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I am excited to share with you news of our efforts to make strategic improvements to both our public policy goals and the way we work to effectively achieve them. It starts with our team—both the staff in the field across the state and those here in Salem. It means working daily to help existing Oregon businesses to thrive and grow regardless of the latest economic forecast or trend. I am proud of our successes and of the benefits we have brought communities across Oregon, but now more than ever, we know we must intensify our efforts to retain and create new jobs for Oregonians.
I am happy to report that on May 15 the Oregon Economic & Community Development Commission approved an updated strategic plan for the agency following a presentation on the department's specific new goals and strategies. The goals are meant to drive economic growth in Oregon over both the short and long term.
Our new strategic goals also reflect the aims of our new Global Industry Strategies section of the department. As you may recall from my April communication, the Global Strategies section combines the functions previously carried out by our business development, innovation and international trade staff. This new section will be divided into four industry teams. Each team will develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans for each key industry group.
I hope you have a moment to read and review the new Strategic Plan and its goals. You will notice our renewed emphasis and focus on this updated set of Oregon key industries: Technology and Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Technology, Wood and Forestry Products, and Outdoor Gear and Active Wear.
Our ongoing efforts to grow Oregon's already impressive clean technology sector will be helped immensely by the recent addition of Mike Grainey as our Renewable Energy Advisor to assist the Department's efforts in developing a renewable energy portfolio. In that role, Mike will work on policies to encourage businesses which develop and use renewable energy and other clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles and energy-efficient building practices.
Mike served as director of the Oregon Department of Energy from 2002 to 2009. As director, he managed the department’s efforts to sites large energy facilities, operate state and federal incentive programs to promote energy conservation and renewable resources, and implement state energy policy. I am excited to have added such a valuable new member to our team.
As we work to update our policies and practices, we also are continuing our efforts to work more closely and effectively with our state agency partners. As you may know, we have worked with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Department of Land Conservation & Development (DLCD) to overcome challenges associated with the certification of badly needed industrial lands. There are few, if any, "easily certified" sites left in the state. Potential remaining sites are replete with unique sets of challenges.
To overcome those challenges and spur much needed economic development of such lands, I meet monthly with my fellow directors Matthew Garrett (ODOT) and Richard Whitman (DLCD) to discuss such potential sites as well as other economic development issues. We also work closely with the Governor's Economic Revitalization Team (ERT) begun by Governor Kulongoski in 2003.
I believe that in these times of scarce government resources, every state agency needs to tap our expertise so funds can be spent in the most efficient manner to capitalize on the strategic opportunities for economic development around the state.
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| Upcoming Events |
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Northwest Energy Summit: June 10
Powering the Northwest into the 21st Century
Please join the Oregon Community & Economic Development Department, PGE, PacifiCorp and other utility, workforce/education and economic development partners for a day–long conference at the Oregon Convention Center on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. The Future of Wind: Beyond Installation conference will focus on growing a Northwest wind economy that supports construction, maintenance and services for the industry.
The conference, developed for Oregon and Washington businesses, focuses on two main areas: growing a maintenance and service provider base for the fast-growing wind power industry, including workforce needs, and transmission capacity and siting for the utility industry.
Growing our Northwest wind supply chain is an important topic among the region's wind managers and installers. Great opportunities exist for local companies interested in this new industry.
For details on registration, conference topics, invited speakers and event logistics, visit www.nwenergysummit.com.
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| News and Updates |
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Coming Soon: New Agency Name
The expected passage of our agency reorganization legislation later this session will change the agency's name to the Oregon Business Development Department. We intend to operate under the assumed name, "Business Oregon."
The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development held a public hearing on the agency's reorganization legislation—HB 2152—on May 19. While subcommittee members were supportive of the bill and its impact, it was determined that the bill requires four technical amendments. Those amendments have now been drafted and the subcommittee plans to take final action on the bill during the first week of June. If approved, the bill would then proceed to the full Ways and Means Committee and then to the House floor for a vote before moving to the Senate side of the chamber.
Success Stories
I am happy to announce the posting of more than a dozen agency "success" stories from across the state of Oregon, which have recently helped us educate legislators about how the agency helps existing Oregon businesses. The stories are located on our business web site alongside our recently produced set of three "success" videos. I hope you can take a moment to take a look at these successes and, please remember, our team welcomes your ideas and suggestions so they can document more success in the future.
Business Facilities Magazine adds to Oregon's List of Top Rankings:
Congratulations Oregon!
Your state ranked among the Top 10 in:
Best Business Climate
Quality of Life
Greenest States
Best Business Tax Climate
Best Sales Tax Climate for Business
and will be featured in Business Facilities' July 2009 cover story.
International Trade Opportunities
The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) plans to give out 25 travel grants to businesses for each of the upcoming trade shows: Mechatronics Technology Japan show, October 14-17, 2009, at the Nagoya International Exhibition Hall.
The organization invites the following types of companies to apply for the Mechatronics show: Metal cutting and metal forming machine tools, Sheet metal machine tools, Injection molding machines, Cutting tools and tooling systems, Ancillary equipment, Grinding wheels, Polishing agents, Precision measuring & testing equipment, Hydraulic, pneumatic and water-jet equipment, Gears and gear-making equipment, Environment preservation and safety equipment, CAD/CAM/CAE systems, Industrial robots & material handling or transfer equipment, Control devices (including CNCs) and related software, Washing or cleaning machines, New materials, Micromachines and other nanotechnology-related equipment, and other FA-related equipment and systems.
