MAYOR'S MESSAGE Take the Coos Bay Business Survey Help shape policies that support our local businesses. The City of Coos Bay is taking an important next step in strengthening our local economy — and we are asking our business community to help lead the way. As part of our newly adopted Coos Bay Forward Economic Development Strategic Plan, we have launched the 2026 Coos Bay Business Survey, now open through March 18. This survey is designed to gather direct input from local businesses about current challenges, opportunities, and priorities for growth. Our Economic Development Strategic Plan provides a five-year, forward-looking framework to guide how the City supports job creation, business development, and long-term prosperity. It aligns with City Council’s strategic priorities and is built around a clear vision: by 2045, Coos Bay will be a thriving place where people of all ages choose to live, work, visit, and get involved — supported by diverse family-wage jobs and a strong, welcoming community. A key theme throughout the Strategy is that most new job growth is expected to come from businesses already rooted here. Because of that, one of our top implementation actions is to strengthen Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) efforts — including one-on-one outreach, business roundtables, and better coordination with regional partners. This new Business Survey is one of the first and most important tools in that effort. We know from the Strategy’s research and engagement work that Coos Bay’s economy is built largely on small businesses, most with fewer than 30 employees, and that local employers are navigating workforce, housing, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges. We also know there is strong opportunity ahead — in downtown and waterfront revitalization, adaptive reuse of older buildings, workforce partnerships, and better alignment between land use and economic priorities. Your feedback will help us focus our limited resources where they can make the greatest difference. If you own or manage a business in Coos Bay, I strongly encourage you to participate. Your on-the-ground experience matters. The information you share will directly inform City actions, partnerships, and programs designed to support business success and economic vitality. You can take the survey here: https://bit.ly/CoosBaySurvey . Thank you for helping shape the next chapter of Coos Bay’s economic future. -Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay