Oregon Business Team

Intel, Greenbrier, FLIR and Vestas: this month’s Dealwatch column includes some major Oregon businesses. We round up the big transactions, mergers and deals of the month.

Many of Oregon’s largest festivals and fairs reached record-breaking attendance this summer, a sign that many Oregonians decided on staycations this year.

Despite a minimum wage adjusted for inflation each year since 2004, Oregon experienced the smallest percentage gain in private sector pay between 2001 and 2009 when compared to neighboring states — 22.1% versus Nevada’s 27.7%.

A long-simmering conflict over individual versus public rights has converged on the banks of the rivers of southwest Oregon, stirring resentment between gold miners and environmentalists. In question is whether suction dredging poses a threat to river wildlife and if the long-standing individual right to mine in the state should be amended.

A statewide research group is developing a way to forecast harmful algae blooms to help mitigate the negative economic impact that beach closures have on Oregon’s coastal communities.

A group of Portland-area business strategists are encouraging companies to dump their waste on others as a way to save money.

  All “latest” numbers are for July 2010 unless otherwise noted. Latest Month Previous Month Previous Year Annual Change EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS LISTINGS Total employment State of Oregon, thousands 1,774.4 1,764.9 1,763.6 0.6% Total unemployment State of Oregon, thousands 209.4 202.6 220.8 -5.1% Unemployment rate Ore. civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted 10.6% 10.5% 11.4% -0.8 Portland/Vancouver MSA; … Read more

State tax receipts from trucking employment /busines listings fell 11.6% in 2009, but gained 4.3% year-to-date as of July.

Wind energy developer Chris Crowley was the darling of the green set until he tried to put turbines near Steens Mountain.