Business Services
Facts & Praises - 2006

Portland’s Praises
Even more about our incredible city...

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Visiting Asia Without Crossing the Pacific in Portland, Ore.

Portland's Classical Chinese Garden, along with its Japanese gardens, are praised as the crown jewels of the City of Roses. Gloria Lee Luebke, executive director, explains that the garden, like the traditional Ming Dynasty scholar's gardens in the ancient city of Suzhou on which it is patterned, incorporates five essential elements—poetry, rock, water, architecture and plants—with no one element taking pride of place.

Portland's Japanese Garden is like a clearing in the forest, a glade that has been touched lightly and deftly by the hand of an artist. It’s not raining at the moment, but there is something indescribably fresh and damp and uplifting about this garden set several hundred feet above the city in the woods of 5,000-acre Forest Park.

Even aficionados from Japan agree that this is the most authentic Japanese garden outside their country, except for the curtain of Northwest conifers. "These firs and cedars are too big," says Sue Stegmiller, a veteran guide of the garden.

It's hard to tell whether the last few flame-colored maple leaves swirling on a pool in the Natural Garden just fell there or were dabbed in like brush strokes. ... Two gorgeous specimen trees anchor the composition, a weeping cherry and a 135-year-old red laceleaf maple. Read the complete article. (PDF)

Source: The New York Times, Travel, Dec 17, 2006.

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Portland and Its Suburbs "the Best Balanced" in the Nation

Authors of a study about race and urban revival dub Portland and its suburbs "the best balanced" in the nation.

The study shows that most U.S. cities are making a comeback because of an influx of well-off non-Hispanic whites. But few cities are ringed with equally strong suburbs the way Portland is, according to William H. Lucy and David L. Phillips, University of Virginia urban-planning professors, who analyzed U.S. Census data on 40 cities from 2000 to 2005.

"For most of the period since World War II, cities on average have been declining," Lucy said. "But Portland has been a relatively strong city for a long time, and it is doing as well as its suburbs. Having that balance is an appropriate goal, but finding it ...that's unusual."

Here's why, the study's authors say: Portland was one of only six cities to see a jump in per capita income among African Americans. It also remains one of the most European cities. And while median family incomes have declined in cities compared with metropolitan areas—think Phoenix or Buffalo—they have steadily grown here.

Put another way: While most cities are getting poorer compared with their suburbs, Portland's burbs and city are stable. Coupled with rising housing values and condominium construction, the trajectory points up for the City of Roses.

The conclusion is not exactly news to local planning scholars. "It seems to be saying the economic prospects of the people in the city and the suburbs is pretty much the same," says Ethan Seltzer, director of Portland State University's School of Urban Studies and Planning, "and any historic difference is flattening."

"That makes the notion that the city is simply becoming the playground for the rich a vast, vast overstatement."

Source: University of Virgina, Dec 2006.

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Frommers Selects Portland Among Top Travel Destinations for 2007

Portland, Oregon, was recently voted one of Frommer's "Top Travel Destinations for 2007." Only 12 destinations in the world were chosen, so this is quite an honor for Oregon.

The article on Portland encompasses the whole region: recreation on Mount Hood (Clackamas County); kayaking on the Columbia River (Columbia County); visiting both SakéOne and the wineries of the Willamette Valley (Washington County and beyond).

The Top Travel Destinations story includes a link to Frommer's Complete Guide to Portland, Oregon, with resources on hotels, restaurants, attractions and more.

Source: Frommer's, Nov 21, 2006. (PDF version)

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How America grows: A tale of two cities

As US population grows toward 300 million, there are two visions for the future of American towns and cities.

One focuses on downtown areas; where a kind of urban renewal is restoring underutilized areas like the trendy Pearl district in Portland, Oregon.

The other vision—the most dominant one—is found among cities where sprawl is evidenced by the roofs of homes mushrooming outward from the center of the city toward suburbia.

