March 23, 2007

MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT:

John Jackley, PDC (503) 823-3315

PDC Names Economic Development Director
Erin Flynn Comes to Portland from Boston, MA

The Portland Development Commission (PDC) today named Ms. Erin Flynn as the agency’s new Economic Development Director. Ms. Flynn will report to PDC Executive Director Bruce Warner and starts her new job on May 21, 2007.

“I couldn’t be more pleased and excited that Erin is joining PDC,” said Bruce Warner. “This is a great organization, with great people who want to make a difference in Portland's future. I am confident Erin will help catapult us toward achieving our goals for a strong economy and great jobs,” he added.

Ms. Flynn comes to PDC from Boston, Massachusetts where she is a recognized consultant with 15 years of experience in state and regional economic, workforce and civic development programs. Her areas of expertise include market-based urban and regional development, strategic planning for national, state and regional development organizations, policy analysis and evaluation research. She is a frequent speaker and workshop leader at regional retreats, civic forums, and national conferences addressing public-private partnerships for sustainable and equitable economic growth. Her clients have included national and community foundations, public and private, non-profit economic and workforce development agencies, chambers of commerce and regional planning councils.

Ms. Flynn was the lead consultant on Portland's Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy in 2005. She led a coordinated public-private effort to form Portland’s Economic Development District—a designation that is necessary for Portland to receive grant dollars through the federal Economic Development Administration. She has also been a keynote speaker at annual meetings of the Portland Business Alliance and Portland Regional Partners for Business.

“Erin is a fantastic coup for PDC and the City of Portland,” said PDC’s Chairman Mark Rosenbaum. “She brings with her years of experience, innovative ideas, and because of her past work here, tremendous knowledge of Portland and our region. Erin will bring a renewed sense of leadership and vision to PDC’s job creation and economic development activities,” Rosenbaum said. Rosenbaum also stressed that Ms. Flynn is an expert in the development of regional economic clusters. He added that she will be able to build upon the region’s unique strengths and natural advantages.

Prior to her years as an independent consultant, Ms. Flynn was employed at FutureWorks in Arlington, Virginia where she designed and directed a network of business leaders working to develop business practices and public policies to reduce social and economic disparity while also improving the business operating climate. She holds a Ph.D. in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in politics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

PDC is the city’s agency for urban renewal, housing and economic development. Economic development efforts at PDC focus on creating and retaining jobs, attracting and leveraging private investment, and nurturing business formation and growth. PDC invests funds in businesses to bring local and regional growth, jobs, and more livable neighborhoods.

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