About AGO

Alternatives to Growth Oregon was formed in 1998 to educate Oregonians about the true costs and consequences of unending growth, to advocate for a change in state and local policies that promote growth without thought to the costs and consequences, and perhaps most importantly.to develop and help to implement alternative economic strategies and policies that will allow the Oregon economy to flourish, primarily at the local level, and in a manner which addresses and resolves issues of social and economic equity and environmental stewardship.

The focus of most local, regional and state governments is to recruit and subsidize large, often global corporations. Although such policies are intended to improve local economies and the quality of life for all residents, the actual consequences tell a different story. All too often the benefits of governmental support go to a tiny fraction of the local populace (or to distant corporate headquarters), while the costs are borne by local citizen taxpayers. Structural unemployment, stressed public infrastructure, assaults on fresh water, clean air and other natural resources often are the end result. Our current economic system tends to support massive, multi-national corporations and import/export dependent local economies, resulting in economic and social inequality and environmental degradation.

AGO proposes to develop and refine alternative economic strategies to replace our current growth dependent economic model. Such alternative economic strategies would include an emphasis on smaller businesses, local ownership, and more personal interaction in our daily business activities. The benefits of such a locally controlled economy are myriad. One such benefit especially meshes with AGO's mission: by recognizing limits to physical growth, a locally based economy does not need to seek continued growth in size.

Recognizing that continuous physical growth in population and consumption is impossible to sustain on a finite planet, AGO  is working to:

• Educate Oregonians about the costs and consequences of continual growth based on increasing levels population and consumption;
• Change state and local public policies so that local communities have the option of charging growth for it's full costs;
• Educate Oregonians about alternative economic strategies that do not require unending growth in population and consumption; and
• Assist in the development and implementation of such alternative economic strategies.

AGO's approach is entirely new as well as comprehensive. AGO promotes state and local policies that encourage local economic self-reliance and long term, pro-active community planning. AGO also strives to change the very nature of commerce by publicizing the advantages of vibrant local commerce based on local inputs, finished products, goods and services.
Such local economies would:

• Be more energy independent;
• Utilize renewable energy sources for a greater portion of their total energy needs;
• Experience fewer environmental and pollution problems as a result of local ownership and control;
• Exhibit greater commitment to community, to volunteerism and to civic participation;
• Be more likely to address issues of social and economic equity; and
• Have less exposure to global business fluctuations.

Mission

AGO's mission is to leave succeeding generations of Oregonians a more economically prosperous, environmentally healthy, and socially just State by encouraging progress toward a sustainable society and discouraging growth that depends on increased population and consumption. This stricture applies only to physical growth. We recognize that growth in educational opportunities, civic participation, environmental stewardship, social and moral well being, artistic expression, to name just a few, are both possible and desirable.

Programs

• Outreach and Advocacy - illustrating alternative economic strategies that work for communities throughout Oregon.
• Policy and Legislation - working to include growth impact analysis and increase fairness in sharing the costs of growth.
• Education - disseminating the Living Within Limits education program on population and consumption growth.
• Research - exposing the costs and consequence3s of growth in Oregon AND continuing work in developing alternative economic strategies.

Recent Accomplishments

• Created a monthly email newsletter distributed to members and other interested people;
• Formed an alliance with the Portland chapter of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. BALLE is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating local, sustainable economies;
• Laid the groundwork for a broad based coalition of non-profit, business and government organizations to begin working together on new and alternative economic strategies that improve local and state economies;
• Continued its research into the "alternatives" to Oregon's current, growth dependent economy;
• Furthered the AGO goal of having growth pay a greater portion of it's costs by introducing legislation that would expand allowable SDC categories to include schools, police, fire and libraries and additional legislation that would require communities to prepare a growth impact analysis prior to approving new development projects beyond certain size limits;
• Broadened and deepened the base of research materials available documenting both the costs of growth, and the positive results of requiring growth to pay for itself;
• Spoke to numerous civic and environmental groups regarding growth issues, costs and alternatives;and
• Refined and expanded our education program on population and consumption.

History

In 1997 a group of concerned Oregonians came together to discuss growth and economic issues in the state of Oregon. The discussion led to a statewide conference that attracted 600 citizens and eventually resulted in the official creation of Alternatives to Growth Oregon (AGO).

Why AGO?

For many years now, Oregon has been a national leader in addressing growth issues through use of the planning process. In an attempt to manage growth over the past 25 years, the state has enacted some of the toughest land use laws in the nation. While this planning has, without doubt, protected some areas, and slowed sprawl, it has not stopped the loss of farmland, forest lands and other open spaces and natural areas. The Willamette Valley Livability Forum projects that within the next 40 years-with the best conservation practices in place-the valley will lose 150,000 acres of farmland, 25,000 acres of forests, and will add 63,000 acres to the urban growth boundaries. In the face of continued population and consumption increase, growth management alone is not enough. Oregon's population has grown 20.4% in just the last ten years. If that growth rate continues, Oregon's population would double in less than 40 years. As our population grows we're experiencing an unprecedented increase in our resource consumption. Oregon is beginning to experience shortages - of energy, clean water, wilderness, clean air, forests, wetlands and Pacific salmon. In addition, we are experiencing increases in traffic congestion, air and water pollution, classroom crowding and local taxes.

Until the day our worldwide and national populations can be stabilized, some growth is inevitable.  In the meantime, AGO believes we must insist on efficient and effective economic development that thrives with much slower growth rates.  Building strong local economies in Oregon makes sense--not only for a future with a stable population, but right now.  The first step is to create a web of locally self-sufficient economies and to encourage all Oregonians to support local businesses.  Such support of local economies enhances the chances that Oregon job seekers will find high quality local employment opportunities with living wages and other benefits.  By insisting that the costs of growth are covered and that local economies are nurtured we are starting a process which will ensure that every Oregonian has access to affordable housing, adequate healthcare, an excellent education, clean water, fresh air and healthy, safe food.

 

Contact Information

Board of Directors

Andy Kerr, Chair
David Johns , Vice-Chair
Betty McArdle, Secretary/Treasurer