OREGON

Lokey, who was born and raised in Portland but never attended UO, has given a total of $132 million to the university in the past four years. He said in an interview that giving to UO is his way of giving back to his home state.

“This tax credit is one of a kind,” Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards said. “No other state has a program where donors can receive such a generous tax credit in return for helping move research from lab to market,”

Portlanders want to preserve the city’s progressive spirit and its caring, healthy, laid-back, environmentally conscious uniqueness. They also want to make sure all residents can share its prosperity.

Portland is trying to align its economic development strategies around sustainability. So, not surprisiingly, a privately-led recruitment effort is focused on a handful of clusters: renewable energy, green-building technology, recycling technology and environmental practices sectors.

"It puts us on the right track, and it gives the campus hope that higher education may become more of a priority in this state."

The fact that so many of the firms investing Oregon’s money are based outside the state is inconsistent with the original mission, said David Garten, CEO of Eugene’s SeQuential Biofuels LLC. "Prudent investment of pension funds and targeted, local economic development don’t mix." Harold Bradley, chief investment officer at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, Mo.