April
2008 Newsletter
From
the Chair
1. The Alliance's Charitable Institute supports
area nonprofits
2. Two
weeks left to turn in your Leadership Portland application
3. New edition of Business Images of the
Portland Region hot off the press
4. Study finds most 'Best Companies' are
chamber members
Public
Policy
5. Concerned about business taxes? Let city
and county leaders know
6. Mayoral candidates address business concerns
at debate
7. Alliance works with City on Parks SDC
8. Alliance opposes satellite districts
proposal
Member
Services
9. Participate in the first Portland Butt
Hunt
10. Does your company have global vision?
11. Lufthansa offers Alliance members exclusive
discount on airfare to Germany
Downtown
12. Alliance supports Downtown Stewardship
Plan
13. New downtown dining guide published
Alliance
Events
14. APRIL FORUM: Columbia River Crossing:
International Economic Artery or Coronary Occlusion?
15. 2008 Annual Meeting
16. 2008 Chair's Cup
Member
News
17. Scandinavia anyone? Join the Portland
Ambassadors' trip in June
18. Shuttle Express launches Seattle-Portland
share ride service
19. Portland versus Vancouver - Who will
be deemed the fittest city?
20. Mercantile opens new, luxurious store
in downtown Portland
21. Oregon Partnership annual dinner
and auction set for April 12
22. Applications sought for 2008 Excellence
in Family Business Awards
23. Upcoming
Meetings
FROM
THE CHAIR
1. The
Alliance's Charitable Institute supports area nonprofits
 By
Sam Brooks, Chair, Alliance Board of Directors
Many people
don't know that for more than 25 years, the Alliance has lent
support to a number of other nonprofit organizations through
its charitable arm, the Charitable Institute. The Institute
serves as an umbrella organization that provides administrative
and human resource services for organizations that share the
Alliance's goal of ensuring economic prosperity for our region.
The Alliance's support allows these organizations to focus
on their core missions without the added administrative costs.
I not
only serve as the Alliance's chair of the board of directors,
but I also sit on the Charitable Institute's board. I see
first hand the incredible work the Institute and its affiliate
organizations do to enhance and sustain the local community
through its programs, and how this help can make the difference
to a nonprofit organization.
At the
moment, the Charitable Institute supports four partner organizations:
Citizens Crime Commission, Leaders Roundtable, the Kevin Montgomery
Smith Fund and the Nike School Innovation Fund. All of these
organizations are dedicated to a prosperous local economy
- the Innovation Fund and Leaders Roundtable through support
for education, Citizens Crime Commission through crime prevention
and the Kevin Montgomery Smith Fund through support for citizens
experiencing homelessness.
One of
the more recent additions to the Charitable Institute, the
Nike Innovation Fund, is committed to helping public schools
in Portland, Hillsboro and Beaverton. These schools receive
grants that go towards educational programs and innovative
leadership training. This program is imperative for the future
of our schools and our local workforce.
Check
out the new Charitable
Institute page on the Alliance Web site and read all about
these four partner programs and what they're currently doing
to improve our region. The service that the Charitable Institute
provides is just another way your membership is going to work
for the community as a whole.
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2.
Two weeks left to turn in your Leadership Portland application
 Are
you ready to take your leadership skills to the next level?
Applications for the Leadership Portland class of 2009 are
due in just two weeks, on April 15, 2008. Participants
in the Leadership Portland program build knowledge and insight
on major issues facing the Portland community and region
through monthly education days and community projects, and
further develop their leadership skills. The program is
a unique opportunity to connect with peers from a variety
of Portland's businesses and nonprofits. Representatives
from businesses and nonprofits of all sizes are encouraged
to apply.
Visit
www.portlandalliance.com/member_services/leadership_portland_application.php
for more information or to apply online.
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3.
New edition of Business Images of the Portland Region
hot off the press
 The
latest edition of the Alliance's business magazine is now
available. Business Images of the Portland Region,
in its second year, features a variety of stories about
industries flourishing in the Portland metropolitan region.
The region's many higher education programs, nationally
renowned transit system, sustainability efforts and arts
and culture are also featured.
The
magazine will be distributed through a number of outlets
and national conferences to help tell the story of the Portland
business community. Next year's edition is already in the
works. Interested in advertising in the next edition or
have a story idea? Please contact Megan
Doern.
To
read the magazine, click
here.
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4.
Study finds most 'Best Companies' are chamber members
The
best places to work tend to belong to their local chamber
of commerce, according to a recent study by the American
Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). Of Fortune
magazine's "100
Best Companies to Work For" in the United States and
Canada this year, 94 are members of their local chamber,
including all of the top 24.
Separately,
ACCE found that in a random sample of 100 companies in the
Fortune 1000, at least 75 were members of their local chamber.
