JANUARY 2008: INDICATORS
Lake County modernizes 
economic base
“Adapting” might best describe Oregon’s
outback, Lake County. The rugged county in south-central Oregon
had the same number of jobs in mid-2007 as it did in 1990. With
almost 80% of the county’s land under government
ownership, its traditional industries — ranching and
logging — have provided the backbone of the local
economy. Also, wood product manufacturing and the federal
government each provided almost 300 jobs in 2006. However, a
transformation is taking place. The Fremont Sawmill, in
Lakeview, has nearly completed a biomass plant to go along with
its new small-diameter sawmill. The plant and mill will keep
the facility operational at a time when many mills in eastern
Oregon are shutting down. Manufacturing should get an
additional boost when Hall Safe Company arrives next year,
potentially employing up to 100 workers. Plus, the newly opened
Warner Creek Correctional Facility employs about 110 people and
has geothermal heat exchange units, utilizing a renewable
resource the community is proudly promoting.
— STEVE
WILLIAMS, REGIONAL ECONOMIST
WORKSOURCE OREGON EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT
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