OREGON

These aren’t the heads-down geeks of yore, but a hyper-social, mixed-gender crew shouting out to one another across Twitter, Facebook and a score of other online communities.

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.