aerial tramwayThe Greater Portland Economic Development District (GPEDD), staffed by Greater Portland Inc, is a not-for-profit organization working in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington. GPEDD is funded primarily through grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). 

Our Work

GPEDD’s primary function is developing a bi-state Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) every five years. This strategy establishes and maintains a robust economic ecosystem by building regional capacity that contributes to individual, firm, and community success. GPEDD updates its CEDS every five years in order to continue qualifying for EDA assistance under its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistant programs. GPEDD is also working to implement the recently adopted Greater Portland Economic Recovery Plan, funded in part by a grant from the EDA as part of the CARES Act to help the region recover economically from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Our Board

GPEDD is managed by a Board of Directors representing principal economic interests in the region, including the private sector, public officials, community leaders, workforce development, higher education, minority and labor groups, and private individuals. This group oversees the development and five-year implementation of the CEDS. The GPEDD Board of Directors convenes quarterly. 

Jennifer Baker
President
Columbia River Economic Development Council

Mike Bomar
Director of Economic Development
Port of Vancouver USA

Kimberly Branam
Executive Director
Prosper Portland

Ryan Buchanan
CEO
Thesis

Maria Caballero Rubio
Executive Director
Centro Cultural

Monique Claiborne
President and CEO
Greater Portland Inc

Dr. Tim Cook
President
Clackamas Community College

Dan Dias
Economic and Community Development Director
City of Hillsboro

Chad Freeman
Director of Corporate Development
Henningsen Cold Storage Co

Alan Garcia
Senior Director, Customer Acquisition
NW Natural

Elissa Gertler
Planning and Development Director
Metro

Jason Green
Managing Director
CBRE

Stephen Green
Director of Operations
PENSOLE

Jarvez Hall
Interim Director
East Metro STEAM Partnership

Ashley Henry
Executive Director
Business for a Better Portland

Andrew Hoan
President & CEO
Portland Business Alliance

Dwayne Johnson
President
Civic Technology Ventures

Debbie Kitchin
Principal
InterWorks LLC

Tom Markgraf
Director, Public Affairs
TriMet

Andrew McGough
Executive Director
WorkSystems Inc

Mel Netzhammer
Chancellor
Washington State University Vancouver

Skip Newberry
President & CEO
Technology Association of Oregon

Amanda Oborne
President & Executive Director
Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Matt Ransom
Executive Director
Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council

Curtis Robinhold
Executive Director
Port of Portland

Shannon Stadey
Economic Development Services Director
City of Gresham

Graham Trainor
President
Oregon AFL-CIO