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Portlanders
imagine a healthy, sustainable economy
that benefits everyone.
Portlanders place great emphasis on the
importance of sustaining the local and
regional economy and facilitating
the expansion of the small business sector.
In this section, people express appreciation
for the diversity of the city’s economy,
which includes industries ranging from
high-tech to sporting goods to creative
services. Many respondents believe that
Portland has great potential for further
economic growth.
The economy is viewed by respondents
as being closely integrated with quality
of life and livability issues. There is
widespread agreement that Portland should
continue to make economic development
decisions in alignment with social equity
and sustainability goals, and they call
for a more equitable distribution of resources,
whether it is affordable housing, quality
schools, improved public transportation
or street improvements in income-deprived
neighborhoods. Many people believe that
expanding local industries to reduce dependence
on imported goods and services would help
boost our local economy. A smaller number
of people mention wanting to see Portland
play a larger role in the global economy.
- The
main source of Portland’s thriving economy
is and should continue to be its local,
small businesses.
- The
economy of Portland has potential for
growth.
- A sustainable
economy will contribute to Portland’s
livability and quality of life.
- Portland
needs greater economic equity.
- Should Portland
focus on promoting local, sustainable
businesses or expanding global trade?
- The
main source of Portland’s thriving
economy is and should continue
to be its local, small businesses.
- Many respondents appreciate
the abundance of locally owned
and operated businesses in Portland.
- Portlanders believe that,
to a large extent, local businesses
demonstrate the following positive
attributes:
- They place value in the
local environment and take
care to protect it;
- They are more invested
in the communities and neighborhoods
where they are located;
- They create jobs for
the community’s residents;
- The products and services
they offer are tailored
to match Portlanders' unique
tastes, as opposed to the
“cookie cutter” services
offered by “big box” stores;
and
- They contribute to creating
a diverse economy that is
not overly reliant on one
major business sector.
- Independent, locally-owned
businesses should be promoted
and supported.
- Portlanders want to see an
even greater diversity of businesses
and industry sectors to help
the economy “sustain through
the bad times."
| “I
appreciate the diverse
economic base we have
here (high-tech, agricultural
support, shipping, and
fabrication/traditional
industry). The broad economic
base in Portland provides
stability to the local
economy and is an asset
to the region.” |
| “More
promotion of small, local
businesses.” |
- The
economy of Portland has potential
for growth.
- Portland is well positioned
for further economic growth
and development.
- Respondents want to see the
full potential of this city
and its residents “awakened.”
- The city needs to utilize
the talent, education and creative
backgrounds of all Portlanders.
- Any economic growth should
be secure and sustained over
time.
- Many people see the need for
Portland’s economy to continue
to integrate with the region
and want the City to prioritize
infrastructure improvements
that support regional economic
development.
| "[In
the future] businesses
have recognized Portland
is an excellent place
for large employers
to locate, small companies
to thrive, and local
businesses to be successful.
It should have a much
more diversified economy
than it has today." |
| “Attract
new businesses to build
our economy. Not just
anybody though—businesses
that hold the values
of the northwest (love
the environment, arts,
and are socially responsible).
Don’t allow businesses
to exploit our land,
people, or sense of
community.” |
- “Engage the region’s
public and private sector leaders
in an ongoing dialogue about
what it will take for this region
to have a vibrant economy in
the years ahead.”
- Provide a means and a public
forum for developing a widely
shared understanding of our
economic challenges and opportunities
and outline the steps we need
to take to advance the region’s
economy. Meet periodically to
assess our progress.
- A
sustainable economy will contribute
to Portland’s livability and
quality of life.
- Portlanders recognize that
the economy is the foundation
of our livability. However,
they also understand that jobs
and environment are not either/ors.
- Many believe future economic growth
needs to incorporate economic,
social and environmental planning
and development.
- Portlanders love that, overall,
the city seems to prioritize
livability by balancing economic
development with preservation
of the city's natural beauty.
| “Portland
should have a mission
to bring together resources
to achieve Portland’s
vision of a diverse,
sustainable community
with healthy neighborhoods,
a vibrant urban core,
a strong regional economy
and quality jobs for
all citizens.” |
- Create an index
to measure local quality of
life based on economic factors.
- Portland
needs greater economic equity.
- Respondents assert that
for the economy to be stable,
everyone must have a stake in
economic growth and have access
to its benefits.
- Portlanders want to see greater
equity in the following areas:
- The development of housing
stock that is affordable
to people of all income
levels;
- Wages that allow people
who work full-time to be
able to afford to live in
Portland and enjoy a decent
quality of life;
- Equitable compensation
for professions that the
community needs and values,
such as teachers, childcare
providers, janitors and
others who help keep the
city livable; and
- A more equitable tax
structure that shifts some
of the burden away from
small businesses and middle-income
individuals onto those who
can afford to pay higher
taxes (see Government:
State and Local Taxes).
- Economic equity needs to be
linked with tangible outcomes
for residents, such as access
to higher education and quality
schools, child care and affordable
housing.
| "…More
utilization and motivation
of the talented, educated,
and thoughtful of Portland's
population." |
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- Should
Portland focus on promoting local, sustainable
businesses or expanding global trade?
What
many Portlanders value most about the
city’s economy is the abundance of small,
local businesses. Some even think that
small businesses should lead the local
economy, and they see the potential
for Portland’s economy to become self-sustaining,
replacing dependence on foreign goods
or other imports. One tension point
is in thinking about the interconnection
of local and global markets, even within
the types of small businesses many Portlanders
desire to support. Some businesses that
appear to have sustainable, local products
may also maintain a relationship with
the global economy through import/export
of goods, products or other practices
that reach beyond the local community.
What is the extent to which Portland
can realistically sustain itself, independent
of the national or global economy?
There
is an opinion expressed by a minority
of respondents that the expansion
of global trade is absolutely necessary
for Portland’s future economy to thrive.
They see the need for economic growth
through greater international
exports and imports, and want Portland
to become a metropolitan city with
a stable economy based on a strong
traded sector. This group would think
it unrealistic for the city to have
a self-sustaining local economy driven
only by small, independent businesses.
| “[I
would like us to] focus on creating
a truly vibrant and self-sufficient
local economy, and shift jobs from
the international capitalist system
to locally-owned anderated cooperative
ventures.” |
| “No
one is working to ensure that there
is a balance of revenue creation
(business and jobs) with all the
'feel good' wants. No real economic
development is being encouraged.
Lots of building is going on but
there’s no plan to attract or retain
business. Portland is anti-big business
but it’s big business that creates
the jobs, pays the taxes, has the
ability to give back to the community
via charitable support, etc.” |
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