OREGON

Called ”Envision Oregon,” these forums challenged more than 2,200 participants from over 140 towns and places in Oregon to describe their vision for Oregon’s future, and to help create strategies for making that vision a reality. They also formed the foundation for Blueprint for Oregon’s Future.

The Portland Ambassadors’ first European Best Practices visit is the latest in a series of trips to top-rated, forward-thinking cities.

The analysis is taking a more detailed look at occupations. This step is important, because regions are competing increasingly on the "basket of skills" they produce.

Once the new fund is completed, the overall $108 million worth of investments will mark about a 25 percent increase from the end of 2006.

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.