New business advocate hired

The City of Bend recently hired Ben Hemson as its new Business Advocate.  

Hemson moved to Bend from Portland where he worked as an advocate for gas utilities in the region. Hemson grew up in the Portland area. He attended Oregon State University and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the University of Florida. His professional experience has focused on communications, outreach and policy in the energy sector.

For the City of Bend, Hemson will primarily focus on building relationships with the business community, seeking input from the business community relating to how City policy and processes impact commerce.

Hemson is a part of the recently reformed 7-person Economic Development Department team. 

In 2009, because of the recession, the City disbanded its Economic Development Department to allow funding of other high priority efforts and programs, such as public safety, sewer, water and streets. In 2011, the City hired its first Business Advocate, Jon Skidmore, who is now the Assistant City Manager. In 2012, the City hired Carolyn Eagan as its second Business Advocate. The City recreated an Economic Development Department in 2015 and Eagan became the director. The Economic Development Department oversees the following functions:

• Downtown management
• Affordable housing
• Bend Municipal Airport
• Bend Economic Development Advisory Board Interaction
• Business Advocacy
• Urban Renewal
• Property Management
• Interaction with Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and Visit Bend