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Oregon, Washington Go Big on Workforce Development

Tuesday, March 04, 2025

Companies looking for regions where the workforce is growing have new reasons to consider the Pacific Northwest, as both Oregon and Washington have made significant investments in expanding the regional talent pool in recent years. In Oregon Future Ready Oregon (FRO), a once-in-a-generation $200 million investment approved in 2022, was designed to address economic challenges brought on by the pandemic and support high-demand industries, including healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, and construction. The program has accelerated training expansion, enabling faster access to career coaching, scholarships, and work-based learning opportunities. Workforce Development Boards, including Worksystems and Clackamas Workforce Partnership, received initial FRO funding in...

ADI Expands Oregon Semiconductor Workforce with a People-first Vision for the Future

Monday, January 06, 2025

Download and Read a PDF of the Story Here. ©2024 Analog Devices, Inc.Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), a global semiconductor leader, is making an exciting stride to contribute to the talent hub in Beaverton, Oregon, emphasizing the company's commitment to strengthening the regional workforce and supporting the broader U.S. technology sector. “We’re committed to building the talent that will drive the productivity of our new facilities,” said José García, Managing Director of Wafer Fab Sustainability and Autonomous Enterprise. “Having the right skilled workforce is essential for turning our cutting-edge fabs into thriving hubs of innovation.” Beaverton: A Thriving Tech Ecosystem ©2024 Analog Devices, Inc.Beaverton...

Claiborne Shares New Playbook to Attract Business

Tuesday, October 01, 2024

photo by Sharon ThomasRemarks of Greater Portland Inc President and CEO Monique ClaiborneGreater Portland Economic SummitSeptember 24, 2024If you know me, you know I love sports.  The thrill of competition, the drive to excel, the relentless pursuit of victory—these are all things that resonate deeply with me.  And I see it all around me.  I see it when our region’s companies go head-to-head to recruit top talent.  I see it when they innovate, pushing boundaries to stay ahead of competitors.And I see it when our region’s stakeholders strategize and collaborate to ensure that Greater Portland is not just in the...

NSI Expands Sherwood branch of Silicon Forest

Monday, June 03, 2024

New industrial space grows regional leadership in the semiconductor manufacturing supply chainView and share a PDF version of this article here.At the heart of the Silicon Forest are people, and at semiconductor industry supplier NSI in Sherwood, you can’t miss them. Before anyone enters the pristine manufacturing floor, they walk by portraits of all 90 NSI employees. They are the ones manufacturing critical components essential to the production of semiconductors and solar panels – some across the Pacific, some a few miles away in Hillsboro. Those faces were also at the center of NSI’s biggest business decision in its history.In 2022,...

Portland’s national rise previewed by new data at Greater Portland Inc

Tuesday, April 09, 2024

CBRE data shows signs of optimism for regional comeback  PORTLAND, Ore. (April 8, 2024) – Oregonians looking for signs of the region’s economic comeback got a dose of optimism Monday with new data from commercial real estate firm CBRE highlighting Greater Portland’s ready workforce, high concentration of life sciences talent, and global reputation for high quality food and beverage products. Speaking at the first ever Greater Portland Economic Nexus event organized by Greater Portland Inc, and sponsored by Business Oregon and NAIOP, CBRE vice chairman Eric Stavriotis shared analysis of how Portland could leverage its advantages to reattract business to the region. Source: CBREA...

Claiborne Urges legislature to invest in marketing Oregon open for business (The Oregonian)

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

As the 2024 Oregon short legislative session opened, local mayors and Greater Portland Inc CEO Monique Claiborne spoke to the Oregonian about the importance of investing in marketing Oregon to be sure companies can be best attracted to the region. Greater Portland Inc, as part of its support for improving the region and turning recommendations from Gov. Kotek’s Central City Task Force into law, is urging the state to dedicate at least $5M to market the Portland image to those outside the state. “It signals from the top to the bottom that we value what’s here and we want other folks to...

