Oregon Economic Development

"Investing in transportation in tough times sets us up for success in good times."

Portland’s City Council has approved spending thousands of dollars to market the city as the American hotbed of sustainable development – and to promote local businesses specializing in “green technology.”

It is the second data center to locate along the river in Oregon’s part of the energy-rich Columbia Basin. Server farms typically use lots of electricity and water.

The ORC began in frustration. Rural Oregonians have long felt what some term the "tyranny of the majority" in a geographically large state that has a majority of its population packed into just three counties. More recently, rural Oregon have had concrete reasons to feel, well, dissed.

The first Gorge Angel Conference on Sept. 23 will showcase local startups competing for $100,000 in seed money.

What does it take for a rural place to be economically vibrant?

"Some amazingly innovative work is coming out of Oregon State, and this venture funding, provided by the citizens of Oregon, will help translate new knowledge into viable business ventures," said John Cassady, OSU vice president for research. "This is just the beginning. As more people give to the venture fund, additional awards can be made, spurring more innovations like these."

"We think there is a real gap in the marketplace, here in Portland and in Oregon in general."

"There’s a tremendous opportunity in this region for green technology."

“This whole trip was leaning more toward policy development than just meeting with businesses,” Mangan said, adding that Scandinavia can be viewed as a template for what the city aspires to be.