Oregon Economic Development

Wim Wiewel rode a bicycle to work on his first day as president of Portland State University. This week, he will celebrate his inauguration with a two-day conference on creating a healthy, green regional economy.

A Norwegian company considering Oregon for electric-car manufacturing may be eyeing the Portland plant that built Freightliners as a site to employ 900 workers.

The report provides the foundation for upcoming growth decisions, including whether to expand the current urban growth boundary. Metro, the regional government, will make that decision in 2011.

"There are a lot of businesses that see these particular economic downturns as opportunities to relocate," Bosen said. "Real estate is cheap, people are hungry for jobs, and cities and communities are willing to negotiate."

"When we’ve got money to invest and people and talent, we should invest in that here," said Harvey Mathews, president of the Software Association of Oregon, which is helping organize tonight’s gathering.

DesignMedix Inc. snared a $150,000 investment and WeoGeo won $80,000. Both are located in the Portland State Business Accelerator in Southwest Portland.

Vancouver could become a wind energy training hub, eventually graduating 500 technicians from the newly created Northwest Renewable Energy Institute, under plans a local education entrepreneur announced Wednesday.

"The world has changed, banks are tightening down and micro loans are becoming a real option for people," said Mark Green, a principal with the Family Business Consulting Group in Salem. "People need money and will do what they have to get it."

Two winners, selected by angel investors backing the event, will receive investments of $150,000 and $75,000.

"We give lip service to the economy here," admits Klapper, a longtime Portland entrepreneur and a former official with the Port of Portland. "But, really, business is not a priority here."