University of Oregon partners with the Oregon Economic Development Association in presenting fall conference

The University of Oregon entered a new partnership with the Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA) to help present OEDA’s annual conference in Eugene on October 27 and 28. OEDA is a statewide non-profit organization working to support economic development professionals who are on Oregon's front line in diversifying and expanding Oregon's economy. The UO will help present OEDA’s next two conferences.  

Over the course of the two day conference, participants heard a keynote address from UO Professor of Practice and Director of the Oregon Economic Forum, Tim Duy, and learned about the UO’s role in the economy and its efforts in the area of innovation and entrepreneurship. One conference panel focused on UO’s externally facing units that provide resources and talent throughout the state. The panel, moderated by UO Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation Patrick Jones, included representatives from the UO Community Service Center, the Master’s Industrial Internship Program, and the UO Career Center.  

Megan Smith, co-director of the UO Community Service Center (CSC), offered an overview of the CSC’s programs that provide services to communities throughout the state, including the UO Economic Development Administration University Center, the Resources Assistance for Rural Environments program, the Community Planning Workshop, and the Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience. Chris Larson, director the Master’s Industrial Internship Program (MIIP), presented the MIIP as a tool economic development professional could use to help meet the workforce needs of their communities. Finally, Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, director of the UO Career Center, spoke of the center’s efforts to connect students and industry to help meet workforce needs.

The University of Oregon, a premier public research university, creates nearly a billion dollars of new economic activity each year. Its mission of education, innovation, and service contributes to Oregon’s economy by creating a knowledgeable workforce, incubating new technologies and companies, and providing resources that improve people’s lives.

To learn more about the UO’s economic impact, visit /powering-oregons-economy.