Gov. Kate Brown will visit Eastern Oregon this week – including Hermiston – to highlight new investments and programs in the region that support the governor’s Future Ready Oregon initiative.
The initiative, announced earlier this year, closes the gap between the skills Oregon’s workers have and the skills Oregon’s growing businesses need to thrive in the economy of the future.
During her visit to Eastern Oregon, Brown will spend several days speaking with local officials, the business community, and educators about ongoing efforts to spur economic growth as the region. In Pendleton, she will also sign into law HB 4023, which brings broadband investments to rural Oregon schools.
The fund supports broadband access for K-12 public schools in the state, bringing high-speed Internet to rural, underserved communities that lack fiber-optic connections. Local educators, state representatives, and service providers will also be on hand, along with representatives from InterMountain Education Service District, and EducationSuperHighway.
In Hermiston, Brown will visit Lamb Weston Inc., a leading producer of frozen potato and vegetable products. The company announced an investment to expand operations in Umatilla County with the construction of a 300 million pound-per-year, state-of-the-art french fry line. The new line is made possible by a $500,000 Strategic Reserve Fund investment awarded by Brown, and the expansion is expected to add approximately 170 full-time positions.
