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Facts & Praises - 2004
Portland’s Praises
Even more about our incredible city...
Portland Metro Ranks Third in Competitiveness
BHI releases Metro Area and State Competitiveness Report 2004
Why are some U.S. states and cities persistently more affluent than others? According to the study from the Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University in Boston, much of the answer can be found by measuring "competitiveness." The study defines competitiveness as "the policies and conditions that ensure and sustain a higher level of per capita income and its continued growth." (A one-point rise in the index adds $877 to per capita income.)
The 2004 Report assigns more than three dozen variables to eight categories—government and fiscal policy, security, infrastructure, human resources, technology, business incubation, openness and environmental policy—and combined these eight measures into a single "competitiveness index."
The top metro area competitiveness scores were awarded to Seattle (overall index of 7.80), followed by Raleigh, SC (6.91) and Portland, OR (6.81). Among the state competitiveness ranking, Oregon ranked 16th. You can view and download the complete report results, which were released November 2004.
Portland Ranks Among Top 10 "Fit Cities" in America
"Houston, we still have a weight problem." For the third year in a row, Men's Fitness magazine has named Houston the nation's fattest, blaming the region's hot and humid climate, "abysmal" air quality, relative lack of outdoor recreation and residents' love of junk food. Also in the Top 10 "Fat Cities" list (in order of 'fattest') were Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Cleveland, Atlanta, Columbus and Dallas.
On the other end of the spectrum were America's fittest cities, which include Honolulu (fittest), followed by Seattle, San Francisco, Colorado Springs, San Diego, Portland, Denver, Virginia Beach, Tucson and Sacramento. CNN has also posted the results of this survey, and in closing encourages all of us to "Enjoy the outdoors. And get a dog!" :-)
You can also download the results of the article posted on Men's Fitness website in PDF format.
Oregon Scores Well in Pro-Business Rankings
The 18th annual Development Report Card for the States (DRC) says Oregon is a great place to do business, even if its consistently high unemployment rates say otherwise.
Oregon ranks among the top seven states in three broad economic development indicators, according to the Corporate for Enterprise Development, based in Washington, D.C. The study measured 68 criteria in three categories: performance, business vitality and an A grade in development capacity. Oregon's economic development picture presents a strong mix of resource efficiency and quality of life, the report found. Development capacity is Oregon's clear strength, meaning that "the state is laying the foundation for a strong economy," the report said. Read the report online or download Oregon's results in PDF format.
Source: OregonLive.com (The Associated Press), 12-21-04.
Oregon Makes Economic Development Honor Roll
By earning all A's and B's in a broad-based economic index, the state of Oregon has made the Corporation for Enterprise Development's (CFED) economic development honor roll.
Oregon, Minnesota, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Virginia are the only states on the CFED 2004 honor roll, which measures 68 criteria in three main categories: performance, business vitality and development capacity. CFED said several innovation measures improved in Oregon including university spinoffs (20th up from 39th) and royalties and licenses (32nd up from 41st). Resource efficiency (A) and quality of life (A) are among the strengths of Oregon...
The Business Journal of Portland, 12-14-04.
Despite All the Java, Portland's Really NOT 'All That Wired'
City ponders how to implement WiFi network — Portland is already known as one of the most "unwired" cities in the nation, but the Bridge City's standing in the world of WiFi could be elevated still further if discussions on building a citywide wireless network, now under way, turn to action.
Between free WiFi "hotspots" and for-pay hotspots at coffee shops, hotels, restaurants, book stores and public parks, Portland ranked No. 5 among U.S. cities for WiFi coverage this year, according to Bert Sperling, of Sperling's Best Places, which ranks cities for various attributes. The Business Journal, 12-13-04.
Portland is Still Hot for Relocating Singles
Portland still hot for relocating singles — Portland continues to be a magnet for highly educated, young singles from around the country. A new survey measures statistics that can affect typical relocating singles from the largest 100 U.S. metro areas. [And according to the survey results] Portland is the country's third-best city for relocating singles. The Business Journal, 11-3-04.
Portland is one of America's 'Bohemian Bargains'
Bohemian Bargains are core cities in the 150,000 to 750,000 population range with lively downtowns and a reasonable cost of living. We picked them on the basis of their being honest-to-God cities, with real downtowns, more than postmodern sprawls.
Forbes magazine, 8-19-04.
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"There's an incredible sense of community here...we feel like we know everybody."
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Portland Leads the Country in Women-Owned Businesses
The Portland-Vancouver, Wash., area has the highest percentage of women-owned businesses in the country, according to a report released by the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Women's Business Research.
The report, using U.S. Census Bureau data, is based on estimates about privately held firms that are owned 50 percent or more by a woman or women. The report shows that the number of women-owned businesses in the top 50 metropolitan statistical areas continues to grow faster than the economy in general. The top 10 metropolitan areas estimated to have the greatest share of 50 percent or more women-owned firms are: Portland (57.7 percent); Seattle/Bellevue/Everett, Wash. (56.8 percent); Phoenix/Mesa, Ariz. (54.7 percent); Las Vegas, Nev./Ariz. (53.7 percent); St. Louis, Mo./Ill. (52.6 percent); Sacramento, Calif. (52.5 percent); Kansas City, Mo./Kan. (51.4 percent); Oakland, Calif. (51.3 percent); Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Fla. (50.5 percent); and San Diego, Calif. (50.3 percent).
Women-owned businesses increasingly are driving the economic health of the top 50 metropolitan areas through job creation and generating revenue, a media release about the report said.
According to its definitions, there are an estimated 100,449 women-owned firms in the Portland area, the report said. Those companies generate more than $24 billion in sales and employ 196,461 people. Portland ranks 15th in the growth in the number of such firms between 1997 and 2004, third in employment growth and ninth in sales growth among the 50 largest metropolitan areas.
