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The mission of Oregon Solutions is to develop sustainable solutions to community-based problems that support economic, environmental, and community objectives and are built through the collaborative efforts of businesses, government, and non-profit organizations.

Oregon Solutions offers a new governing model for community projects. Since we started in 2001, we have completed 22 projects throughout Oregon. As we continue with more community-based projects, we want to celebrate and share the success stories and keep you up to date on future projects throughout Oregon.

We invite you to stay connected to Oregon Solutions! We will send the Oregon Solutions Network eNews on a quarterly basis—please feel free to contact us with your thoughts and ideas.

State of Oregon Makes Major Investment in Oregon Solutions

The 2007 Oregon Legislature has just approved $1.2 million in funding that will triple the number of Oregon Solutions projects across the state, enabling the integration of public and private resources in up to 40 sustainable projects during the next two years. The legislature also approved an additional allocation for specific project implementation.

Over the past four years, Oregon Solutions has proven its ability to produce results on the ground in sustainability projects across the state. Projects such as Lakeview Biomass, Fort Clatsop to the Sea Trail, Reduced Idling at I-5 Truckstops, and the Willamette Falls Locks have demonstrated the value of leveraging resources through the collaboration of public, private, and civic partners.

Oregon Solutions would like to thank many people who helped champion the Oregon Solutions budget - in particular the leadership of Senator Betsy Johnson, the Oregon Solutions Steering Committee who brought this budget request to the Governor in 2006, the members of the Ways and Means Education subcommittee including Chair Representative Galizio and Vice Chair Senator Devlin, and the Ways and Means Co-Chairs, Senator Kurt Schrader and Representative Mary Nolan.

The following people testified about successful Oregon Solutions projects around the state in their communities:

* Bill Wyatt, Port of Portland

* Duncan Wyse, Oregon Business Council

* Mayor Alice Norris, Oregon City

* Michael Jordan, METRO

* Betty Riley, Klamath County Economic Development

* Dwayne Foley, Willamette Falls Locks team member

* Dr. Algie Gatewood, Portland Community College

* Jeri Williams, Environmental Justice Action Group

* Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo, Benton County

* Commissioner Tim Josi, Tillamook County

* Rick Jacobson, NORPAC

* Josh Proudfoot, Good Company

* Steve Gordon, West Eugene Wetlands

* Phil Chang, Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council

* Jane O'Keefe, Lake County

* Rich Whitley, Bureau of Land Management

* Commissioner Keith Tymchuk, Port of Umpqua

* Commissioner Nikki Whitty, Coos County

* Hank Hickok, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

I want to thank everyone who helped us tell the Oregon Solutions story. Thanks to this legislative funding, there will be more stories to come.

--Greg Wolf, Director of Oregon Solutions

Oregon Solutions chosen in Top 50 Innovative Government Programs in America

The Top 50 Programs in the 2007 Innovations in American Government Awards competition were announced by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Oregon Solutions was named in the top 5% in this nation-wide competition. Oregon Solutions is now competing for a $100,000 prize to replicate the model in other states.

Oregon Solutions is a project of the National Policy Consensus Center at Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government. Oregon Solutions projects bring public and private institutions and the civic sector together to develop agreements that solve problems with innovation and accountability. Communities across the country face complex issues and problems that involve multiple segments of society. Each Oregon Solutions project benefits a broad range of citizens throughout the state by helping communities connect with government to leverage resources.

The Innovations in American Government Awards Program (http://www.ashinstitute.harvard.edu/Ash/index.htm) identifies and promotes best practices and exemplary initiatives that can be replicated in other settings, providing public officials and senior executives with models for innovation at all levels and policy areas of American government. Nearly $20 million in awards have been presented to over 400 programs.

Governor Kulongoski has been a strong supporter of Oregon Solutions and plays a significant role in the designation of Oregon Solutions projects and appointment of local conveners.

“I believe that to meet the challenges we face today it is essential to engage businesses, government, non-profit organizations and citizens in collective action. Oregon Solutions creates the place to come together and provides the means to reach community agreements that connect Oregonians in solving these challenges, in communities across the state,” says Kulongoski, chair of the Oregon Solutions Network

In the last two years, Oregon Solutions has conducted 33 urban and rural projects throughout the state and has gained significant attention from leaders. The White House awarded Oregon Solutions the Cooperative Conservation Award for its Coordinated Resource Offering Protocol (CROP) project, which resulted in a regional wood supply by developing stewardship contracts with the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and by fostering markets to utilize biomass material from forest treatments. In the Fort Clatsop Trail-to-the-Sea project, the Secretary of the Interior praised Oregon Solutions’ work in 2005 and recommended that the project be used as a model by the National Parks Service.

“We are excited that the Oregon Solutions Community Governance System is being recognized as one of the Top 50 programs in this year’s Innovations in American Government Awards competition. This validates the success we’ve seen in our 33 projects in Oregon,” Greg Wolf, Director of Oregon Solutions.

Leaders throughout the country view Oregon Solutions as a model for community governance. Virginia and California have successfully initiated "Solutions" programs to replicate Oregon Solutions. New Mexico, Maine, Massachusetts, and Colorado are developing or exploring programs based on the Oregon Solutions model.