This afternoon, Erin Flynn, director of the Urban Development Department at the Portland Development Commission, will present the joint City of Portland - PDC Economic Development Strategy to the PDC Board. The strategy will serve as the city’s five-year plan for promoting job creation and economic growth.

“This strategy is our game plan as we strive to become the global leader in the green economy,” said Mayor Sam Adams. “PDC and city staff have worked very hard to involve a wide array of stakeholders in the development of the strategy and that collaborative nature is reflected in the plan we now have. I am very pleased with the work and I believe it will serve us well as we move ahead to achieve our economic development goals for the City of Portland.”

Economic Development Strategy Goals

The strategy is built around a very bold goal: to become the most sustainable economy in the world – and to create 10,000 jobs in the process. Objectives and action items within the strategy center around three primary components:

• Competitiveness – Generate robust job growth by maximizing the competitive environment for existing, emerging and relocating businesses
• Innovative Urban Setting – Maintain a leadership position in sustainability by constantly striving to produce an innovative urban setting that fosters creativity and invention
• Neighborhood Vitality – Achieve broad-based prosperity by stimulating economic activity in neighborhoods throughout the city

“This is a big, ambitious plan,” said Flynn. “It’s going to require a fundamental re-thinking of the way we invest in economic development in Portland and the region.”

Next Steps

Following Wednesday’s Commission meeting, Flynn will present the strategy at Greenlight Greater Portland’s second annual regional economic summit on Thursday, June 11, and again on Monday, June 29 at a Small Business Town Hall which will focus on the small business initiatives within the plan. Subject to City Council adoption of the strategy in early July, the plan will move into implementation phase, directed by the mayor’s Economic Cabinet and two committees charged with strategy oversight and resource development.

The Economic Development Strategy website will be live at 4 p.m. today.
Please visit: www.pdxeconomicdevelopment.com

For more information on the Greenlight Greater Portland event visit: http://greenlightgreaterportland.com/news-events/2009/02/26/greenlight-annual-meeting-june-11-2009/
 

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PDC was created by Portland voters in 1958 to serve as the city’s urban renewal agency as laid out in Chapter 15 of the City’s Charter. PDC provides comprehensive housing, development and economic development programs within the Portland region.