This is an area that attracts a lot of people.  Many kept coming even during the economic downturn.

A recent Chamber of Commerce panel discussion looked at what business and economic development we should be doing.

Former Venture Catalyst Manager with EDCO, Jim Coonan was on the panel.  He thinks we should build on what we already have going for us.

"We tend to attract a very diverse, young crowd  who move here from New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Carmel, California, some pretty nice places.  They keep coming to Bend whether we're going to do economic development or not.  We need to take advantage of that.  These people don't want central Oregon to turn into one mass development and lose the quality of life here."

Coonan says the discussion centered on thoughtful growth, while diversifying our economy so we don't go through the painful "boom or bust" cycle.  He believes we could do a better job of promoting the entrepreneurship of many of the people who move here.