OREGON

Portland city officials are warming up to the idea that jobs are key to sustainable cities, and have proposed a plan to try to lure sustainable businesses to the city.

"We have a lot of potential, but without some successes we are just not going to attract venture capital money."

The Oregon Employment Department has estimated that the size of what it calls the apparel and sporting goods cluster will grow almost 13 percent to 21,500 jobs statewide by 2012.

The Oregon Angel Fund is a new venture designed to educate novice angel investors while placing much-needed seed funding in the bank accounts of local startups.

“I believe that to meet the challenges we face today it is essential to engage businesses, government, non-profit organizations and citizens in collective action. Oregon Solutions creates the place to come together and provides the means to reach community agreements that connect Oregonians in solving these challenges, in communities across the state.”
– Theodore R. Kulongoski
Governor, State of Oregon
Chair, Oregon Solutions Network

A region that attracts highly skilled technology workers located within a state that rewards companies that adopt environmental initiatives, were two of the primary reasons Germany-based SolarWorld Group selected Hillsboro, Ore., as the location for its newest manufacturing plant.

Robert Ward, managing director of Capybara Ventures, said the tax has driven several venture capital firms to move from the county to Beaverton or other nearby cities. "It’s a huge deal," said Ward, whose fund is rare in being based in Portland. Ward said he’s spoken with at least one firm that is considering moving back to Portland with the tax change, though he declined to say which one.

Planners and politicians are calling for a revival of Oregon’s "Big Look" — a broad effort to refresh the state’s urban growth and land use planning policies.