Remember during the 2023 legislative session when the state, at the urging of Gov. Tina Kotek, agreed to invest millions on Oregon’s microchip industry in order to access even more in federal funds to support the job-rich industry? 

That plan is moving forward, with 15 Oregon high-tech companies designated to share up to $240 million in state grants aimed at creating jobs and capturing some of the federal money available for domestic semiconductor and related manufacturing.

Peter Wong reports on the companies getting cash, most of them in the metro area. 

Also this week, Dick Hughes comments on the value of newspapers and journalism to Oregonians. We name the new state schools superintendent. And Kotek names her top legislative priority of 2024. 

All this and more in the Oregon Capital Insider this week.   

— Julie Johnson, city editor of the The Bulletin, compiles content for Oregon Capital Insider weekly.