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Cascades West Economic Development District

Supporting Regional Economic Development

The Cascades West Economic Development District (CWEDD) is designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to work on economic development efforts in Linn, Benton, Lane, and Lincoln Counties.
Cascades West Economic Development District Logo

The CWEDD advocates for, supports, and coordinates regionally significant economic development activities in the Region. Staffed by both OCWCOG and Lane Council of Governments, the CWEDD prepared the 2025-2030 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to guide regionally significant economic development projects and activities over the next five years.

Increase regional awareness of your project and unlock opportunities to gain support for it. We want to hear about your project.
The elements that contribute to a more resilient community are varied, and often independently managed.
The CWEDD hosts hybrid meetings that rotate through the different counties in our economic development region.

We support significant economic development in the region.

Check out our informational video, while hearing from some of our partners, and about some great regional projects.

Explore potential resources and support

We want to hear about your project. If you have an idea, opportunity, or community need you’d like to discuss, reach out to Cascades West Economic Development District. Sharing your project helps start the conversation and connect you with the right support. The benefits of contact us are:
  • Increased regional awareness of your project
  • Opportunities to gain support for your project
  • Resource sharing opportunities
  • Opportunities to present work at a CWEDD Board Meeting
  • Your project will be included in the Economic Development Yearly Report

Regional Economic Resilience

Measuring economic resilience is challenging because many factors impact a community’s ability to recover from a shock. The elements that contribute to a more resilient community are varied, and often independently managed.

What indicates resilience?

It is entirely possible for a community to demonstrate economic strengths and vulnerabilities at the same time. Cascades West utilizes the “8 Questions Framework” to measure resilience in our region.

Does the economy have diverse and well-paid jobs?

A distribution of jobs in higher-wage industries indicates more economic resilience.

A concentration of jobs in a single industry indicates less economic resilience.

Diversified economies are more resilient.

What is the age breakdown of residents?

Populations that are active in the labor force promote economic resilience.

An aging population threatens economic resilience.

A mix of young, working, and older populations is indicative of a more resilient economy.

How has the population grown in the last decade and what is predicted for the next 30 years?

Steady and continuous growth indicates greater economic resilience.

Sharp inclines and declines in populations indicate less economic resilience.

Growing populations indicate economic opportunities and resilience.

Do people live and work in the community?

A mix of housing types and costs indicates greater economic resilience.

Limited affordable housing options and major commuter outflows indicates less economic resilience.

In communities where people live and work, the local economy is more active and independent, and therefore more resilient.

What is the projected future of major employment industries in the region and nationally?

A distribution of employment across industries that will likely remain stable indicates greater economic resilience.

A concentration of employment in industries that are regulated, taxed, or that rely on natural resources introduces more risk for economic resilience.

Industries that are less subject to volatility are more resilient.

Are residential homes able to withstand a natural hazard or weather incident?

A sufficient supply of newer housing stock (built after 1970) indicates economic resilience.

Limited newer housing stock and a decline in homebuilding over the last decade indicates less economic resilience.

Newer homes are more likely to have been constructed to withstand natural hazards and weather incidents. Older home and manufactured homes may be more vulnerable to damages and/or more difficult to repair.

What level of education attainment and earnings are residents reaching?

Higher percentages of residents with advanced or specialized degrees indicates greater economic resilience.

Lower percentages of residents with advanced or specialized degrees indicates less economic resilience.

Residents with advanced or specialized degrees have higher earning potential. Regions that have choices for advanced education (trade schools, community colleges, four-year colleges, and universities) are better positioned to support the training of local residents.

Do residents have access to health and wellness facilities?

Populations that are mostly insured and mostly located near health care facilities indicates greater economic resilience.

Populations that have lower insurance rates and that are located farther from health care facilities indicates less economic resilience.

Communities with health and wellness facilities are more resilient than communities that lack these facilities. People with health insurance contribute to a more resilient economy by reserving scarce public health resources for those most in need.

Board Meetings & Minutes

CWEDD hosts hybrid meetings that rotate through the different counties in their economic development region. These meetings will have hybrid capabilities with both an in-person option and a virtual option via Microsoft Team’s Technologies. For further assistance or questions regarding Hybrid Meetings, please contact us.

Board Meetings

December 11, 2025

CWEDD Board of Directors Hybrid Meeting

Meeting Details:
December 11, 2025
9:00 am – 11:00 am

Albany ABC (Downstairs) Meeting Room
1400 Queen Ave. SE, Albany OR 97322

Or

Join Virtually via Teams
TEAMS Meeting by clicking HERE
Meeting ID: 291 224 730 274
Passcode: wwgDy8
Mobile 1 Click Number:
+ 1 872-242-8088
Phone Conference ID: 347 254 52#

If you wish to attend as a member of the public, you can call or video in. If you require additional accommodations, or need assistance with Teams, please reach out to Ashlyn at amuzechenko@ocwcog.org. Stakeholders and members of the public are welcome to attend any CWEDD meeting and provide public comments.

Executive Committee Meetings

February 26, 2026

CWEDD Executive Committee Virtual Meeting

Meeting Details:
Thursday, February 26, 2026
11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Virtual Meeting:
Join TEAMS Meeting by clicking HERE
Meeting ID: 286 248 952 613 75
Passcode: R8x8ML99
Mobile 1 Click Number: +1 872-242-8088
Phone Conference ID: 941 884 270#

If you wish to attend as a member of the public, you can call or video in. If you require additional accommodations, or need assistance with Teams, please reach out to Ashlyn at amuzechenko@ocwcog.org. Stakeholders and members of the public are welcome to attend any CWEDD meeting and provide public comments.

Connect With the Cascades West Economic Development District

Reach out to share a project, ask a question about partnerships, or learn how CWEDD supports and coordinates regionally significant economic development efforts across Linn, Benton, Lane, and Lincoln Counties.

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