PDC is committed to economic growth and sustainability in our region, with particular interest in green technology for projects and buildings. PDC integrates business, economic and physical development to create jobs and investment that provide a full range of employment opportunities and economic benefits to all residents in the region.

As the city's economic development agency, PDC helps existing and new businesses navigate a wide variety of public and non-profit resources; assists businesses in evaluating Portland as a viable and effective location where a company can thrive; and connects business owners with financial and technical resources that can give companies a competitive edge. PDC programs and assistance include location and site selection; incentives; financial services; retention, expansion and recruitment services; development assistance; regional partnerships; workforce connections; and industry cluster support.


Economic Development StrategyThe strategy represents the city’s renewed commitment to economic development and job creation, and lays out the city’s priorities clearly. A five-year plan for promoting job creation and economic growth, the Strategy focus on enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in four traded sector industry clusters: clean tech and sustainable industries, activewear, advanced manufacturing, and software. A cluster strategy is especially critical for a market like Portland, where limited resources require selective investments in the concentrated groups of firms that demonstrate the most promise of growth.


PDC Software Cluster Focus

Total Regional Employment (2006)	16,612
Average Annual Wages	$80,000
Employment Growth (2001-06)	-11.8%
Portland Share of Regional Employment (2006)	31%

Even in times of economic uncertainty, software remains a significant component of the global economy. The drive for greater efficiency and the increasing globalization of business markets spurs much spending as companies invest in the hardware and software infrastructure that enables them to operate in increasingly competitive markets.

The Portland region is home to the Silicon Forest of the high tech industry. The region has a significant amount of silicon chip manufacturing capacity and is now seeing a rise in the software development component of the high tech sector.

Niches within the software industry that are especially strong in Portland include: GIS/mapping software, open source, identity, medical informatics, and wiki technology, Open Source development, Financial Services, Social Networking, Wifi/WiMAX-related applications, Mobile Applications, OpenID, Business Intelligence and CleanTech Software/IT

In 2005, Oregon’s software industry generated $3.2 billion in aggregate wages, produced more than 51,000 jobs, generated more than $833 million in state and local tax revenue and provided $9.20 billion in aggregate economic impact.

60 of every 1,000 private sector workers in Oregon are employed by high tech firms.
Oregon’s average high tech wage is $75,616,1 101% higher than average private sector wages.

Oregon ranks 16th in the nation for R&D spending per capita and 16th in venture capital investments.


Software Cluster Initiatives with PDC support

CEO round table initiative: The PDC and the Software Association of Oregon (SAO) are collaborating on a series of software industry round tables to help guide the development of this important industry cluster. We invite software leaders to share their business perspective on the following:

1. What are Portland’s strengths?
2. What are Portland’s challenges?
3. How is the current business climate?
4. What is the environment for emerging businesses?
5. What is missing?
6. What segments do you see in the market regarding software in Portland?

Smart Grid initiative: How to implement technology to provide optimal usage of the electrical grid. Is there a viable business model that will emerge from this brainstorming that could reside in Portland?