A bill before the Oregon Legislature would create a task force to examine whether the idea of "economic gardening" could provide a boost to the state's sputtering economy.

While we would typically run, screaming in horror, at the idea of yet another government task force, the time is right for the so-called "Oregon Economic Gardening Council."

Corvallis Mayor Charles Tomlinson has been among the local officials who have been pounding the drums now for more than a year, trying to call attention to the idea of economic gardening.

At the risk of oversimplification, the idea behind economic gardening (created in large part by economic developers in Littleton, Colo.) is for a community to grow its own jobs by encouraging local entrepreneurial activity.

Understood in its broadest sense, economic gardening is meant to balance the more traditional business-recruitment strategy of economic development, in which towns and cities do whatever they can to try to lure big employers.

But one of the problems with that strategy is that the competition to land those big fish is considerable - and growing. And it's uncertain whether Benton County citizens are particularly interested in offering the incentives and tax breaks that often are necessary to prevail in that competition.

In baseball terms, think of it this way: While luring a big employer to town could be seen as the equivalent of a home run, an economic-gardening strategy seeks to teach smaller companies and their communities how to hit a steady stream of singles and doubles.

The proposed Oregon Economic Gardening Council would have seven members, including people representing businesses, business investors, community colleges, higher education institutions and economic-development organizations. The governor would make the appointments to the council, and we can think of several Benton County figures who would be terrific additions.

Under the terms of the bill, which is being supported by Rep. Sara Gelser, the council would be authorized to establish policies and programs aimed at helping small- and medium-sized Oregon businesses. Perhaps more important, the council would be charged with submitting a report by Feb. 1, 2011 outlining its progress and making recommendations to the Legislature.

The risk seems low. The potential payoff could be huge. This bill, House Bill 3644, seems like it should be an easy call for the Legislature.