EXHIBITS Page 81 <br />Findings, Objectives, and Policies <br />Findings <br />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 />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 and <br />central Oregon area. <br />Based on data from the 2000 U.S. Census, the per capita income in 1999 for the Eugene- <br />Springfield metropolitan area was lower than for Oregon as a whole and the Portland <br />metropolitan area. <br />6. In 2000, the unemployment rate in the Eugene-Springfield metropolitan area was <br />comparable to Oregon and higher than the national rate. <br />7. 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 />Both expansion of existing businesses through use of local capital and entrepreneurial <br />skills and the attraction of new employers offer realistic opportunities for economic <br />development. <br />9. The healthful environment of the metropolitan area can help attract industrial <br />development, hold workers, and attract convention- and tourist-related economic <br />activities. The concern for clean air and water is high priority with area residents. <br />Laurel Ridge Record (Z 15-5) Page 644 <br />