(1) To identify policies and strategies that will:
(a) Promote workforce development, including development of residential housing necessary to attract and keep employees in the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region, and economic development;
(b) Facilitate the development and prevent the decline of regionally significant industrial sites;
(c) Create and maintain jobs in the region; and
(d) Improve access to career and technical education, workforce training programs and higher education to enhance the availability of a qualified workforce for employers in the region.
(2) To make recommendations to the Legislative Assembly for policies and strategies intended to improve the availability of career and technical education, workforce training programs and higher education for the purpose of improving the availability of a qualified workforce for employers in the region.
(3) To identify specific laws that place specific workforce development and economic development efforts in the region, including development of residential housing necessary to attract and keep employees in the region, at a competitive disadvantage with respect to the same type of efforts made in the areas across the Oregon border from the region and to take action in accordance with ORS 284.786 upon identifying such laws.
(4) To enter into an agreement with a third-party administrator, subject to approval by the Oregon Business Development Department under ORS 284.783, pursuant to which the third-party administrator shall operate one or more programs to award grants and make loans in accordance with ORS 284.791.
(5) To facilitate collaboration among employers, local governments, state agencies and stakeholders for the purpose of enhancing and expanding workforce development and economic development in the region.
(6) To consult with affected school districts, community colleges and universities and the Employment Department in identifying policies and strategies that will enhance and promote workforce development to improve the availability of a qualified workforce for employers in the region.
(7) To adopt rules that define the region more specifically and to consult with the Oregon Business Development Department in the rulemaking process.
(8) To prescribe the form of the application required under ORS 284.791 (3). [2017 c.703 §4; 2019 c.72 §2; 2020 s.s.1 c.9 §3]