GPI’s “Meet the Mayors” showcases government, business partnership (Fox 12)

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Mayor Travis Stovall of Gresham and Mayor Jaimie Fender of King City at 2024 Meet the MayorsFox 12 covered Greater Portland Inc’s “Meet the Mayors” event in January, including interviews with Mayor Lacy Beaty of Beaverton, Mayor Joe Buck of Lake Oswego, and Mayor Travis Stovall of Gresham. The story, from reporter Drew Marine, touched on how GPI’s work in partnership with state and federal government helped draw some of the first Chips Act dollars to Microchip in Gresham.  “Part of the reason why we were able to attract those dollars here to Gresham at the federal level was the fact that...

Microchip: A Case Study of Oregon’s Public-Private Partnerships for Economic Development

Friday, February 16, 2024

 When the U.S. Department of Commerce announced in January the first federal chips program dollars would go to Microchip’s semiconductor fab in Gresham it was a symbol of strength for the Silicon Forest. Home to one in seven U.S. semiconductor jobs against a backdrop of a national priority to increase domestic chips production, Oregon reaffirmed its leadership in the sector. (For a PDF version of this case study, click here.)And Microchip, expected to receive $72 million from the federal chips program, is now proof positive of what can happen when government works with business to help spur economic developmentBut it didn’t necessarily start...

GPI's Monique Claiborne Appears in the Oregonian

Thursday, December 07, 2023

European alternative energy companies weigh NW expansions, says Portland booster on trade missionGPI CEO, Monique Claiborne, attended a 7-day mission to Brussels and Madrid hosted by the European Union. During this mission, she engaged in vital discussions with 10 US and 27 EU leaders on global economic vitality, spanning topics from renewable energy to international policy and highlighting Greater Portland's strategic appeal. The following article appeared in The Oregonian. At least three European alternative-energy companies are considering new manufacturing operations in or around Portland, according to representatives of an economic development group who met with the companies on a trade mission this...

Portland Government Makeover: Paving the Way for Business Competitiveness

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Portland Government Makeover: Paving the Way for Business CompetitivenessThe following is an article written by Monique Claiborne, President & CEO, GPI which appeared in Yahoo Finance and Market Watch. In the bustling landscape of economic development, Greater Portland Inc is delighted to witness the remarkable transformation that Portland's city government is undergoing, driven by a voter-approved overhaul that is set to elevate the Portland region's competitiveness for businesses eyeing expansion on the West Coast.  The recent resounding City Council endorsement of a comprehensive bureaucratic makeover, complemented by the introduction of the innovative Downtown Business Incentives Credit Program, an expanded enterprise zone, and a forward-thinking exploration...

GPI Hosts Deloitte Site Selectors – Key Takeaways

Thursday, October 23, 2025

This month, Greater Portland Inc hosted Deloitte Consulting’s Global Location Strategy team, whose members advise Fortune 500 companies on where to expand and invest.Over three days, Deloitte’s 15-person team explored the region, from Adidas North America and Analog Devices to the Columbia River Gorge, meeting employers, workers, and civic leaders to assess Greater Portland’s readiness for growth.Their visit culminated in a Portland Business Journal feature, “Deloitte site selection team finds lots to like on Portland visit,” where Principal Darin Beulow shared that the region has “really good bones” and “a lot going for it”— diverse industries, talent, creativity, and an...

Greater Portland Inc. hosts South Korean startups in hopes of getting ground floor expansions

Wednesday, September 03, 2025

I’m proud to share that Greater Portland Inc (GPI) successfully positioned Portland as the U.S. entry point for a cohort of ten Korean cleantech startups. The delegation will visit our region September 2–5 to explore GPI’s Soft-Land Program, with the goal of evaluating Portland as a base for their U.S. expansion.This four-day program—organized in partnership with the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (GCCEI)—marks the first of its kind. It’s a bold step in positioning Portland as a gateway for international clean energy investment.The delegation, based at CENTRL Office, will:Connect with Oregon’s investment community through an Investor Roundtable &...

Op-ed: How Oregon's private colleges lay the groundwork for the state's future successes

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

This op-ed, written by Greater Portland Inc CEO Monique Claiborne, appeared in the Portland Business Journal.In the realm of economic development, it is vital that we recognize and harness the immense influence that academic institutions wield over the prosperity of states and regions.Oregon's private, nonprofit colleges and universities, in particular, have emerged as powerful drivers of economic growth, laying the foundation for a thriving future. As the CEO of Greater Portland Inc, I see the pivotal role that these institutions play in shaping our local economy, attracting and retaining talent, and creating a positive net impact on the state economy.The economic...

