As the regional convening organization and primary organization responsible for the region's economic development strategy, Greater Portland Inc offers best practices trips each year. Our hands-on approach includes learning best practices of cities across the U.S. and the world, and then presenting lessons learned for application to the local economy.
For more than 30 years, these trips have united public-sector officials, private-sector business executives and higher education leaders to collaboratively accomplish three key categories of work:
- Research and strategic regional planning
- Project management of major economic advancement initiatives
- Best practices education and networking for local government economic developers
Visits to other cities worldwide have proven to be incredibly enlightening, offering valuable lessons about the successes, failures, and obstacles overcome by other major cities addressing public policy challenges. Through these visits, we have explored business attraction and retention, land use, transportation, public transit, growth limitations, immigration, and the unique culture and challenges of each one of these communities.
Our trips have included visits to the following locations. Where availible you can find more information about these trips linked below.
- National
- International
- Colombia
- Japan
- Madrid and Barcelona, Spain
- Scandinavian Cities
- Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Israel
- Toronto
- United Kingdom
- Vancouver BC
Upcoming Best Practices Trips:
- Netherlands, May 18-23