Curry County Oregon

Doing Business in Curry County, Oregon

Curry County Economic & Community Development works with new and existing businesses in the county to provide assistance and services that will help them succeed. Our goal is to support local business through direct programs and incentives, financial resources, area knowledge, regional and state assistance programs, demographic information, market trends and a host of other related resources.

New Resource: Tools For Business Success "We've added 'Tools for Business Success' to our website with a free tool to help entrepreneurs choose the type of business entity that meets their needs, a business start-up kit, sample business plans and small business certification information." The business start-up kit includes the forms needed to establish a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company or corporation.

Browse through this section for information on Agriculture, Business Development, Cities of Curry County, current committees and projects, local convention facilities, county demographics, eco-education, area housing, a local resource directory and workforce and workforce training information.

Below is a brief overview of our county.

Economic History
Over the past year, Curry County lost jobs in construction and wood products manufacturing, due to the slowdown in home sales and new home construction. Other sectors continued to add jobs. Employment rose in professional and business services, health care, and accommodations and food services.

In 2008, the average monthly unemployment rate was 7.8 percent. Curry County, like the entire nation, has seen a rise in unemployment in 2009; mid-year unemployment rate was 14.3%

Retirement income and tourism dollars have become increasingly important to the county’s economy. Employment in retail trade and services, especially health care, has grown as the population has aged. Average wages here in 2008 were $43,100.

Relocation Trends
In recent years, business observers have pointed to a general trend in business relocations away from major metropolitan areas and toward small- and medium-sized communities. Certainly, some companies are limited in their relocation options by customer demographics and other factors, but many firms—especially those established by entrepreneurs—have forsaken large cities for smaller towns. Desires for quieter lifestyles away from pollution, crime, and other attributes often associated with large cities, coupled with the advances that have made telecommuting a reality, have led many entrepreneurs to relocate to more rural locations. Curry County offers a high quality of life and opportunities for small business, with a friendly business atmosphere, skilled workforce, and opportunities for training and higher education.

E-Commerce
Today’s information technology is changing the landscape of virtually all economic activities. Fostering the growth of the digital economy is one of the foundations of Curry County’s economic future. According to a study done by Progressive Policy Institute, Oregon emerges as the state most friendly to e-commerce and Internet users. Ranking highest in telemedicine, mortgage opportunities, insurance, wine sales, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), auctions and access to government. Additionally, Oregon does not charge an access tax on Internet usage.

Population Trends
Curry County's population has increased by 14% since 1990. The 2008 estimated population is 21,510. with three incorporated cities; Brookings, Gold Beach and Port Orford. Brookings population of 6,465 has grown the fastest at 40% since 1990. The area around Brookings contains about 40% of the County's overall population. Gold Beach, the county seat, has 2,155 residents and Port Orford has approximately 1,275 residents.