Source: The Christian Science Monitor, Oct 3, 2006. (PDF version)

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Investing in a Cleaner Future

Now is the time to buy into the energy sector, investors say, and Oregon is among the first states to wholeheartedly heed the call.

Along with California, New York and Pennsylvania, Oregon is one of four states to directly invest state funds in the still-emerging and volatile clean energy sector, which can sometimes swing dramatically in value with the price of oil.

The investments will spur Oregon's economy through development of the state's energy industry as well as help protect natural resources, said Randall Edwards, Oregon state treasurer.

Source: The Daily Journal of Commerce, Oct 5, 2006.

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Oregon a popular state

All places—whether they are countries, cities, states or regions—are brands, in the truest sense of the word. Some are more famous than others, but they all have a reputation and a brand image. And Oregon fares well as a brand worldwide.

According to a poll conducted by Seattle-based Anholt State Brands Index, Oregon is in the top five of states where U.S. residents would like to live and ranks No. 11 where foreigners say they would like to call home.

Seattle-based Anholt looked at the responses of 9,000 U.S. citizens and more than 12,000 foreigners regarding the appeal of all 50 U.S. states.

Florida ranked No. 3, Colorado ranked No. 4 and Oregon ranked No. 5 domestically.

Foreign responders chose California as the No. 1 state they would like to live in, followed by Florida, Hawaii, New York and Washington in the top five, with Oregon at No. 11. North Carolina ranked No. 6 and Virginia ranked No. 7. Coming in at the bottom at No. 50 is New Jersey.

View the Executive Summary of the report, How The World Sees the States—2006. (PDF format, 267 kb)

Source: Portland Business Journal, Anholt State Brands and GMI, October 2006.

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PDX named best airport for business travel

Readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine named Portland International Airport (PDX) the nation's top airport for business travelers. PDX is recognized for its easy access, shopping and free wireless internet access. Portland's airport has completed roughly $1 billion in improvements in the past decade, including a convenient light rail connection to downtown Portland.

Source: Portland Business Journal, Anholt State Brands Index, October 2006.

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Bohemian Rhapsody — Portland, Oregon, is one of the best-kept music and counterculture secrets in the U.S.

Why should (Portland) generate and attract so many music hopefuls when few people outside the U.S. have heard of it? "It's partly the natural beauty," says Kevin Robinson from the band Viva Voce. "The forest is right there, the ocean has a wild and vicious beauty, the rivers are swift and dangerous, so that's pretty inspiring."

"The local scene has been building in creativity and reputation over the last four years..." While the global retail chains do exist—Starbucks, Saks Fifth Avenue, Borders, Tiffany and all the rest of the megamarts have a presence in the blocks around Pioneer Courthouse Square—Portlanders have a deep-seated love for local businesses. Mom and pop grocery stores, bookshops, coffee shops and diners vastly outnumber the branded behemoths, even though Nike's worldwide headquarters is on the edge of town."

"Most Portlanders, however, are proudest of one thing: the city has more breweries than anywhere else in the world, 33 at the last count, and a new one seems to open every year. That makes for a bewildering variety of local brews."

Put a bunch of twentysomethings in a beautiful city with low rents and strong, cheap beer and if that's not a recipe for bohemia, I don't know what is.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, September 16, 2006.

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Portland's Future Awesome!

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Most-educated cities in the U.S.

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Portland goes to the dogs

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Building 'green' reaches a new level

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Portland... Where the Car is not King

If you thought political cross-dressing was a recent British phenomenon, you obviously haven't been to Portland.

Watch a BBC produced video telling the positive story about Portland's commitment to alternate modes of transportation.

In Oregon they were 'cross dressing' as far back as the 1970's when the Republican Governor, Tom McCall, took radical steps to prioritise public transport over roads, using the freeways levy to invest in the foundations of what is undoubtedly one of the most integrated and dynamic public transport provisions anywhere in the world. Today, the city still invests its share of federal tax dollars into multiple modes of transport, and its long-term vision has paid off. Over the last 10 years, public transport use has gone up by 65% and they have managed to avoid a predicted 40% increase in congestion.