OP-ED: Rehabilitating Portland's image

Thursday, June 08, 2023

This op-ed, written by Greater Portland Inc CEO Monique Claiborne, appeared in the Portland Business Journal."We are asking Oregon lawmakers to consider a $5 million investment to implement (a marketing) strategy."Portland has had a rough couple of years and its reputation has taken a beating. Multnomah County’s population has declined in each of the past two years, a phenomenon that one Portland State University researcher attributes to an aging population leaving for the suburbs, reputational damage and the rise in homelessness as reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Jamie Goldberg.Businesses and their workers choose not to locate in our region for some of the...

Research Study Provides Insight for Repositioning Greater Portland as a Great Place for Businesses

Thursday, June 08, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 25, 2023Research Study Provides Insight for Repositioning Greater Portland as a Great Place for BusinessA recent survey commissioned by Greater Portland Inc (GPI) has provided insight into how the region can move forward to attract more economic activity and growth.   Greater Portland Inc (GPI) commissioned a study to assess current perceptions of Greater Portland and the best ways to grow the region. As part of the study, Development Counsellors International (DCI) performed a media audit on the economic development stories about the Portland region, held round table discussions with key business leaders, facilitated virtual focus groups, and conducted...

Oregon Solicits Interest from Semiconductor Firms for CHIPS Act Funding

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 29, 2023 State of Oregon Solicits Interest from Semiconductor Firms for CHIPS Act FundingBusiness Oregon is seeking written interest from semiconductor firms that would consider applying for a portion of the $190 million in funding expected to be available for Oregon semiconductor firms through Senate Bill 4.The funding is intended to help Oregon firms expand in the state and take advantage of the additional federal funding that will be available via the CHIPs Act. In August of 2022, President Biden signed the bipartisan CHIPs and Science Act into law that is intended to spur investment in U.S. advanced...

Greater Portland Inc's planned marketing campaign featured in Portland Business Journal

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Portland Business Journal reporter Malia Spencer interviewed Greater Portland Inc President & CEO Monique Claiborne as part of the paper's Advancing Portland series. GPI is launching a large-scale marketing campaign to recruit more businesses to the region and grow our economy. If you'd like to learn more about our campaign or would like to get involved, please contact Jocelyn Sanchez, GPI's Senior Manager of Stakeholder Relations.Here is the article as it appeared in the Portland Business Journal:This story is part of Advancing Portland, a series rooted in data collected from a Business Journal subscriber survey conducted in late January. Survey...

14 mayors share legislative, economic updates at GPI's annual Meet the Mayors event

Thursday, March 02, 2023

 Fourteen Portland-area mayors met on Thursday, Feb. 23, to share their legislative and economic priorities for the year, which included addressing homelessness/housing supply, attracting industry, boosting climate resiliency and supporting workers through access to childcare and broadband.The annual meeting was hosted by the Metropolitan Mayors' Consortium and Greater Portland Inc’s Small City Consortium, and was sponsored by Portland General Electric. A recording of the conversation is available here, with the sections for each mayor’s update linked in the video description. The following mayors were in attendance:Beaverton Mayor Lacey BeatyDurham Mayor Gery SchiradoForest Grove Mayor Malynda WenzlGladstone Mayor Michael MilchHillsboro Mayor Steve...

GPI CEO Monique Claiborne wins national 40 Under 40 in Economic Development award

Thursday, February 02, 2023

Monique Claiborne, President & CEO of Greater Portland Inc, has been awarded the 2023 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, a national award recognizing rising stars under 40 years old in the economic development industry. The awards program is hosted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), a New York-based integrated marketing firm that works with economic development and travel organizations around the globe, and Jorgenson Consulting, a leading national executive search firm serving organizations in non-profit, economic, and community development industries. An independent selection committee of six economic development leaders and site selection consultants evaluated nominations based on demonstration of...

