. If
nothing else, read the executive summaries included in virtually all of these
reports.With Oregon's economy in trouble and a new governor about to take office, now is the time to focus on developing and implementing economic development plans. Oregon's high tech community has become more engaged in this process as we realize that the health of the industry is dependent on a supportive business climate. Oregon's high tech leaders are more active in developing and advocating an agenda for high tech growth including issues such as K-12, higher education and workforce development, technology transfer from academic to commercial entities, and access to capital for entrepreneurialism.
This site is a collection of resources dedicated to informing and inspiring you to participate in strengthening Oregon's high tech economy. You'll find background information on economic development theory (including the currently popular clusters theory), reports on the state of Oregon's high tech economy from a national, state, and regional perspective. Economic development plans are also included, as are the numerous organizations participating in the process.
Short on time? Look for the
. If
nothing else, read the executive summaries included in virtually all of these
reports.
Economic development is not just a political activity. While some challenges require political solutions (e.g. educational funding), case studies of other regions' efforts conclude that the private sector solve its own problems with vision, organization and commitment. Numerous organizations listed below are participating in the process in a variety of ways. They are excellent vehicles for you to learn more and contribute to a solution.
By any reckoning, the Leadership Summit was a success. The agenda of the event was organized around the twelve initiatives of the Oregon Business Plan. Workshops for each initiative were bracketed by opening presentations and the wrap-ups.
For the high tech industry, the Summit consummated years of effort to establish the industry on the state's political agenda. The OCKED report is the essence of the Oregon Business Plan's Pioneering Innovation section and it strongly influenced K-12 and higher ed directions. Governor Elect Kulongoski's transition team includes three high tech veterans: Debi Coleman, Scott Gibson, and Jack Isselmann. The good news is that high tech has an agenda and a place at the table to turn the agenda into legislation.
The bad news of course, is the state of the state budget. The forecast is for pain, quantified by the ever-escalating shortfall forecasts. The PERS train wreck must be averted. Our state government must reestablish credibility with the citizenry by demonstrating accountability and business not-as-usual as it wrestles with the budget. Only then will there be a chance of additional funding for education and addressing the stabilization of the state's revenue sources with a modified taxation system. It is against this backdrop that our economic development agenda is painted.
While the Summit was a watershed event, it is only one step in a long road back to economic prosperity and a healthier state. This website will continue to track progress in high tech economic development, both in the public and private sectors.
Four of the key presentations from the day. Includes Joe Cortwright's excellent economic overview, Wyden/Smith/Kulongoski's Federal/State Agreement, Ron Parker's excellent agenda for public finance reform (speech and slides), and Governor Elect Kulongoski's Closing Remarks
A great list of obvious and not-so-obvious remedies for what's ailing our economy. Includes suggestions on the budget, government processes, privatization, and a list of ten committees and commissions to be eliminated. Is your favorite on the list?
An op-ed piece suggests that the best return for the entire state on our economic development activities should be a return to a focus on the Willamette Valley, instead of spread more broadly around the state. Governor-elect Kulongoski's transition team appears to agree.
One of Portland's strengths is its attraction to the "creative class"--- young individuals who are driving new activity in creative services, multimedia, and the arts. They're attracted by the "quality of life" we're so proud of and in their own quirky way are building our creative services industry.
A draft of the Executive Summary of The Oregon Business Plan and White Papers on the Plan's initiatives are now available online. The white papers detail the Plan's 12 initiatives. Essential reading before the Leadership Summit. The Summit agenda and a form to provide comments are also available there.
ORTCC's recently released report highlights recommendations to the incoming Legislature on how to deploy and utilize broadband telecommunications infrastructure and applications across the state to enhance economic activities.
Michael
Porter's Harvard Business Review Article:
New Economics of Competition (Acrobat pdf
file)A seminal article describing what clusters are and why they are important to economic development.
Joe
Cortright's
21st
Century Economic Strategy: Prospering in a Knowledge-based EconomyExcellent summary of clusters and why a knowledge-based economy is critical. "Common sense" for those of us in it, but illuminating for those who are not.
A report produced in the Silicon Valley on the international Internet economy, highlighting key aspects of the success of the it, and how and why certain geographic regions are participating in it.
A cluster view of the factors creating success in high tech economic development in five cities similar to Portland. Includes strategies about what's needed to make it happen.
Reviews Oregon's overall economy in the context of clusters, and compared to national statistics
In 1999, at the height of the New Economy euphoria, PPI released its first State New Economy Index, which included 17 indicators to measure the degree to which state economies were structured and operated according to the tenets of the New Economy. In 2002, after the New Economy has proved itself and is being viewed by most with a more careful and realistic eye, PPI's 2002 State Index uses 21 economic indicators to measure these differences and assess states' progress as they adapt to the new economic order. With these indicators as a frame of reference, the report then outlines a state-level public policy framework aimed at boosting the incomes of all Americans. Oregon is ranked 11th.
Yes, Oregon does have a strategic plan, although it seems it rarely gets mentioned in public policy discussion.
The Benchmark Reports establish criteria for determining how well the state is doing with respect to the Strategic Plan.
In many ways the predecessor to OCKED, the OIC was Oregon's first attempt at a plan to capitalize on the New Economy
The
Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development (OCKED) Report
(MS
Word
document)
and presentation (PowerPoint
file or browser
viewable)OCKED plays a critical role in defining economic development activities for knowledge-based industries like ours. Its report is a key component of Innovation section of The Oregon Business Plan.