And, incredibly for a city in the world's most car dependent nation, they're eradicating over 62 million car trips a year, which means car use is growing at the slowest rate anywhere in the United States.

Source: Newsnight, BBC, 8-15-06.

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Slicker Cities (BusinessWeek cover story: Places to Beat)

The real contest is among communities, not nations. Check out these hot spots.

America is losing its competitive edge. That premise is pounded into our heads so often by pundits, and reinforced with each report on the rise of China and India, that it's almost taken as a given.

Well, they don't talk much about declining competitiveness in Portland, Oregon, which is enjoying a huge influx of designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs drawn by its funky neighborhoods, miles of bike paths, and recreation options.

Richard Florida, author of the best-seller The Rise of the Creative Class, argues that communities need urban areas attractive to bohemians: "Competitive advantage is shifting to places that are very open to allowing people to express themselves." And a case in point is Portland, at the forefront of the so-called new urbanism. The area's ranks of college grads aged 25 to 34 swelled by 50% from 1990 to 2000. Despite layoffs by Intel and others, its economy has averaged 5.5% growth for four years, thanks largely to the swelling population and services like design. Once seedy areas like the Pearl District boast dozens of art galleries and some of Portland's fanciest restaurants. Old warehouses now house companies like Ziba Design, whose clients include Apple Computer and ad agency Wieden + Kennedy.

Ziba founder Sohrab Vossoughi says a stimulating (Portland) city center is key to his ability to hire 20 designers a year. "The values of this generation are in line with the DNA of this city," he says. One recruit is Vermont native Meral Middleton, 26. She likes that she can snowboard at Mt. Hood and hang out at chic restaurants. Her boyfriend, an Adidas designer, is one of 10,000 locals who bike to work. "Design is as much a lifestyle as it is a job," she says. "The time away from the desk may be when you find that epiphany."

Source: Slicker Cities, BusinessWeek, 8-21-06.

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Urban Land — Special Report: Global Competition

Often the difference between whether a city performs well or poorly is not its location or history, but rather the choices its leaders make.

World cities can be judged by how they treat their people and the public realm, according to Jan Gehl, a Copenhagen-based architect, consultant and author who has advised cities across the globe. "Cities were originally created as a 'meeting place for man' where we could meet and develop our culture. As time has gone by, we can see people being squeezed out of the city."

"But in the last 20 to 30 years, we have seen a number of world cities that have decided to change the balance and not let themselves be invaded by cars. They are trying to establish a better balance between cities as a meeting place, a marketplace in which to do business, and a place in which to move around. These are the 'reconquered' cities," he adds. "Some of the characteristics of these cities are that a they are willing to put certain constraints on vehicle traffic, and they are recognizing the importance of public life to society and to the safety and enjoyment of cities. These cities have started to provide quality environments, and people have begun to come back into them and enjoy them in a new way."

Gehl believes that nine cities, in particular, have made a noteworthy turnaround: Barcelona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark; Cordoba, Argentina; Curitiba, Brazil; Freiburg, Germany; Lyon, France; Melbourne, Australia; Portland, Oregon; and Strasbourg, France.

Source: Reconquering World Cities, Urban Land Institute, 7-06

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The Most Inventive Towns in America

According to the Wall Street Journal, Portland ranks among the top 20 inventive towns in America!

The tinkerers who helped build America haven't disappeared—they're right next door. Combing through the more than 475,000 U.S. patents granted in the past four years reveals a new map of the places where individual inventers are busy dreaming and tinkering. Portland ranked thirteenth among the top 20 inventive towns with 784 patents issued in 2005.

