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Industry looks forward to stimulus, calls for more action
Federal lawmakers have much more work ahead of them to offset the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America.
Oregon construction industry would get $770M from Obama’s jobs plan
As more details emerge about President Obama鈥檚 proposed American Jobs Act, as much as $770.6 million could be injected into the Oregon鈥檚 construction industry.
Oregon transportation ranks high for stimulus spending
Oregon ranked second in the nation for the amount of job hours created from public transportation stimulus funding, according to a report by Smart Growth America.
Construction jobs drop as stimulus funds dry up
Nationally construction employment shed 16,000 jobs in December and the industry-wide unemployment rate grew to 20.7 percent. Across the United States, 5.6 million people work in the industry, a 27 percent decline since the peak in August 2006 of 7.7 million people.
Intel ready to snatch up Vestas’ scraps
Vestas Americas has passed on a chance to use a tax-free $31 million bond to update a former Meier & Frank warehouse and turn it into the company鈥檚 new headquarters. Instead, the money will funnel back to the state and likely be used, along with $69 million more in bonds, to help fund Intel鈥檚 new project in Hillsboro.
Oregon receives $700,000 for charging stations
The Oregon Department of Transportation has been awarded $700,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to install electric vehicle fast-charging stations between Eugene and Ashland.
Oregon Coast sees swell of jetty repairs
Eleven jetties along the Oregon Coast would be the latest to be repaired if $5 billion from a federal trust is given for the work. Sen. Ron Wyden is calling for the release of the money from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund.
Oregon in time crunch to use recovery bonds
Oregon is running out of time to use federal stimulus recovery bonds before the Dec. 31. deadline. The bonds, which are not charged taxes on interest, were introduced to spur financing on private projects. But cities and counties are having trouble finding the right projects for the bonds.
Grants available for transportation projects
As federal stimulus money runs out, competition for grants is growing. The second phase of the TIGER transportation grant program has generated interest from 25 Oregon agencies and 2,300 agencies nationwide.
McLoughlin Promenade wall gets facelift
It took a Great Depression-era program to build the McLoughlin Promenade wall that frames Oregon City's signature sights. Fixing that badly deteriorated wall took a Great Recession program.
Oregon not getting more rail stimulus
In the previous round of high-speed rail stimulus grants, Oregon got a small fraction of Washington state's total. The latest round, announced today, passed over the Pacific Northwest entirely.
Lincoln County cleaning up foreclosures
Lincoln County is using federal stimulus money to acquire foreclosed homes, renovate them and sell them to qualifying buyers.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
