Investing in the future can be a very difficult concept to sell in times of economic stress, and that is what is facing the Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development this legislative session. OCKED is slated to sunset in 2006; backers of Senate Bill 838 propose the creation of an umbrella economic development organization known as the Oregon Innovation Council that would take over OCKED's role as well as coordinate the efforts of the Engineering Technology Initiative and the Oregon Growth Account.

It is a real challenge to interest Oregonians in all of that alphabet soup, and many greet such a proposal with a large yawn. Why should we care? Corvallis should be a leader in support of SB 838 for several reasons, not the least being that we have been one of the chief beneficiaries of the last four years of OCKED's existence.

OCKED has been responsible for promoting the concept of signature research centers here in Oregon, most notably ONAMI (the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute) currently located on the Hewlett-Packard campus in Corvallis. ONAMI continues to grow, most recently by attracting from Richland, Wash., the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories.

Out of this research will come the businesses (and jobs) of the future to replace those that have been lost offshore. Virtually all economists now predict that America's place in the economic landscape will be secured through innovation and research, refining that research into business and jobs. And that process will have to be continuous if we are to maintain our quality of life. The research being conducted at ONAMI today will translate into new businesses in the next several years.

According to Pat Scruggs, the state innovation economy officer, SB 838 "addresses the question: How are we commercializing the research coming out of ONAMI and the like?" This bill "leads us to the business development side." The Oregon Innovation Council will be responsible for initiating signature research centers in fields such as wood products and renewable energy.

Corvallis is uniquely situated to benefit from such an investment in the future. Corvallis has the highest education level in the state, we rank fourth in the nation in patents per capita, and the Harvard Business Review ranks us as the 15th most creative community in the nation. Let's urge our legislators to make an investment in Oregon's future, one that has already paid huge dividends to the state in research dollars.

Bravo Company

Our best information to date indicates that the 125 Corvallis members of Bravo Company will be coming home from over a year in the Sunni Triangle in Iraq in early April. Corvallis will welcome them home with a parade, but we will probably not know the date and time until a day or two before their arrival.

The chamber is assembling an e-mail list of those who would like to be notified of plans and events surrounding their return. Please send your e-mail address to info@corvallischamber.com if you would like to be kept informed.

Business After Hours

What are your plans for St. Paddy's Day? We invite you to come join us for two hours of Irish fun and celebration at 5 p.m. March 17 at the Business After Hours hosted by Corvallis Tourism. Wear your green and enter for fabulous door prizes.

Call the chamber to register.

CorBiz

If you haven't yet registered for a spot at CorBiz, now is the time. The early bird special rates expire Tuesday. CorBiz is a business-to-business trade show that is really optimal for many local businesses. Sponsored by OfficeMax, it will be held at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on April 28.

Call Josefine Fleetwood at the chamber for more information.

Patricia Mulder is the president of the Corvallis Area Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 757-1507.