Reviewing patent data for 12,000 American cities, researchers turned up places where a high percentage of patents were given to individuals or small businesses. Included among these 'hubs of innovation' were Bend and Tigard, Oregon.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, 7-22-06

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Courting bicycle industry nothing new for PDC [Portland]

There is a lot of buzz in Portland right now about the local bicycle industry. Recently Portland created its first-ever economic survey of the local bicycle industry (see survey results), held a bike business forum at a city-wide Bike Summit, passed an official City resolution to target the bicycle industry and held a successful show of local bicycle builders at City Hall.

Portland (through its economic development agency, PDC) has been focusing on the bicycle industry as a potential growth sector for employment back in early 1996.

Source: BikePortland.org

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Portland Finishes First in Sustainability Rankings

Portland ranks first among 50 major cities for sustainable services and economics, according to a San Francisco-based Web enterprise that encourages sustainable living.

According to the firm, hallmarks of sustainable cities include a commitment to public health, an emphasis on creating a strong local economy, and citizens and city officials working together to make positive, thoughtful choices for the long-term benefit of the city and its residents.

SustainLane.com based its ratings on 15 categories such as air quality, water, parks, public transit, fresh food, construction practices and economic factors. San Francisco, Seattle, Philadelphia and Chicago round out the top five. The least sustainable cities were Columbus, Ohio; Oklahoma City; Virginia Beach, Va.; Mesa, Ariz.; and Fort Worth, Texas.

The company believes that cities that engage in sustainable practices are able to adapt more easily to unpredictable events such as natural disasters and spikes in energy costs.

Source: The Oregonian, 6/1/06

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Completing the Vision of a Vibrant Business and Residential Community in Lents

Begun in 1998, the 15-year Lents Urban Renewal Project calls for new and improved streets, new and refurbished housing, park improvements and new construction at the commercial corner fo SE 92nd Ave and Foster Road. A proposed Portland-to-Milwaukie light-rail line would connect Lents with downtown Portland and the Gateway transit center.

Home buyers are rediscovering affordable housing in teis outer-Southeast neighborhood, and Lents residents are eager to share their neighborhood. A revitalized Lents could resembe the Lents of a century ago, before the automobile made communting easier and Interstate 205 divided the area, when it was a self-sufficient community filled with small storefronts containing banks, barbers and a variety of shops.

"We want to provide a variety of services for the neighborhood," said David Davies, senior project coordinator for the Portland Development Commission. "We want to improve the quality of life for Lents residents and make it an attractive place to live."

Source: The Oregonian, 4/30/06.

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Portland, Salem Ranked High for Arts

Portland and Salem are among the top art destinations of their size in the country, according to American Style Magazine. Portland is ranked No. 10 for big cities, those with populations of more than 500,000. Salem is ranked No. 25 for midsized cities with populations 100,000 to 499,000.

The No. 1 big city is New York City and the No. 1 midsized city is Buffalo, N.Y. The No. 1 small city or town with a population of under 100,000 is Santa Fe, N.M.

The "Top 25 Art Cities" is featured in American Style's June print edition. It is compiled annually by votes submitted by its readers.

Source: Portland Business Journal, American Style Magazine, 4/24/06.

Oregon in top 20 for high-tech jobs

Home to 81,700 high-tech workers, Oregon is ranked at No. 20 among all states for high-tech employment, according to AeA's Cyberstates report. However, in terms of semiconductor jobs, Oregon ranked third with 26,400 industry employees.

Oregon also ranked ninth nationally in high-tech goods exports with $4.9 billion in 2005, 10th in software publishers employment with 6,600 jobs, and 10th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 3,600 jobs. The average Oregon tech worker earns more than $71,200 (13th ranked) annually, 103 percent above the average private-sector wage in the state.

Source: Portland Business Journal, AeA Cyberstate Report 2005, 4/19/06.

Portland Keeps Growing

The Portland area bucked a national trend by growing four percent between 2000 and 2004, according to a U.S. Census study released Thursday, April 20, 2006. The study, which tracked migration patterns across the country, found that nearly every major American metropolitan area had more people move out than move in during that period.

According to the report, top losers were the New York area, which lost 11 percent of its population and the Los Angeles area, which shrunk more than nine percent.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 4/20/06. Download the full report.

