An effort to bring major league professional baseball to Oregon got a rousing response last week from Oregon legislators who crowded the proverbial home plate with a 46-6 vote in the House to send Senate Bill 110 to the governor’s desk.
The “no” votes included local Rep. Jami Cate, R-Lebanon, but included two Democrats.
SB 110 will position Oregon to spur $800 million in investor capital for the state if Oregon is selected as the next new home of Major League Baseball (MLB).
“Being able to continue making investments in strong education for our kids, affordable, accessible health care, and critical infrastructure is dependent on bills like SB 110 that unlock economic development opportunities that will stimulate our economy, re-energize small business and tourism, and boost our resources for years to come,” said Rep. Daniel Nguyen (D-Lake Oswego & SW Portland), who co-carried the bill on the floor and chairs the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade.
“From the stadium design incorporating Oregon’s cross-laminated timber, to the site further activating Portland’s South Waterfront, to built-in labor protections for Oregon workers – this project is a grand slam for Oregon.”
“SB 110 is a bill that everyone can support,” said Sen. Mark Meek (D-Gladstone), Chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee. “Major League Baseball in Oregon means jobs, development, and long-term investment. With SB 110, we’re ready to compete, think big, and deliver.”
“By embarking on this historic investment, we are providing an estimate of 9,000 new construction jobs and 3,000 permanent jobs in the stadium alone,” said Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland & E Beaverton), who co-carried the bill on the floor and serves as Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards. “A balanced commitment to economic development, high quality jobs, and minimal financial risk to the state is the best version of public-private partnerships. I am proud to be part of bringing this opportunity to Southwest Portland’s waterfront.”
The bill concept was initially introduced during an informational hearing chaired by Nguyen in the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade on March 3, titled “Bringing the Big Leagues to Oregon: An Update from the Portland Diamond Project.” The bill was ultimately introduced at the request of Sen. Mark Meek.