Gov. Tina Kotek’s commitment to boosting prosperity through economic development is encouraging, and I hope her efforts are successful, (“ Oregon’s governor unveiled a ‘roadmap’ to business prosperity. Here’s what’s at stake, ” Dec. 2). Too often, Oregon’s leading industries and businesses hear platitudes on the importance of economic development only to witness actions that dilute economic development funds, which provide high returns on investment.

Oregon hospitality and leisure is the third-largest private employer sector, creating more than 200,000 jobs and generating $14 billion in annual economic activity – driven in part by state and local lodging taxes.

The state’s 1.5% lodging tax raises approximately $40 million a year and is reinvested in economic development, includ

See Full Page