Readers’ Poll

Would you have breakfast with your competitors (if it furthered your industry in some way—or if it meant you would benefit collectively from innovation?) Send your answer to Ec Dev Readers’ Poll.

Events Support Target Industry Growth and Expansion

PDC sponsors several industry breakfasts and other events throughout the year to facilitate collaboration and industry development. The metals industry holds such gatherings quarterly (next event will be in early June), with the most recent program featuring an overview of Oregon InC’s role in manufacturing. Informative and educational, these industry events are excellent opportunities to find out what’s going on in local and regional economic development. To put your name on the list for future event invitations, contact Melanie Rund.

The Innovator Next Door: How Arts Creativity and Ideas Build a Strong Workforce

On March 8th, approximately 110 business leaders, artists and other innovators met at the Doug Fir Lounge to uncover and explore inspired examples of how art and creativity are used as tools of innovation in the business community. Participants received results of a recent “Innovation Survey” that describes how local businesses are fostering innovation at their companies, and learned best practices for attracting creative workers and cultivating new ideas in the workplace.
A follow-up forum is scheduled for April 12th. These forums are presented as part of the MetLife Foundation National Arts Forum Series, and supported by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and NW Business for Culture and the Arts. Forums are taking place in 20 cities nationwide and will investigate themes related to the arts and workforce development, a topic that allows for an exploration of the central role the arts can play in creating a workforce capable of achieving corporate and citizenship objectives. For more information about the forum and innovation resources and examples in our city, visit www.portlandcreates.com.

PDC Connects People and Resources to Create More Jobs for Portland

Expansion of existing companies is the number one source of new jobs in the economy. At PDC, we prioritize our efforts to retain businesses and help them to expand.

The following statistics reflect the economic development staff’s business retention and expansion (BRE) work with both local and new-to-Portland companies through the end of January 2007.

Job Creation and Private Investment Linked to 10 New Companies in the N/NE Portland Enterprise Zone

With PDC Commission approval on March 14, ten companies have enrolled in Portland’s N/NE Enterprise Zone, an incentive program that requires new job creation and new investment in exchange for a five-year property tax abatement. Full-time job creation and existing employee retention are primary public benefits of the program. The applicants will leverage nearly $90 million in private investment, retain an expected 512 jobs and create 233 new jobs over the abatement period. For more information about E-Zone contact Seth Hudson.

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