Smart Growth Defined

Skip Rotticci knows what sprawl is. As vice president of Costa Pacific Homes, a planned community builder for the West Coast, Rotticci sees firsthand the differences between Oregon's urban growth strategies and California's build-where-you-can mentality. He knows that California has a lot to learn from Oregon about smart growth, and as chairman of the Urban Land Institute, he's in a position to teach it.

Source: The Daily Journal of Commerce, 4/14/06.

Five Oregon Brewers Among the Largest

Oregon has five breweries on the list of the country's largest breweries.

Based on 2050 beer production, craft breweries Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. in Portland is No. 17; Deschutes Brewery in Bend is No. 21; Full Sail Brewing Co. in Hood River is No. 26; BridgePort Brewing Co. in Portland is No. 41; and Rogue Ales in Newport is No. 42, according to a list provided by the Colorado-based Brewers Association.

No. 1 on the list is Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. of St. Louis, followed by Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee, and Coors Brewing Co. of Colorado, which is owned by Molson Coors Brewing Co. of Montreal, Canada and Colorado.

The craft beer segment grew by more than 9 percent in 2005 and 30 of the top 50 U.S. brewers are craft brewers, according to the Brewers Association. Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. and Deschutes Brewery are also among the top 10 craft brewers in the United States.

Oregon Ranks 41st in Taxes per Capita

Oregon ranked near the bottom of the pack in the amount of per-capita taxes its residents paid last year, according to a study by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Oregonians paid $1,791.45 per person in state taxes last year, placing the state at No. 41 among the 50 states.

Oregon ranked No. 40 in 2004, with per capita taxes of $1,699.55 paid by residents.
The biggest tax bite on state residents in 2005 was the individual income tax, at $1,290.58 per capita. Property taxes were $6.71 per capita. In fact, more was spent on hunting and fishing licenses, with $11.21 per capita. Property taxes collected totaled about $24 million and hunting and fishing licenses brought in about $41 million.

Oregon government collected $6.5 billion in state taxes in 2005, ranking Oregon No. 30 among the 50 states in terms of total tax revenue, according to the Census Bureau.

Washington ranked No. 17 in taxes per capita, with residents paying $2,359.99 per person in taxes. Total state tax per capita was highest in Vermont, with residents paying $3,600.16. It was lowest in South Dakota, where residents paid state taxes of $1,430.46.

Men's Journal: Portland Best Place to Live; Hood River Best Place to Play

Men's Journal magazine says Portland is the best place to live and Hood River is the most active town in the United States. Plus, the magazine—a general interest, active lifestyle magazine with a focus on adventure, travel, equipment, sports, fitness, health, style and ideas—reports in its April issue that Eugene is among the best place for singles to meet and Bonanza in Klamath County is among the best hideouts for people who have had enough with big city living and crave utter solitude! Men's Journal asked writers and editors to pick their favorite city or town to call home where you can live an active life of adventure for a feature the magazine calls "50 Best Places to Live."

Broken down into a variety of categories to appeal to a broad range of interests, the "Best of the Best" picks on the list features winners for the perfect combination of adventure, attractiveness and affordability, with Portland No. 1, followed by Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colo.; San Diego; and Burlington, Vt.

The Most Active Town category features cities that enable people to be healthy, fit and active while also offering a high quality of living. Following Hood River, Oregon at No. 1 are Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Jackson, Wyo.; McCall, Idaho; Haines, Alaska; Mountain View, Ark.; Carbondale, Colo.; and Bozeman, Montana.

Source: The Business Journal of Portland, March 14, 2006.

Portland is the Best City in the U.S. for Walking

Portland is the best city in the United States for walking, according to Prevention magazine.

Prevention magazine announced Tuesday the top 10 cities for walking in the United States in a joint study with the American Podiatric Medical Association. The list appears in Prevention's annual April 2006 walking issue. (Read the complete article which appeared on the Business Journal's website, posted here in PDF format.)

