1. Leaders map out next year's focus at Regional Business Plan breakfast
2. Privately-funded economic development corporation launches
3. Metro plans to distribute construction excise tax planning funds
4. Transportation lobbying efforts featured in DJC

Leaders map out next year's focus at Regional Business Plan breakfast

On January 4, regional private- and public-sector leaders gathered at the Oregon Convention Center to review the first-year accomplishments of the Regional Business Plan and previewed the list of strategies and initiatives for 2007. The breakfast event, hosted by the Portland Business Alliance, preceded the fifth annual Oregon Leadership Summit. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Mayor Tom Potter, and numerous State Senate and House members attended the event.

Regional Business Plan Steering Committee Chair Scott Andrews presided over the meeting and each of the board task force chairs briefed audience members on the progress made in the four core areas of the plan: economic development, land use, education and transportation. Last year's progress includes regional business associations coming together to identify top issues related to the statewide land use system, a new Kitchen Cabinet of Business and Industry Leaders at PCC to address workforce education issues, and the creation of a bi-state coalition of business representatives focused on the Columbia River Crossing.

The 2007 Regional Business Plan progress report is available online or you can request a hard copy by contacting B.J. Bachmeier at 503.552.6753. For additional information and updates about the Regional Business Plan, visit www.regionalbusinessplan.com.

Privately-funded economic development corporation launches

On Wednesday, January 3, regional business leaders officially launched the Four County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC). This private-sector funded and managed not-for-profit company is an outgrowth of the Regional Business Plan's call for greater business involvement in the recruitment and retention of companies to the Portland-Vancouver region. The corporation will be overseen by a private sector board of directors and work in close collaboration with public economic development professionals throughout Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties.

The FCEDC will also merge with the Portland Development Commission's existing Ambassador Program, to assist with recruiting new businesses to the region. Funded by major Portland area businesses, the startup funding goal of $750,000 was reached in December.

"This is a key element of our Regional Business Plan, and we're proud to have reached this significant milestone in less than a year," said Mark Ganz, President and CEO of Regence. "By bringing together communities to form a powerful, united front to recruit new businesses, this new entity will advance the economic vitality of our region."

For additional information go to www.regionalbusinessplan.com.

Metro plans to distribute construction excise tax planning funds

On January 10, Metro announced the distribution of $6.3 million in grants to 10 local cities and three counties to fulfill land use planning requirements for areas brought into the urban growth boundary since 2002. These funds will pay for required concept and comprehensive planning so development can occur in these newer expansion areas.

In 2002 and 2004, the Metro Council voted to expand the urban growth boundary by nearly 20,000 acres. Metro's code requires that affected cities and counties complete comprehensive land use plans within two years of an urban growth boundary expansion. Many local jurisdictions have lacked the necessary funding to complete the required planning. As a result, more than 6,000 of those acres remain unplanned and cannot be developed as residential, commercial, and industrial areas until the planning is completed.

The Metro Council adopted the temporary regional construction excise tax for this purpose in March 2006, and the tax went into effect on July 1. This tax will raise $6.3 million over an estimated three-year period, a sufficient amount to pay for local planning efforts for the areas brought into the urban growth boundary during the 2002 and 2004 expansions. For more information, go to http://www.metro-region.org/article.cfm?articleid=18459.

Transportation lobbying efforts featured in DJC

A December 20 article in The Daily Journal of Commerce highlighted the work that the Portland Business Alliance, Port of Portland and Metro are doing to ensure an adequate transportation system for the region's future.

"In an unprecedented effort, Portland businesses and public agencies are preparing to lobby the 2007 Legislature for a transportation package that would go far beyond the governor's proposed $100 million ‘Connect Oregon 2' package," wrote DJC reporter Libby Tucker in the article.

Governor Kulongoski's "Connect 2" Oregon is funding a package for multi-modal transportation infrastructure, including rail, marine, air and transit projects.

Last year the Alliance, Port of Portland and Metro released two major freight-related transportation studies which indicate that a significant investment and focus on freight-mobility in the Portland region are needed.

"We want to see a package that supports the growth of our economy and the growth of jobs in this region and one that builds on what we learned from the Cost of Congestion study," said Alliance President and CEO Sandra McDonough. "Freight mobility is an area that hasn't been focused on in the past and I would say needs more attention."

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