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Around the World: Green Cities to Watch Three quarters of energy consumption occurs in cities, according to Energe-Cités, an organization in Besançon, France, representing about 100 European cities dedicated to sustainable practices. Around the world, there are a number of so-called green cities, and energy insiders have identified nine of these to watch. |
But what makes them 'green cities'? It's not just their ambitious clean energy goals or the amount of renewable energy they use. The cities profiled below show a breadth of innovation. They find ways to make parking a car a green endeavor. They make food waste a source of electric energy. Even holiday celebrations become an opportunity to show off their renewable energy advancements.
Renewable Energy World magazine ran a feature article this spring that highlighted efforts by the City of Chicago to make the metropolis the world's greenest city. In the article, the magazine also reported on nine other cities worldwide that energy experts have named "green cities to watch," based on their clean energy goals, use of renewable energy, and particularly their energy innovations. Cities on the list include Vancouver, Canada, Austin, Texas, Portland, Oregon and Sacramento, California. (For a related article see the July issue of Metropolis magazine, which chronicles Mayor Richard M. Daley's actions in his crusade to make Chicago the greenest city in the nation.)
In Portland, blame the sun if you get a parking ticket. Solar energy powers the parking meters in this Oregon city. They are part of a strategy by municipal government to acquire 100% of its energy from renewables by 2010. In all, renewables now supply about 10% of the electric load for the Pacific Northwest city, with its population of about half a million people.
The parking meters [in Portland] are among several innovative technologies employed by the city to reach its 2010 goal. Portland generates 1 million kWh through fuel cells powered by waste methane, 1 million kWh from a micro hydro facility located in the drinking water system, and 900,000 kWh generated from microturbines powered by waste methane. Portland supports green energy development outside of the city by making large green power purchases, including green tags equivalent to 40.5 million kWh over three years from a new wind farm.
Portland Among America's Top 10 Cities for Literacy
This ranking has a twist.
Instead of measuring how many residents in the 79 largest U.S. cities know HOW to read, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater measured how many residents actually DO read. How many read the newspaper? How many check out books from the library or buy them from a bookstore? Twenty-two variables are included, drawing from U.S. Census and Education Department data, newspaper circulation rates, library resources, magazine and journal publishers and other public documents.
By these measures of literacy, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Pittsburgh are the three most literate cities, while El Paso is the least literate, reports USA Today. The similarities and differences are easy to spot. The top-ranked cities are home to some of the country's most highly-educated and affluent people, while the lower-ranked cities are home to recent immigrants who are more likely to be poor and have less schooling.
In the bottom 10 cities, all but one are in California or Texas.
The most literate U.S. cities: Minneapolis, Minnesota |
The least literate U.S. cities: Garland, Texas |
Source: Survey of 79 largest U.S. cities, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater research, August 2004.
Portland is #1 in 'Green' Buildings
The latest numbers from the US Green Building Council are compelling. In one measure of a City's greenness—LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) registered buildings—Portland is number one with 38 projects in the pipeline (regardless what Mayor Daley of Chicago is saying!). Portland leads the nation in terms of the number of registered and to-be registered LEED buildings.
In addition, Oregon leads the nation in LEED buildings per capita. This is particularly stunning considering we're up against larger cities that have suffered smaller economic downturns.
You can read about Portland's commitment to to this effort in the City's Green Building policy. If you want more detail, see the attached Microsoft Excel spreadsheet—a 'who's who' of Portland area LEED projects.
Portland's Pearl District, Nominated as Great Public Space
The Project for Public Spaces (www.pps.org/gps/) has posted their list of Great Public Spaces—Great Community Places, and Portland's Pearl District is nominated under the Best Streets category.
"This is the model for urban neighborhoods throughout North America."
It is a former industrial area, now a hip loft area with galleries and upscale shops and restaurants. The streetcar plays an important role in the success of this area. Many old brick buildings such as warehouses have been converted to housing, plus there is a lot of new construction."
See the complete list of nominations in each of the categories, July 2004.
Young Professionals Flocking to Portland
The influx of young, educated adults holds enviable potential for future job growth
The Portland area sports the country's fourth-fastest growth rate among college-educated 25- to 34-year-olds. Portland also tallies the eighth-fastest growth rate among 25- to 34-year-olds regardless of education.
In a new report titled, The Young and the Restless: How Portland Competes for Talent, Portland economist Joe Cortright and Memphis, Tenn., urban consultant Carol Coletta document and examine the continuing migration of young, well-educated people to the Portland area. Attracting such "young talent" helps guarantee future job growth, as those people start companies of their own, Ms. Coletta said.
The study illuminates two trends that distinguish Portland from other cities the pair examined. The researchers found that Portland's population that is college-educated and ages 25 to 34 is growing at five times the national rate. "That's a phenomenal number," Cortright said. The researchers also found that Portland's proportion of young educated residents is much higher in the city's central areas than in other cities with similar geography.
The study combines data from the 1990 Census and 2000 Census, the 2002 American Community survey and driver's license surrender lists. The researchers also conducted a series of focused interviews with young, educated people in five cities, including Portland.
From 1990 to the present, Cortright said, the study shows Portland faring better than many other cities when it comes to attracting young, educated people. The findings reinforce the data about the influx of young educated people that emerged from the 2000 Census. According to economic development officials, this segment of the population is a crucial ingredient in determining the economic vitality of a metropolitan region.
"The Pearl" — Urban Living Shines in this Restored Gem.
Portland's Pearl District is one of those shining examples of urban renewal that proves there can still be life in a previously neglected part of town. Download and print the complete article in Acrobat PDF format. (19 pages, 848 kb)
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 2004.
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