Claiborne Shares New Playbook to Attract Business

Remarks of Greater Portland Inc President and CEO Monique Claiborne

Greater Portland Economic Summit
September 24, 2024

If 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 game but on the path to dominating it.  

I chose this the theme Playing to Win because, like in sports, success in business requires more than just showing up.  

It demands preparation, strategy, teamwork, and most importantly, the will to win.  

Here at GPI? We’re playing to win. We ditched the old playbook. Our strategies our bolder and our plays are more aggressive as we promote the Portland region to attract competitive businesses in competitive industries that offer competitive wages.

But more on that later.  

Today, we’ll hear from sports franchise leaders who understand that in this competitive landscape, it’s not enough to be good—they wake up every morning and striving to be champions.

What We’ve Been Up To

By now, you all know that GPI has secured $2.5 million from the Oregon legislature to promote the region and drive investment into the state.

But let me tell you, this was a game of inches.

With so many people in need in Oregon, public funding for business is often met with skepticism

Contrast that with Michigan, where they launched a $20 million ad campaign to attract talent and companies. Don’t get me started on the $400 million in public subsidies the new NHL and NBA arena received.

After Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico spent $10 million to rebrand itself.  

And even South Dakota, with a fraction of Oregon’s population, commits $6.5 million to marketing.  

Meanwhile, here in Oregon, the average allocation for the state’s marketing initiatives is about $50,000.  

To put it bluntly, it’s like Oregon is running a marathon barefoot while other states having racing shoes.

Or bringing a pocket knife to a sword fight.

Or even better showing up to a poker table without any chips. We’re making small bets with our future.

Here’s when I come in, in 2022, having been in the role for 1 year, with the help of consultants, decided the region desperately needed to repair its reputation through a marketing plan.  

But when we went to fund the marketing strategy with the local public and private sector, it just wasn’t picking up traction.  

I then decided to pitch the Oregon legislature for $5 million.

But it’s hard to expect a “seasoned” rookie to see the field the way a veteran does.  

We brought in a lobbyist, Gary Oxley to coach the legislature and break down the plays.  

And in the end, the timing wasn’t right, and the connection wasn’t made.  

But just like in sports, you learn more from your losses than your wins.  

Some counted me out, some thought the game was over, and some thought I should pack my bags.  

But if you know me, you know I love sports.  

I regrouped, analyzed, and dug in deeper.  

We decided to go for it again in 2024 for the short legislative session.  

As it turned out, time was on our side.  

The negative headlines continued, the reports of business closures continued, and the population decline continued.  

Then, the Governor organized the Central City Task Force, and suddenly, we weren’t on defense anymore.  

Our lobbyist was huddling with the Portland legislative delegation and Reps Bynum and Dexter were championing our efforts.

I wasn’t content with just observing from the sidelines either.  

I was out pushing our agenda forward and appealing to the self-interest.  

And in the end, we did it. We crossed the finish line.  

And now with $2.5 million secured, we have chips to put in the game and drive the region and state forward.  
 

What $2.5M Means  

But let’s be clear—this isn’t just about the money.  

This $2.5 million represents something far more significant: it’s a testament to what a relentless drive and a winning mindset can achieve.

When I stepped into this role, I saw the challenges ahead.  

But if you know me, you know I love sports.  

I knew that with the right strategy, the right team, and a refusal to accept anything less than success, we could turn things around.

As a Detroit Lions fan for life, I take inspiration from the great Dan Campbell: 'Guys, we’re one turnover away. We’re one play away, we’re one third-down conversion away, we’re one third-down stop away.'  

But more than that, it’s a reminder that you can be the underdog and come from behind and still win.

GPI’s success this season doesn’t just stop there.  

GPEDD, Portland’s federal economic development district, which I oversee, also received $400,000 to foster regional collaboration on workforce housing solutions.

Our comprehensive economic development strategy is also well underway.  

But like I said, this isn’t just about money.  

In 2023 we attracted over 750 jobs….  

What’s Next

So, what’s next?  

We’re going live with our “Land of More” campaign in January These initiatives are designed to amplify our message and attract investment, companies and jobs into the region.

But we’re not stopping there. We’re generating new revenue.  

• Providing Economic Impact Analyses to offer data-driven insights.
• Launching a Soft-Landing program to make it easier for foreign businesses to establish themselves here, and  
• Forming the Oregon Prosperity Partnership— a statewide coalition of my counterparts who have seen our success, and now we’re joining forces to go to the legislature to secure the funding needed to scale this operation and enhance its impact.  

Conclusion  

As we push forward, this relentless pursuit of excellence, must be reflected in the decisions we make at every level.  

It’s about ensuring our public policies foster innovation and competitiveness.  

It’s about structuring our taxes in a way that attracts and retains the best businesses and talent and helps those in need.

It’s about electing leaders who understand the economic stakes.

Because when the history of the Portland region is written—it’s one where we turned potential into prosperity, challenges into opportunities, and vision into reality.

Thank you for your commitment to this journey.  

Together, we will not just meet the future; we will shape it. And we will win.