Economic Development Customer Service Survey

After their transaction with PDC is complete, our business finance clients are surveyed on staff service, staff knowledge, the role PDC funding played in their project, and any changes they would like to see in the business finance process. A snapshot of survey responses for the past fiscal year shows:

• 90% rate staff service as "very good"
• 96% rate staff knowledge of the business finance program as "high" (in a low-medium-high measurement)
• 72% say their project would not have gone forward without PDC funds
• 25% offered suggestions for changes in the process

Portland Will Host International Conference

Portland has been chosen as the host city for Clusters 2007, The Competitiveness Institute’s 2007 Global Conference on Cluster Competitiveness. This international conference is held in a different region of the world each year but always in a city considered to be on the leading edge of cluster development. It is quite an honor for Portland to be chosen and demonstrates an international recognition of our target industry program. The conference is scheduled for October 8-12, 2007 and plans are already underway for an academic summit, cluster tours, workshops and plenary sessions, and the gala dinner celebrating TCI’s 10th anniversary.

Interested in attending or volunteering at Clusters 2007? Visit www.clusters2007.com for conference information and registration or contact Tricia Ryan at PDC.

At PDC, Your Business Success is Our Business!

Two recent partnerships demonstrate PDC's commitment to building local industries:

PDC and the Portland-based Food Innovation Center (FIC) have signed an agreement to provide assistance to Portland-based food processors. The Center offers one stop access to technical, consulting and educational services for food producers, processors, marketers, and entrepreneurs. It operates through a partnership with Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Agriculture to advance the Northwest food industry.

PDC and the Food Innovation Center will work together to identify clients, with evaluation criteria being positive impact on job creation or retention; potential for product improvement or development; increased productivity; and availability of funds in the project location.

Available services include market projections, package performance testing, shelf life and environmental testing, and technical support for product development, packaging design, product identity and market access development. Funding for the services will be available to eligible companies citywide as well as those located in one of six urban renewal areas: Lents, Airport Way, Oregon Convention Center, Interstate, River District and Gateway.

To apply or for more information, contact Randy Evans, PDC program manager, 503-823-0119, or Jerry Gardner, FIC program manager, 503-872-6600.

PDC and Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) invite you to Go Lean. The Small Business Pilot Program for lean manufacturing—the first such program in the country—promotes growth and business success for small manufacturing-based businesses by providing access to lean manufacturing training at a considerably reduced cost to the company.

PDC is committed to providing Portland’s small manufacturing companies with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement more efficient manufacturing processes to grow their business and create jobs. OMEP is Oregon’s premier Lean Enterprise resource, helping manufacturers reduce costs, increase sales, and create jobs by becoming more competitive and productive in the global marketplace.

Eligible participants in the pilot program are small (fewer than 25 employees), manufacturing-based companies located in the city of Portland. Both traditional (metal and wood products) and non-traditional (etched glass, coffee roasters) manufacturing can be eligible. Space is limited; PDC and OMEP will select 5-10 qualifying companies on a first-come, first served basis. The individual businesses would be required to contribute some funding in an approximately 75/25 split, with PDC providing a grant match up to 75% of the costs and the company contributing the remainder.

To apply or for more information, contact Kevin Johnson, PDC, 503-823-1176, or Patrick Murphy, OMEP, 503-725-2660.

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