Source: Portland Business Journal, March 7, 2006.

Portland Ranked "Best Overall" Among the 21 Best Cycling Cities
in the U.S.

Urban Treasures—The riding is beautiful in these 21 bike-embracing cities, with miles of rolling asphalt or undulating singletrack—or both—stunning scenery, buzzing velo cultures, forward-thinking urban planners that make room for cyclists and the kinds of two-wheeled festivals and rides that make you want to visit, if you don't already live there.

Portland has always been an outdoor lover's nirvana, close to the craggy Cascade Mountains and perched on the Willamette River, with the Columbia nearby. The climate is mild, if damp in winter, making the surroundings deliciously green. But while kayakers and climbers love it, one thing is clear if you take a spin through this urban center: Portland has become a city of cyclists.

Portland is named best overall among the 21 bike-embracing cities by Bicycling magazine. The city is constantly adding bike lanes (current total: 163 miles), paths (now 66 miles) and bike boulevards (designated low-auto-traffic streets that are conducive to cycling: now 30 miles). Bike parking is ubiquitous and sprawl is controlled by an urban-growth boundary that keeps the city compact. But really, it comes down to momentum. And as the streets become more bike friendly, more cyclists take to the streets, and their numbers inspire others. Portland's thriving cycling scene is what puts the city head and shoulders above any other in the U.S.

Pedal around Portland at rush hour, and you can see for yourself.

The League of American Bicyclists has recognized Portland's progress in its Bicycle Friendly Community program, naming it a gold-level city—the largest city to receive that level award. Portland earns platinum status, the highest level, within five years. As part of that process, Portland sent a delegation to Amsterdam to study the transportation systems and bring home ideas that can be implemented in Portland.

Portland deserves recognition for its bike-friendly efforts, but in the end, it's the legacy that matters. Coming generations of Portlanders will grow up pedaling the city's streets to school, to work and for fun. Every day. And they'll do it because they've always ridden, because it's just so easy to do.

Source: Bicycling magazine, March 2006.
(Download a PDF version of the complete article.)

Oregon Ranks High for Filmmakers (we're moving on up!)

Portland has been listed in third place in a prominent listing of top film markets in the United States. Every year MovieMaker Magazine ranks the cities it considers as the best places for independent filmmakers to live and work according to the production benefits offered, and based on feedback from writers, directors, crew people and film office representatives.

This is the fourth year in a row Portland has made the list, beginning in 2003 at number nine, then to number eight in 2004, number five last year and this year rose to third place, following New York (1st) and Austin, Texas (2nd). Portland is considered the "Best Unkept Secret" by the magazine. In addition to the Oregon Production Investment Fund, qualified productions also have a 6.2% labor rebate available to them. Portland has been so busy that Mayor Potter recently hired "one-stop film permit" person, Michael Fine to help facilitate permit requests.

The article also touts the supportive environment found in Portland which includes film festivals such as The Northwest Film & Video Festival, PDX Festival, PISS! Fest, Portland International Film Festival, POW! Fest and the 48 Hour Film Project. Educational and professional resources include The Art Institute of Portland, the NW Film Center, Portland State University and organizations such as NW Documentary Arts & Media, Portland AIVF Salon and Portland Community Media.

"Portland is a great place where filmmakers find support and encouragement for all genres. You'll find not only some of the best resources here, but also the best filmmakers and audiences, too! We're so lucky to be in a place that appreciates it all—from narrative to experimental films, along with an understanding of the business and art of filmmaking." says Susan Haley, Marketing Manager of the Oregon Film & Video Office.

Source: Oregon Film and Video Office and MovieMaker magazine, January 2006.

Portland Ranks High in Education, Income

Nearly 40 percent of Portland's residents 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher, which ranks Portland No. 11 on a list of 70 cities ranked in order of educational attainment.

