Findings, Objectives, and Policies <br />Findings <br />1. The structure of the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area economy is undergoing a shift <br />away from lumber and wood products manufacturing {and other heavy industrial <br />activities} and towards a more diverse economic base characterized by growth in light <br />manufacturing activities and the non-manufacturing activities of trade, commercial and <br />professional services, finance, insurance, and real estate. <br />2. The lumber and wood products sector is the metropolitan area's dominant manufacturing <br />activity; and in this respect, Lane County's forest is the area's most important natural <br />resource utilized as a factor of production. <br />3. Major institutions in the metropolitan area including the University of Oregon and Sacred <br />Heart Hospital, have had a stabilizing influence on the local economy. <br />4. The Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area is developing as a regional center for <br />activities, such as tourism, distribution, and financial services, serving the southwestern <br />and central Oregon area. <br />Eased on data from. the 2000 US. Census, the"cal per capita income ;in,1999 for the <br />Eug ne~S .&FLold t-netro-poltan area wasi-, lower than for Oregon as a whole andcT the <br />Portland metropolitan area. tt s e~le to sr higher tha-, ,,d.. e-f Rties, <br />In 2C)O(7, tltc: an~3.en plo~nient rate in the EugeneSpnfeld_z~~tr~~salitan area. was <br />cornp,,rable tQ Oregon ~rnd :hia11cr than the national rate. The loea area labor fore <br />f,har-+l/'1teri /e by higher IL]YI T 11 l' II~M1AN1i1111`{ Y'lt fl~/]Y'1 is Oregon as a whole ]r {1M1q <br />J I.- nation;~iowev'- , it is not non, w n1L v- <br />f_or ion of the total unemployment is <br />-her[ I - ian -vr'hat-peAiori-s-El-gren,.Ger~Bn tern: <br />-7. , job or-eation is at a ver-y high level i" the met4;opolitan area. This , , <br />j'/~iYG{'kl-AY Ylfl <br />•llt 'f'1 l? ~]Y l/]1411Y111~ data !15'1 1!'F1 Ll Y1'IN1 , i;l'ch <br />hV V~€CIr ex '11 ; <br />lstr 9J ob skarN~~eb fi-ndi*g skills and (b) ths jobs ware a-vailable: <br />T-heS-P ol} <br />EIS e7i~ t9 <br />results ft-om peoplo moving to the area an vs, ' well <br />87. Historically, heavy-manufacturing industries, including primary metals, chemicals and <br />paper, have been characterized by high levels of pollution or energy consumption. <br />Changes in technology and environmental regulations have reduced the potential <br />environmental impacts of these industries. Heavy manufacturing industries provide <br />benefits, such as relatively high wage scales and the potential for generating secondary <br />manufacturing activities. <br />M-B-2 <br />Laurel Ridge Record (Z 15-5) Page 190 <br />