Twist Bioscience ships first products from 'Factory of the Future' in Wilsonville

Thursday, February 02, 2023

Twist Bioscience has shipped the first products from its second production facility, the Factory of the Future, located in Wilsonville, Oregon.“These initial shipments of Twist Oligo Pools and Gene Fragments are the start of what we believe will be significant capacity and revenue growth enabled by the Factory of the Future,” said Emily M. Leproust, Twist CEO and co-founder. “As we continue to expand initial manufacturing from this new facility, we will add genes, with the same rapid turnaround time as that of South San Francisco. We are also working longer term toward new product introductions supported by the additional...

17 Reasons to Move Your Business to Portland, Oregon

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

  Greater Portland is on the rise. Its thriving economy, highly educated workforce and attractive cost of living make it a great place to start or grow a business. The region's strategic location, strong transportation system and abundant natural resources make it an ideal place to call home. Here are 17 reasons to move your business to Portland, Oregon. Growing labor market: With 7.3% employment growth in 2021, Greater Portland is the fourth-fastest growing labor market in the U.S., according to an analysis of federal data for the 100 largest metros by The Business...

Jan Mason named chair of Greater Portland Economic Development District

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Jan Mason named chair of Greater Portland Economic Development District Mason is Director of Communications and Equitable Development at Portland design firm Mackenzie, 

Oregon State researchers take key step toward improving lives of people with epilepsy

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Researchers in the Oregon State University College of Engineering have taken a key step toward improving the lives of patients with epilepsy by developing a sensor system for quickly testing their saliva to see if they have the correct level of anti-epileptic medicine in their system. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, are important because roughly 3.5 million people in the United States have epilepsy, including nearly half a million children, the authors note. “With further development, our system could be used to empower epilepsy patients by...

OSU researcher seeking battery 'paradigm shift' wins $3M federal grant

Thursday, November 17, 2022

An Oregon State University researcher will use a $3 million federal grant to study a battery technology that avoids the use of elements that could come into short supply as electric vehicle adoption expands. Xiulei “David” Ji, professor of chemistry at Oregon State, will lead a team that includes researchers from Howard University, the University of Maryland and Vanderbilt University on the project. Growing demand for lithium-ion batteries that use nickel and cobalt, particularly for use in EVs, has raised concerns about the availability of those materials. Read the full article on the Portland Business Journal.

Meet the companies leading Portland’s sustainable apparel cluster

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Footwear and apparel makers are becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of products that contain polyester-based and synthetic materials that will live on for centuries in landfills, unable to decompose. Portland is a footwear and apparel industry mecca, home to three industry leaders — Nike, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear — and other smaller startups. With so much talent in the city, several companies have risen as key players in what is now a sustainable apparel cluster in the Rose City. Jeffrey Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, and Tim Gobet, a 15-year Nike alum, recently launched Äktiiv, which...

CBC asks what B.C. cities can learn from Portland ending single-family zoning

Friday, November 11, 2022

As British Columbians prepare to welcome a new premier on Nov. 18, many are waiting to find out how much David Eby's proposal to end single-family zoning will help with the housing shortage. Eby, a former housing minister, became premier-designate in October after being acclaimed as leader of the New Democrats. He ended up as the only candidate for the job after the NDP disqualified challenger Anjali Appadurai. One of Eby's proposals is to increase density by allowing home builders to replace a single-family home with up to three units on the same footprint. Read the full article on CBC.ca 

Twist Bioscience sees impressive revenue growth as firm preps Wilsonville factory for new antibody discovery program

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Synthetic biology firm Twist Bioscience has seen its revenue expand quickly in recent years. According to a recent Forbes article, newly promoted President and COO Patrick Finn is on track to grow sales to $203 million for 2022, up from $2 million in 2016. This is good news for San Francisco-based Twist, which debuted on Nasdaq in 2018. Twist is leading the synthetic biology industry with its proprietary technology enables it to manufacture synthetic DNA by “writing” the DNA on a silicon chip. According to Forbes, "[Finn] joined Twist in 2015 in advance of the launch of its...

