November 2006


1. Mark your calendars for the Regional Business Plan breakfast
2. USDOT official addresses regional business representatives about Congestion Relief Initiative
3. Cascadia Regional Institute for Sustainability Education plans summit
4. Economic Development Group efforts make headlines
5. Group pushes for research center to boost manufacturing industry in Oregon
6. Columbia River Crossing project moves forward through complex process

Mark your calendars for the Regional Business Plan breakfast

On January 4, 2007, at the Oregon Business Summit, regional business leaders will meet for briefing on the accomplishments of the Regional Business Plan's first year and a new set of initiatives for 2007. The briefing will begin at 7:30 am at the Oregon Convention Center in Room E-145-146. Mark your calendars and join us.

USDOT official addresses regional business representatives about Congestion Relief Initiative

Regional business leaders met with Tyler Duvall, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), on October 30 to discuss a proposal aimed at relieving congestion. USDOT chose the Portland/Vancouver area to promote its effort, citing its forward-thinking, innovative climate in the area of transportation policy. USDOT officials regularly cite the Cost of Congestion study released by the Portland Business Alliance along with Metro and the Port of Portland in December 2005.

The proposal outlines a sliding scale of tolls that would be assessed to each vehicle traveling along certain highways during peak traffic hours. Under this plan, commuters would schedule discretionary travel during off-peak hours to avoid tolls, reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

If the Portland/Vancouver region chose to apply to be included in the national program, USDOT would provide funding and technical assistance to help develop and execute the plan.

Another element of the USDOT Congestion Strategy includes naming priority corridors throughout the country that would receive expedited review processes and other resources. The Oregon and Washington departments of transportation submitted a proposal for the I-5 corridor, which would include the Columbia River Crossing.

Cascadia Regional Institute for Sustainability Education plans summit

The Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus will host a summit to explore workforce development issues on December 1. Portland Community College, with its partner institutions, Portland State University, Lane Community College and Portland Public Schools, will be forming a new consortium of business, government, non-profit and educational leaders called the Cascadia Regional Institute for Sustainability to highlight workforce issues as they relate to sustainability. U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer will participate and welcome program participants.

For more information, contact Michele Belunes at Michele.belunes@pcc.edu, or 503.731.6831. You can also visit the PCC web site.


Economic Development Group efforts make headlines

The Regional Business Plan and the new Four County Economic Development Corporation have attracted media attention over the past several months. A Portland Business Journal article highlighted the group's efforts to put the region on the national stage and promote the area to businesses looking to relocate.

Read the Portland Business Journal article.


Group pushes for research center to boost manufacturing industry in Oregon

A coalition of manufacturing groups is hoping to create a research and training facility in East Multnomah County, according to an article in The Oregonian. Currently faced with a workforce shortage, manufacturing companies say the new facility will help recruit new businesses to the area, and help the existing ones succeed. According the article, manufacturers are responsible for approximately 15 percent of the jobs in Oregon.
Read the Oregonian article.


Columbia River Crossing project moves forward through complex process

A major transportation project to improve the I-5 crossing over the Columbia River is progressing through a complex process designed to forge a regional consensus over the design of the crossing. Project officials will present their recommendations to address the projected increase in traffic due to the growing region.

After the results of the analysis by project staff and public comments are discussed, the number of alternatives will be narrowed down, and the selected designs will undergo a thorough and comprehensive analysis.

For information about the alternatives or to find out more about the public process, visit the project web site at www.columbiarivercrossing.org.

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