Q1 2026 Business Leader Forum: McMinnville’s Business Climate: Alignment. Action. Impact.
Feb 23, 2026
Strong Turnout. Real Alignment. Clear Action Ahead.
McMinnville’s Q1 Quarterly Business Leader Forum brought together employers, developers, entrepreneurs, and community partners for a candid, solutions-focused conversation about our business climate.
In a time of shifting policy and global uncertainty, McMinnville’s business community isn’t waiting — we’re stepping forward. And the City is at the table.
Leaders identified clear priorities to strengthen our local economy:
🏠 Workforce & middle-income housing as essential economic infrastructure
🏗️ Streamlined, predictable permitting & development processes
👷 Skilled workforce development & living-wage job growth
🎯 A clear, measurable economic vision with stronger alignment
The energy in the room was collaborative, candid, and action-oriented — focused not just on challenges, but on solutions.
This forum directly supports the MAC-Town 2032 Economic Development Strategy — McMinnville’s roadmap to grow living-wage jobs and strengthen our economy by 2032. A core priority of that strategy is improving communication and alignment between the City, economic development partners, and the business community. This quarterly forum creates a real-time feedback loop so policy and strategy stay grounded in business realities.
The City, the McMinnville Economic Vitality Leadership Council (EVLC), and our economic development partners are actively advancing this work. The EVLC will review forum input and outline next steps at their April meeting — turning dialogue into direction.
McMinnville is building its next chapter — together.
Thank you to the business leaders who showed up, spoke candidly, and are helping shape what comes next.
If you missed the chance to give your input, please take a moment to contribute to the conversation at the link: McMinnville's Business Climate - Feedback Form
Thank you to our Roundtable Facilitators:
Lori Robertson, Cutting Edge Metals, MEDP Board of Directors, Co-Chair MEVLC - Economic Vitality Leadership Council
Dean Craig, Willamette Workforce Partnership
Paul Davis, Dean, Chemeketa Community College Yamhill Valley Campus - McMinnville
Mike Morris, Morris Consulting, MEDP Board of Directors, McMinnville Chamber of Commerce
Carson Bennter, Cellar Ridge Construction, Past Chair MEVLC - McMinnville Economic Vitality Leadership Council
Dan Gibson, Visit McMinnville
John Olson, McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce
Meg Ordaz, Troon Vineyard, McMinnville Downtown Association
Not pictured: Mark Siegel, Delphian School, McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce
Thank you to our City Officials and Staff participating:
Mayor Kim Morris
Councilor Chris Chenoweth, Co-Chair MEVLC - Economic Vitality Leadership Council
Councilor Scott Cunningham
Chief of Police, Cord Wood
Fire District, Ty Darby
Community Development, Heather Richards
Public Works, Geoff Hunsaker
To learn more about the Economic Vitality Leadership Council and the Mac-Town 2032 Strategic Plan, visit at the links.
Our next Quarterly Business Leader Forum will be May 7 at Chemeketa Community College Yamhill Valley Campus - McMinnville from 8:00 am - 9:30 am. Visit our events page to RSVP.
