A large number of business sector representatives from the region took part Wednesday in a webinar on the framework being developed by the state to reopen Oregon’s economy. Nate Stice, the North Central Regional Solutions representative for Governor Kate Brown, said the big lift for the area is to get the testing and contact tracing capacity put together that is one of key prerequisites for beginning the reopening process along with having the proper health care capacity and personal protective equipment, and plans in place on how to protect health and safety of the workforce. Stice noted the Columbia Gorge area has the extra burden of accounting for the potential of visitors that could come in once non-essential travel is allowed. More of the details on the framework, including development of operational plans and geographic criteria, and the finalization of steps and guidelines is expected for the week of May 4. Stice said the Governor was aware of the impact of the pandemic on the economy of rural Oregon, and if there are ways to keep it moving in the rural parts of the state, they are looking to do it.