Hispanic Real Estate Organization Makes Its Way to Western Oregon
The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals officially made its debut in Oregon this month after jumping through some hoops to become a full-fledged chapter.
The organization is a national one, but several Real Estate members in the community wanted to spearhead a chapter in Oregon to focus on real issues and information that goes on in…
Navigating the Fiscal Tapestry: An In-depth Look into Marion County’s 2023-24 Property Tax Roll
Navigating through the cascading figures and percentages of property values, Marion County, situated in the vibrant heart of Oregon, emerges with the unveiling of its 2023-24 Property Tax Roll. Certified by Assessor Tom Rohlfing on October 4th and subsequently distributed to property owners on October 13th, the information shrouded within these tax statem
Salem’s Single Property Tax Increment Financing District: A Boon for Affordable Housing Development
Exploring the impact of the tax incentive on Salem's local economy and the benefits for developers and residents
As the need for affordable housing continues to grow in Salem, Oregon, the city has introduced a tax incentive aimed at encouraging the development of new construction affordable housing projects. The Single Property Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District offers a financial incentive in the form of a property tax rebate for developers who undertake projects …
Committees Hear Updates on Housing Priority Bills
The House and Senate committees on housing met last week to provide public updates on recently passed legislation, interim workgroups, and executive housing and homelessness strategy. With roughly four and a half hours of packed invited testimony, both chambers focused equally on homelessness prevention, housing production, and housing gaps in Oregon.
Two…
Committees Receive Progress Reports
The Oregon Legislature welcomed fall with three days of committee meetings last week during Legislative Days. Committee chairs use these hearings primarily for informational updates and to learn about the progress of workgroups and projects that were launched in previous legislative sessions.
The discussions are wide-ranging, from top priorities like hous…
The Impact of Urban Renewal Areas on Salem’s Local Economy
Exploring the positive and negative effects of urban renewal areas and the North Gateway Urban Renewal Area Strategic Project Grant Program
Urban renewal areas (URAs) have become an essential tool for cities across the country, including Salem, Oregon, in their efforts to revitalize and reshape their local economies. By targeting specific areas for develo…
Economic Crossroads: Understanding Oregon’s Job Landscape and its Impact on Salem-Keizer Metro Area
SALEM, Ore. - Oregon's employment scene presented a mixed bag in August, signaling potential challenges and opportunities for the Salem-Keizer metro area - a region often seen as the pulse of Oregon's economic heartbeat.
At a glance, Oregon's unemployment rate remained steady at 3.4% in August, matching the record low previously seen in late 2019. Imp…
New Salem-Keizer Superintendent Brings Changes to the District
Salem-Keizer introduced new superintendent Andrea Castaneda this summer and she’s quickly made an impression on the community.
Within her first 100 days in office, her focus was on board relations, teaching and learning, student and community engagement and operations, safety, and finance.
Dr. Satya Chandragiri was the first person of color to be sel…
A Journey Through Salem’s Financial Landscape: Lessons from My Playbook
Navigating the tumultuous waves of Salem's business scene has given me a unique perspective on the art and science of small business finance. Let me share a few kernels of wisdom from my playbook, distilled from decades of entrepreneurship and mentoring.
The Line of Credit (LOC): A Double-Edged Sword
An LOC can be a business's staunchest ally or its mo…