Portland, Multnomah County and Metro tax alignment to reduce business tax burden

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

In October, the City of Portland, Multnomah County, and Metro voted to pass a tax alignment effort, effective January 2023 tax year. According to Portland Business Alliance President Andrew Hoan, the agreement will help level the playing field for Greater Portland businesses. The changes will have several, positive impacts, he said. First, beginning in 2023, many businesses will likely see their tax burdens reduced. Second, thanks to a simpler and more user-friendly system, compliance will be easier. Third, companies outside the region will now help fund public services. Below is an opinion piece about the agreement that appeared...

Tina Kotek talks industrial land, promoting Portland and trade in Q&A with Greater Portland Inc

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Oregon voters will elect a new governor on Nov. 8. Over the last several weeks, Monique Claiborne, president & CEO of Greater Portland Inc, the regional economic development organization, sat down with each of the three candidates in a series of interviews. The conversations cover key economic issues, including business recruitment and retention, restoring livability in Portland, top economic priorities, taxes and incentives, agency alignment and land-use policy. Our third interview was with Tina Kotek, who served in the Oregon House of Representatives for 15 years, representing North and Northeast Portland. She was the speaker of...

GPI releases Q3 Greater Portland Market Insights Report

Friday, October 14, 2022

Greater Portland Inc is proud to present its Q3 Greater Portland Market Insights Report, featuring bi-state regional data on employment, business expansions and industrial and office activity. As the only public-private organization dedicated to recruiting businesses to the entire region, the GPI team is constantly seeking out key community, economic and real estate data.We want to share our research and insights to ensure our partners are informed about market conditions, trends and activity impacting our economy and our region's ability to grow, attract and retain quality jobs and businesses. Our Q3 report was unveiled at our Oct. 13 Q3 Greater...

Betsy Johnson talks homelessness, reputation and business retention in Q&A with Greater Portland Inc

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Oregon voters will elect a new governor on Nov. 8. Over the last several weeks, Monique Claiborne, president & CEO of Greater Portland Inc, the regional economic development organization, sat down with each of the three candidates in a series of interviews. The conversations cover key economic issues, including business recruitment and retention, restoring livability in Portland, top economic priorities, taxes and incentives, agency alignment and land-use policy. Our second interview was with Betsy Johnson, who served in the Oregon Legislature for 20 years, representing parts of Northwest Oregon. She is running for governor as an independent...

Christine Drazan talks political leverage, repealing Measure 110 and business recruitment in Q&A with Greater Portland Inc

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

Oregon voters will elect a new governor on Nov. 8. Over the last several weeks, Monique Claiborne, president & CEO of Greater Portland Inc, the regional economic development organization, sat down with each of the three candidates in a series of interviews. The conversations cover key economic issues, including business recruitment and retention, restoring livability in Portland, top economic priorities, taxes and incentives, agency alignment and land-use policy. Our first interview was with Christine Drazan, who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2019 to January of this year, representing parts of Clackamas County. She was House...

Semiconductor Task Force Report Sets the Stage for Unprecedented Expansion in the Industry

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

MEDIA ADVISORY August 17, 2022 Media Contacts: Andrew Desmond, andrew@orbusinesscouncil.org, (253) 677-3230 Bart Eberwein, eberweinb@gmail.com, (503) 880-7877   Semiconductor Task Force Report Sets the Stage for Unprecedented Expansion in the Industry (Hillsboro, OR) – Today, Senator Ron Wyden, Governor Kate Brown, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and Maria Pope, CEO of Portland General Electric, held a press conference to release the Oregon Semiconductor Competitiveness Task Force’s report. Since March, the Task Force has analyzed Oregon’s semiconductor industry and how it can continue to thrive, grow, and create prosperity and opportunity for all Oregonians...

GPI releases Q2 Greater Portland Market Insights Report

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Greater Portland Inc is proud to present its Q2 Greater Portland Market Insights Report, featuring bi-state regional data on employment, business expansions and industrial and office activity. As the only public-private organization dedicated to recruiting businesses to the entire region, the GPI team is constantly seeking out key community, economic and real estate data.We want to share our research and insights to ensure our partners are informed about market conditions, trends and activity impacting our economy and our region's ability to grow, attract and retain quality jobs and businesses. Our Q2 report was unveiled at our July 19 Q2 Greater...