Education levels translate into favorable economic success for a community, according to the survey, with more than half of the top 20 most-educated cities ranking at the top of the list for the country's most-prosperous cities. Seattle topped the list for education, with 51.3 percent of eligible residents having achieved at least a bachelor's degree.

Source: Portland Business Journal, January 2006.

Portland's Library (Multnomah County Library) Ranked #2 in the Nation Multnomah County's libraries have repeated their ranking as the second best large library system in the country. If you're an avid borrower of library books or CDs, you've got lots of company in the Portland area. (See the full report.)

Hennen's American Public Library Ratings, or HAPLR, ranks libraries every year based on spending, circulation and visits to branches.

Multnomah library spokeswoman, June Mikkelson, says the ranking reflected the whopping 19 million items checked out from late 2004 to 2005. "It certainly is one of the chief driving factors, in fact, Multnomah County libraries' circulation is the highest in the United States."

Columbus, Ohio was ranked #1 nationally. And Multnomah County's 2005 ranking is the second time it's been number two, and the fourth year it's ranked in the top five. Also in Oregon, Lake Oswego's library system was ranked eighth among smaller libraries by HAPLR.

Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting, December 2005.

Forbes Ranks Local Companies Among America's Best

StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., Columbia Sportswear Co., Precision Castparts Corp. and Nike Inc. have been chosen among Forbes magazine's Platinum 400, also known as America's Best Big Companies.

Forbes required companies on the list to have revenue of at least $1 billion, a cutoff which yielded more than 1,000 U.S. corporations and foreign companies that have substantial operations in the United States.

Forbes ranked the candidates in 26 industry groups on financial performance against industry peers over the latest five years and most recent 12 months, including sales and earnings growth, stock market returns and debt to total capital.

This is the first year Columbia Sportswear made the list. It is the fourth year for StanCorp, the sixth year for Precision Castparts and the seventh year for Nike.

Source: Business Journal of Portland, Jan 2006.

In Oregon, Thinking Local

Six years ago "organic" was the next big thing in grocery shopping, but the term has begun to lose its luster. The term has been co-opted by agribusiness, which has succeeded in watering down the restrictions of the definition. Today "local" and "sustainable" are the new culinary buzzwords.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the six New Seasons markets in and around Portland, Oregon. Considering how eating has changed over the years, stores like New Seasons were almost inevitable. Following the tiny natural food stores and the local farmers' markets selling organically grown food, these new market concept stores were a natural outcome. They marked the beginning of an interest in artisanal foods and in the desire for quality and a sustainable environment. Restaurants followed, and now schools and colleges have joined the movement as a way to get their students to eat more healthfully while supporting local farmers and food processors.

At New Seasons, "homegrown" is not only the coin of the realm, it's the heavily promoted mantra. The company's definition of homegrown is food caught, grown or processed in its region, the northwest. And all locally grown items carry yellow shelf tags. Of the average 30,000 items on each store's shelves, approximately 27 percent have yellow tags.

The opportunity to sell locally has kept some area ranchers from going out of business in Oregon and nearby states. Doc and Connie Hatfield, who founded the Country Natural Beef cooperative in 1986, said the co-op now has 70 ranchers who raise beef on a vegetarian diet free of hormones, antibiotics and genetically modified feed. "Nineteen years ago we were going broke," Mr. Hatfield said. He is also just as pleased about an unexpected byproduct of selling locally: the bond forged between rural and urban residents. Read the full story in this PDF file of the original NY Times article.

Source: New York Times, Jan 4, 2006.

Best Public Transit

Sunset magazine featured three options that prove your daily commute doesn't have to be a drag. They included the Bainbridge Island Ferry in Seattle, the Las Vegas Monorail, and Portland's Aerial Tram.

In the city [Portland] known for groundbreaking public works, the 500-foot-high tram is one to watch. Opening this fall, it connects the up-and-coming South Waterfront to Marquam Hill...and promises that the cars' futuristic aluminum skin will look "like soap bubbles floating in the air." More information is available at www.portlandtram.com.

Source: Sunset magazine, January 2006.

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