them to buy homes and raise families outside of Portland. Phenix Solutions currently employs 20 people with an average salary of $123,000; it predicts that number of employees will increase by 50% in 2025.

These high-flying successes for Oregon could not have been achieved alone, but rather could only be reached by Oregonians lifting each other up and engaging in the Oregon Way.

Whether it's working together to create meaningful experiences for Oregonians, creating domestic solutions to common challenges, or enhancing our local economy, when Oregonians work together we can reach stratospheric heights.

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