Oregon is stepping up to the plate with big league dreams as Senate Bill 110 passed the House, 46-6, signaling a potential future for Major League Baseball in the state, the bill, which facilitates $800 million in investor capital contingent upon MLB expansion or relocation, awaits the Governor's signature.
According to an announcement from the Oregon House Democrats, Rep. Daniel Nguyen, who co-carried the bill, highlighted the economic shot in the arm this could give Oregon, stating, "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"; his emphasis on the wider benefits the introduction of MLB would bring to the state is clear with the potential reinvigoration of local communities and bolstering of public amenities.
The bill, initially put forward following a March 3rd informational hearing titled "Bringing the Big Leagues to Oregon: An Update from the Portland Diamond Project," has gathered support from various lawmakers, Sen. Mark Meek, Chair of the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee, among them; he told Oregon House Democrats, “SB 110 is a bill that everyone can support, Major League Baseball in Oregon means jobs, development, and long-term investment. With SB 110, we’re ready to compete, think big, and deliver.”
Emphasizing the significance of this move for job creation, Rep. Dacia Grayber, who also co-carried the bill, pointed to the estimated 9,000 new construction jobs and 3,000 permanent positions that could emerge from the stadium project. She noted in a statement on the Oregon House Democrats, "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." Her words not only promise an uptick in employment but also mirror a steadfast commitment to the state's prosperity and the long-hailed spirit of public-private collaboration for the benefit of Oregonians.
