Vice President for Research and Innovation and Dean of the Graduate School Kimberly Andrews Espy and Professor of Economics Tim Duy spoke before the Association of Oregon Counties Economic and Community Development Committee on November 19 at the association’s annual conference.

The Association of Oregon Counties represents all 36 Oregon counties before the Oregon Legislature and to the Oregon Congressional Delegation. The committee meeting was attended by approximately 40 commissioner and state and federal level policy makers.

Espy joined Oregon State University Executive Associate Vice President for Research Ron Adams and Greg Wolf, a policy advisor to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber (D), on a panel to discuss the role of higher education in economic development. Her remarks focused on the economic impact the University of Oregon has across the state. The university has completed projects in every county. The UO’s Interactive Impact Map provides more details on the UO’s impact across the state.

Duy, who also directs UO’s Oregon Economic Forum, offered commissioners a presentation on the economic outlook of the state.