Consumers
seem to expect chamber members to be better-than-average
companies. A study by the Atlanta-based Schapiro Group last
August found that consumers are 63 percent more likely to
buy products from companies that they believe are chamber
members.
Read
more about the study on the ACCE's
Web site.
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PUBLIC
POLICY
5.
Concerned about business taxes? Let city and county leaders
know
In 2007,
at the request of the Portland Business Alliance and neighborhood
business associations, both the City of Portland and Multnomah
County moved to reduce the burden of the city business license
fee (BLF) and the county business income tax (BIT). These
local income fees and taxes are some of the highest in the
nation and create a significant disincentive to business expansion
and recruitment in the city. They are particularly hard on
small businesses.
The changes
made in 2007 increased the gross receipts exemption from $25,000
to $50,000 and the owner's compensation deduction from $61,500
to $80,000. While these were welcome changes, they were only
the first installment in a plan to bring the owners compensation
deduction up to $125,000 over a five-year period.
The City
of Portland and Multnomah County are currently developing
their budgets for the upcoming year. The Alliance is again
reaching out to small business owners and the neighborhood
business associations to encourage city and county leaders
to fulfill their pledge to bring the owners compensation deduction
to the $125,000 goal.
To learn
more about this issue and what you can do, go to www.portlandalliance.com/public_policy/calls_to_action.html.
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6. Mayoral
candidates address business concerns at debate
On March
20, the Alliance partnered with Portland State University
and the Portland Tribune to host a mayoral debate featuring
candidates Sam Adams and Sho Dozono. A large crowd packed
Portland State University's Smith Ballroom and listened to
the candidates discuss three main topics: public safety, economic
development and transportation.
The dean
of the College of Urban and Public Affairs, Larry Wallack,
moderated the hour and a half debate, which followed a structured
format. The candidates received the specific questions about
each topic in advance of the debate in order for the candidates
to provide the audience with substantive answers. The candidates,
however, also received on-the-spot follow-up questions from
Portland Tribune reporter Chris Lydgate, Portland State
University student Hannah Fisher and Bullivant Houser Bailey
shareholder Megge Van Valkenburg.
A video
of the debate will be available on the Alliance Web site shortly.
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7.
Alliance works with City on Parks SDC
Over
the past year, the Alliance has participated in the Park Systems
Development Charge (SDC) Advisory Group, working towards a
way to fairly impose the city's first non-residential Park
SDC. In a statement issued to Commissioner Dan Saltzman, the
Alliance opposed the existing proposal for a 75 percent recovery
rate through a new, non-residential Park SDC.
Due
to significant increases in construction costs, statewide
property tax limitations and diminishing federal assistance
for infrastructure, SDCs have been increasingly used by local
jurisdictions to fund expansion for public services, such
as transportation, sewer, water, parks and schools. These
and other fees and charges impact business competitiveness
and the economic feasibility of development.
"The
Alliance supports parks, but cannot support such a large recovery
rate as is proposed in the form of a new non-residential Park
SDC," said Sandra McDonough. "These increased costs would
not only impact commercial and industrial development and
businesses, but also housing affordability."
Read
more about this issue >>
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8.
Alliance opposes satellite districts proposal
At
its March meeting, the Alliance board of directors voted in
opposition of the Commissioner Erik Sten's proposal to create
an urban renewal satellite district. In a letter sent to Mayor
Tom Potter and city commissioners, the Alliance outlined its
concerned about the proposal:
"A
proposed use of non-contiguous districts is a radical departure
from historic use and intent of urban renewal law. We are
concerned about the impacts of such a departure on the integrity
of urban renewal in the City of Portland and the entire State
of Oregon." Read
the entire letter here.
The
Alliance
also took a strong position on how the city should manage
the expiration of the Downtown Waterfront and South Park Blocks
urban renewal districts. The
Alliance advocated for an early debt retirement in order to
create a new urban renewal district and ensure the continued
health of downtown.
Editorials
appearing in The Oregonian, Portland Tribune
and Portland Business Journal agreed with the Alliance's
position. Portland City Council, however, voted to approve
the urban satellite proposal and maximum debt issuance on
March 12.
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MEMBER
SERVICES
9.
Participate in the first Portland Butt Hunt
On Saturday
April 19, the Leadership Portland class of 2008 will hold
the first Portland Butt Hunt. As part of a team project, class
members have partnered with SOLV to incorporate the Butt Hunt
into its annual SOLV IT Earth Day initiative - one of the
largest Earth Day projects in the nation. The objective: Clean
up the cigarette butts around downtown Portland. Globally,
more than 2 billion butts are littered per day, and can have
a harmful effect on small animals, water quality and marine
life.
"Our group's
goal is to raise awareness that cigarette butts are hazardous
to the environment, and should be thrown away," said Leadership
Portland participant Theresa Carr, team leader for this project.
"Furthermore, we hope that the timing of the project will
reduce impacts from and awareness of cigarette butt litter
before the no smoking ban effective January 1, 2009."
