>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

- Bill Rautenstrauch

- The Observer

Union County business people want to see intensified economic development efforts, an increase in skilled workers and a less stormy political environment, according to a recent survey by the Northeast Oregon Economic Development District.

Volunteers in the Business Retention and Volunteer Visitation Program conducted the survey last year, quizzing 51 local businesses.

Donna Betts, who retired recently from the NEODD, oversaw the survey. She unveiled its results in a meeting in La Grande Jan. 30.

On economic development, Betts said many survey respondents believe more should be done.

Betts said most business people believe that more companies locating to the area will improve the overall economic picture.

"Additional businesses that result in a greater variety is a critically needed improvement," she said.

The survey determined that job growth has occurred steadily in the last few years, and likely will continue.

Betts said the survey projects that the 51 businesses will add 258 jobs in the next three years. Some 109 of those jobs will call for precision or specialty skills.

"That's the scary number," Betts said.

The largest sector of firms visited for the survey was retail, followed by the service industry. The 51 companies employed a total of 1,400 workers.

According to the survey, 33 percent of the businesses reported difficulty with the recruitment of specialty skills, and 27 percent reported problems recruiting professional and management personnel.

"Union County has a well-educated work force, but it doesn't have an abundance of the most-often needed skills," said Betts.

Much of the problem seems to lie in the local wage structure. Compensation issues play a large part, Betts said.

On the political issue, Betts said that when businesses were asked to identify threats and challenges, contentious politics came up as number one.

Respondents expressed dissatisfaction with three different city governments, the county government and local economic development agencies.

"(The political environment) makes people unsure what the future of their business might be," she said.

Also high on the threat and challenges list were increased government regulation, and the future of Boise Cascade, the county's largest private employer, Betts said.

The survey, which took about nine months to complete, covered a wide variety of topics including employment trends and training needs, labor availability, employment opportunities and wages.

Its primary objective, according to the executive summary, was to determine what makes local businesses successful and what can make them better.

The report suggested some actions and initiatives that might be taken to help businesses remain in the county.

Those included improving labor availability and productivity, improving profitability through technical and development assistance, and building projects and opportunities that capitalize on Union County's strengths and complement the existing business mix.