As a small business owner herself, Heather knows that economic growth and education go hand in hand. Too often, businesses cannot find qualified employees to meet the needs of their growing businesses. That’s why she is working with local schools, LCC, and the UO to create new training opportunities for students to prepare them for the jobs of the future. She is also a strong supporter of community benefit bidding, which helps ensure that money spent on public projects stays local – and that women and minority-owned business have the chance to grow. In her first term, Heather championed the push to raise the minimum wage for Lane County employees to $15/hour – making good on a key 2018 campaign promise.
 

As Lane County rebuilds from the 2019 and 2020 wildfire seasons, Heather is working tirelessly to support recovering small businesses through programs like Oregon Business Development Fund’s revolving loans.

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