Target Industry Development

Sustainable Industries

Sustainable Industries may be defined as companies that provide a product or service whose use results in greater resource efficiency and/or a reduced negative impact on the environment. Company categories include:

• Green Building Products/Design
• Recycled Products
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Environmental Remediation
• Energy Industries

The Portland Development Commission joins the City of Portland and the Office of Sustainable Development in support of programs related to sustainable development and resource management. The PDC Green Building Policy requires that construction projects receiving public financing meet a certain standard. Portland LEED standards address several categories, including water efficiency, energy efficiency, selection of materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality.

• Sustainable Industries Fact Sheet

PDC provides finance and development tools to support business expansion and tenant improvements that leverage investment and/or job creation.

Green Building Products and Services Report

PDC and the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development co-sponsored Economic Development Opportunities for Portland's Green Building Industry, a study of green building products, services and systems that could provide economic benefits for the city and state. Leading local green building design teams provided interviews and input to the report and recommended several specific ways in which the city could facilitate and support green building.

Renewable Fuels Report

PDC and Stoel Rives LLP co-sponsored Assessment of Biodiesel Feedstocks in Oregon, a study of the expansion and sustainability of the biodiesel industry in Oregon which was conducted in response to heightened business interest in alternative fuel production.

The Sustainable Business Assistance Program

The Sustainable Business Assistance Program provides funding for companies to identify and implement cost and resource saving programs. Matching grants of up to $7,000 are available to assist companies in the design of more efficient business processes. The program is operated by the Zero Waste Alliance (ZWA).

ZWA works with your staff to develop a customized program that addresses a particular issue that your staff identifies. The Zero Waste Alliance has worked with companies including Restoration Hardware, Siltronic, and the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant, among others, through this program.

PDC is proud to be a PDX Lounge Partner

PDX Lounge is a highly collaborative intersection of local government, businesses and non-profit organizations transforming Oregon’s legacy of environmental stewardship into a profitable new business model. PDX Lounge debuted in 2006 in Denver, near the USGBC Greenbuild Conference. In November 2007, PDX Lounge will be housed at the Chicago Illuminating Company near Convention Center - McCormick Place in Chicago’s South Loop. PDX Lounge Chicago is a 20,000 square foot installation and multimedia experience showcasing critical building blocks for a sustainable city.

The city’s incubation of sustainable products and services creates an experience platform connecting culture, environment and economy. To learn more about this effort or to receive updates on future events, visit:

PDC Business Team Contact

Pam Neal, 503-823-3428 or email

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