Transportation, forest health and nanotechnology improvements will be among the key elements benefiting Southern Oregon as the Oregon Business Plan continues to take shape.

Sen. Ron Wyden, who Monday hosted the 2003 Leadership Summit in Portland, addressed a noontime gathering Tuesday at the Red Lion Inn in Medford.

He highlighted elements of the business plan, noting that Oregon will have to make some tough decisions about spending in the years to come. Yearly summits will monitor progress toward the plan’s 12 goals.

"Personalities will come and go, ballot measures and issues will come and go," Wyden said. "But the 36 counties, political parties and urban and rural parts of Oregon will remain. In my time I’ve been to summits, forums and conventions on various aspects, and there was no follow through. We’ll be back again and again."

The plan’s 12 goals range from education and training and technological innovation to developing transportation and infrastructure needs.

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Enhanced nanotechnology, Wyden said, would benefit the Rogue Valley’s health-care sector. Nanotechnology is cutting-edge science involving the use of microscopic "machines."

"I’m excited to see they’re using telecommunications infrastructure as part of the plan," said Richard Ryan, president of Hunter Communications and Core Digital. "They’re finally recognizing that telecommunications is a vital part of job development, retention and recruitment. Without vital infrastructure our region can’t grow."

Ashland businessman Dave Bernard is taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"The reality is that it’s probably not going to impact us that much, because most of our business comes from outside the area." says Bernard, chairman and chief executive officer of Darex Corp., in Ashland, and Professional Tool Manufacturing’s majority shareholder.

"For instance, the training of engineers and scientists. If Oregon doesn’t train engineers and scientists, someone will be and we’ll hire from that pool. It doesn’t have to come from Oregon. Where (the Oregon Business Plan) impacts me is my children and grandchildren. Where are they going to get an education and where will they get a job? They may well have to go somewhere else first to get their education and initial experience because there aren’t that many opportunities here.

"Long-term, it’s going to impact the people who live here and their children."

Scott Sinner, a land-use consultant in Medford, said support for the state’s education system was the most important aspect of the plan.

"Without adequate funding for schools, we lose teachers and provide an inferior level of education, making our kids less competitive," Sinner said. "That will drive employers elsewhere for qualified employees."

Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail business@mailtribune.com.