In addition, JETRO also will award 25 travel grants for the Green Device 2009 Trade Show, October 28-30, 2009, in Yokohama, Japan. For the Green Devices show, JETRO invites companies producing environment-friendly electronic devices that facilitate CO2 reduction and related manufacturing/test equipment, components and materials.
If selected for a grant, airfare, hotel, booth cost and interpreter fee will be covered by JETRO. Oregon companies have fared well in the past at receiving grants. To apply for a grant for either trade show, please contact Linda Salomon at for a grant application or visit the JETRO web site. The deadline is June 11.
Thank You For Making the International Roadshow A Success
OECDD partnered with the Portland Development Commission (PDC) to conduct lunch seminars in Portland on Japan/Saudi Arabia May 18 and Canada/Mexico May 19 for than 50 business representatives. The experts were from OECDD's Japan Representative Office, the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council, the Canadian Consulate General in Seattle and the ProMéxico office in the Mexican Consulate General in San Francisco. The visiting representatives also conducted more than 60, one-on-one meetings with companies from the Portland metro area.
In addition, in partnership with the Eugene Chamber of Commerce on May 20 and Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) on May 21, OECDD helped conduct lunch seminars on Japan/Saudi Arabia for business representatives attended by more than 20 people in each city. The visiting representatives also conducted more than 10 one-on-one meetings with companies from Eugene and Bend.
2008 Creative Vitality Index Released
Oregon’s creative health remains robust, according to the latest Creative Vitality Index report commissioned by the Oregon Arts Commission. The 2008 report is the third issued by the Oregon Arts Commission; only one other state in the nation—Washington—measures its Creative Vitality Index, or CVI.
The Creative Vitality Index, or CVI, drawn from existing census, employment and other available data, measures public participation in the arts as well as arts-related employment. It includes data from the profit and not-for-profit sectors to map the impact of creative pursuits in a local economy. Oregon’s 2008 CVI ranking of 1.11 remains above the national average of 1.0. In 2007, Oregon ranked at 1.12, up from 1.06 in 2006. Despite the slight decline, four county clusters or workforce development areas continued to exceed the national average:
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2008 Index
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2007 Index
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Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wheeler, Wasco
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1.05
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1.06
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Lane
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1.12
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1.17
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Jackson, Josephine
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1.37
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1.28
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Multnomah, Washington
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2.13
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2.27
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| Federal Stimulus Update |
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The department has been busy working on following federal stimulus projects:
Infrastructure—Safe Drinking Water
Earlier this month, the Governor announced the award of $27.8 million in federal stimulus funds to leverage a total of $45.2 million worth of safe drinking water system improvements in 18 Oregon communities. Most importantly, the projects are expected to directly create more than 500 jobs.
Our entire team of regional coordinators processed 112 applications from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund in less than one month! The Infrastructure Finance team's excellent work is a great example of how our staff makes the crucial difference for both Oregon businesses and communities across the state. Under Deputy Director Lynn Schoessler's leadership these past months, OECDD's activist response to federal recovery funding has stood out among all state agencies. I am proud to lead such a great team.
Clean Cities
Thanks to OECDD staffer Mark Brady who led the state effort to put together the first "Oregon Way" stimulus funding request. The request, made to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will support the deployment of electric vehicles and charging stations here in Oregon. We have made a $14.95 million request to the DOE and have agreed to supply a $19.8 million local match for the proposed $34.75 million project. The hope is that installation of the charging stations and vehicle purchases could begin as early as October.
The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes $300 million for alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle projects.
More than 80 public and private sector partners have signed on to the project with additional partners still joining the effort. Participants include state agencies, local governments, utilities, educational institutions, developers and many other private sector partners. The primary source of jobs for Oregonians from this project comes from the installation of charging stations. According to our economist Michael Anderson, the project will result in 522 new jobs with labor income of almost $31 million. These estimates do not include additional jobs created to service and maintain the new vehicles or charging stations.
Even if, in the future, an electric vehicle is charged with only coal-based electricity, the vehicle would reduce Greenhouse Gas emission by approximately 20 percent when compared to a conventional, gasoline vehicle. In Oregon, where our energy is considerably less dependent on coal, the emissions reduction will be even better.
Finally, Portland Community College is expected to provide technician and first-responder training as an extension of its existing automotive training program. These technicians will then be well positioned to support the next generation of vehicles that will be commanding growing market share in the future. In addition, the project will lead to new jobs installing and maintaining charging stations and converting hybrids into plug-in hybrids.
Arts
The grant application process closed May 15 for $307,600 in stimulus funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. The funds will help create jobs in the arts here in Oregon. We received 68 applications, with requests to support more than 180 positions. The requests total $1,613,409. While primarily from the I-5 corridor, we do have some Pendleton/Hood River/Coos Bay/La Grande/Warm Springs (the Museum at Warm Springs) applicants.
The Oregon Arts Commission will meet on June 17 and make tentative award decisions.
I look forward to my next communication to you under our new agency name and with our new refocused mission.
Thanks,
Tim McCabe
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