Westside
Economic Alliance Report
by Joe CortrightAn relatively obscure and underappreciated document, this report highlights the impact that high tech has had on the Westside and puts that contribution into a regional context.
City
of Portland's
Economic Development Strategy This report is hot off the press and was summarized in a presentation by Mayor Katz in late October '02. A good example of what an economic plan looks like. See in particular the High Tech Appendix
The NEC's point-of-view presentation on
Oregon's High Tech Clusters (PowerPoint file)One of the best pieces of research and insightful thinking on clusters and the high tech industry in Oregon.
Most economic development plans focus on the needs of a city or county. This report, produced by the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, recognizes that a larger, regional view and coordinated strategies are valuable. It summarizes the common themes, possible conflicts and gaps; and opportunities and best practices for linking economic development objectives to land use and transportation planning and implementing actions and investments in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. While not focused on high tech, the report provides an excellent summary of all the economic development plans, results to date, and issues of over forty plans.
Advancing the business of technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. The AeA represents more than 3,000 companies with 1.8 million employees. These 3000+ companies span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors, medical devices and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. Oregon's chapter of the AeA is particularly active in the community.
Associated Oregon Industries (AOI) began in 1895 as an organization to promote Oregon products. Today, AOI is a business organization representing over 20,000 companies. Its member businesses employ over 325,000 of Oregon's private employees. The AOI is a nonprofit statewide business advocate. It represents its members before the Oregon Legislature and statewide rule-making agencies in the areas of education, environment, health care, labor law, natural resources, retail, taxation, transportation, unemployment insurance and workers' compensation
The NEC's mission is to provide a framework for a coalition of Oregon economic health advocates to work with governmental, legislative, business, regional and other community leaders to promote forward-looking business development policies and public investments that enhance and sustain economic competitiveness particularly in the emerging technologies sector.
The Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies is a service and research center located in the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State University. Amongst other activities it is heavily involved in numerous regional economic development plans and activities. Its website provides links to many local resources. Of particular interest is the New Economy Observatory which provides a regional overview of our economy, showing a variety of statistics with comparisons to other regions, and highlighting some "knowledge economy" metrics.
This is a statewide effort by the business community to shape our vision of the economy in the next 10 to 20 years, culminating in a formal document. It will be presented at the economic development event of the year on Dec. 9, 2002 at the Leadership Summit
The Oregon Council for Knowledge and Economic Development is comprised of 15 members appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Oregon State Senate. Its mission is to: promote knowledge-based economic development, foster collaboration among leadership of public and private institutions of higher education, economic development, and the private sector, and to act as an early warning system for our the State of Oregon in the above areas.
Good source of state/county economic data and all state economic development activities
The Oregon Engineering and Technology and Industry Council (ETIC) is chartered by the Oregon legislature to recommend leveraged (i.e. private sector matching) investments at Oregon universities to increase the number of graduates in engineering and computer science while simultaneously improving the quality and national rankings of these programs. See ETIC's 2003-2005 proposal to achieve these goals.
The Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum (OEF) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. OEF helps improve the flow of ideas, services, and capital to entrepreneurs and helps connect companies to expertise and other resources they need to grow their business.
Oregon RAINS is a consortium of private and public sector organizations and individuals forming whose mission is to contribute to US national defense and homeland security by providing solutions to critical cybersecurity problems, and to expand Oregon’s cybersecurity cluster, creating jobs, cultivating technical innovation and education, and improving the state’s economy.
The Council's mission: Provide all Oregonians with affordable access to broadband digital applications that will improve the Oregon economy, improve the quality of life in Oregon communities and reduce the economic gap between rural and urban Oregon for present and future generations. See their recently released report and executive summary highlighting recommendations to the incoming Legislature on how to deploy and utilize broadband telecommunications infrastructure and applications across the state.
The Portland Business Alliance (The Alliance) is the new voice for the business community in the Portland metropolitan area. Born of a merger between the Association for Portland Progress (APP) and the Portland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), The Alliance combines the regional strength and presence of the 135 year-old Chamber with the visionary downtown management, marketing, and development expertise of APP
The PBA has recently announced the formation of the Oregon Technology Alliance. A potentially influential group, they are in the process of defining their charter and mission.
Its mission is to bring together resources to achieve Portland's vision of a diverse, sustainable community with healthy neighborhoods, a vibrant urban core, a strong regional economy and quality jobs for all citizens. It recently created a new economic development plan that is essential reading.
The Public Forum Institute is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization committed to developing the most advanced and effective means of fostering public discourse. The Forum tailors projects that advance the exchange of information and ideas by combining issue expertise with advanced program development and communications skills. It is the sponsor of he above-mentioned Leadership Summit.
Formed in 1989, the Software Association of Oregon (SAO) fosters an environment that fuels the explosive growth of Oregon’s software industry. Its members enjoy exceptional networking and educational opportunities, critical workforce development programs, and valuable company benefits.
The Alliance's primary purpose is to create an environment conducive to business growth for the Westside Portland metro area. It is a proactive organization working to confront and influence decisions on policies and regulations impacting the economic vitality of the area. Its Westside Story is a key economic development report highlighting high tech.
Includes every relevant organization and defines every TLA (Three Letter Acronym). You can't tell the players without a scorecard.
Prepared by the SAO Strategy Task Force:
Chairman:
Rich Bader,
EasyStreet Online Services
Stan Davis, Marstan Ventures
Linda Brackett, Connor Bates
Larry Wade, SAO
Mona Westhaver,
Inspiration Software
Jim Cochell,
PressEvents
Frank Hall,
Entredigm Consulting
Please send us your comments and questions.