You can
sign up for this anti-litter initiative by going to www.butthuntpdx.com.
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10.
Does your company have global vision?
This spring
the Alliance's Distinguishing Portland project will shift
its focus to global vision. Portland is an international gateway,
and local businesses are influencing markets overseas, exporting
products and expertise and developing new industries globally.
The Alliance is looking for companies with a global vision
to be a part of Distinguishing Portland.
Go to
www.portlandalliance.com/distinguishing-portland/
to learn more about the project and submit your story, or
contact Megan Doern at 503.552.6754.
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11.
Lufthansa offers Alliance members exclusive discount on airfare
to Germany
In celebration
of Lufthansa's 5th anniversary of non-stop service between
Portland and Frankfurt, Alliance members can enjoy discount
airfare when booking via the special Lufthansa Promotions
Online Web site.
Fly non-stop
and save:
- 5 percent
on the lowest Economy Class fares (Q, V, W, S) to Germany.
- 10
percent on regular Economy Class fares (Y, B, M, H) to Germany
and beyond.
- 10
percent on Business Class (C) and First Class (F) fares
to Germany and beyond.
Terms
and conditions apply. Visit the Alliance's
Members Only site today to find out more about this exclusive
money saving offer!
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DOWNTOWN
12. Alliance
supports Downtown Stewardship Plan
The Alliance
board of directors voted in support for the Downtown Stewardship
Plan earlier this month. The plan provides a comprehensive,
consolidated funding resource for essential programs that
leverage existing investment in the downtown core, improving
the economic vitality, safety and livability of the area.
The funding package supports the Downtown Marketing Initiative;
retail advocacy; transit street management; maintenance and
operation; and maintenance, and security and marketing programs
for SmartPark garages.
To raise
the additional funds for this program, the Alliance supports
increasing parking fees, both garage and street-level, and
a general fund allocation to the programs.
"By investing
in the Downtown Stewardship Plan, the City of Portland will
leverage other investments to ensure our downtown remains
healthy and relevant in an environment of increased suburban
competition and economic uncertainty," said Sandra McDonough
in a letter to the Portland City Council.
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 13.
New downtown dining guide published
The Alliance
published the 2008 Downtown Dining Guide this month, listing
all restaurants in the I-5/I-405 loop. The Guide will be released
in early March. The guides are distributed through the Ambassadors,
at the Travel Portland Information Center in Pioneer Courthouse
Square and through select hotel concierges; projected distribution
will top 50,000 guides this year, paid for through advertising
dollars.
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ALLIANCE
EVENTS
14.
Columbia River Crossing: International Economic Artery or
Coronary Occlusion?
April
16 , 7:30-8:45 a.m., Governor Hotel
The statistics
about the current spans over the Columbia River reflect the
region's growth in population and commerce. The roughly 135,000
daily commuters, trucks and other travelers using this span
are increasing. Yet, our healthy, growing region is putting
a tremendous strain on the current bridges. With daily congestion
now lasting six hours and increasing to eight hours in 2030,
this international economic artery is failing. What can be
done to address this critical international choke point? Experts
from both sides of the Columbia will share their thoughts.
Register
Now >>
MODERATOR:
Rich
Brown
Bank of America
SPEAKERS:
Metro Commissioner Rex Burkholder
Monica
Isbell
Starboard Alliance Company, LLC
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15.
2008 Annual Meeting
May
14, Oregon Convention Center, 7:30 - 9 a.m.
The Alliance's
Annual Meeting is one of the state's largest gatherings of
business professionals and civic leaders. It's a chance for
you to meet new people and catch up with old friends.
This year's
meeting, A Celebration of Business, will recognize
area business leaders who have made Portland's business community
what it is today. Also hear from ESCO Corporation Chairman
and CEO Steve Pratt and get a look at the global vision
of some Portland companies impacting business trends and practices
internationally.
At the
event, the Alliance will present this year's volunteer awards
to several members in recognition of their hard work on behalf
of the Portland business community. Register
Now >>
Presenting
Sponsor:
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16.
2008 Chair's Cup
May
18-19, 2008
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Course
The Chair's
Cup is a unique golfing experience providing a quality venue
for the region's top Chief Executive Officers and business
leaders. The playing field is limited to 72 to create an atmosphere
of intimacy and exclusivity. The event begins with a dinner
for players and guests followed the next day by golf, a luncheon,
and an awards reception. Register
today!
Presenting
Sponsor:
Sponsors:
Wells
Fargo Bank, PGE,
Regence,
Pacific
Power, Qwest
- Oregon,
Emerson
Hardwood Co., US
Bank, KeyBank,
Melvin
Mark Companies
and Ashforth
Pacific, Inc.
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MEMBER
NEWS
17.
Scandinavia anyone? Join the Portland Ambassadors' trip in
June
The Portland
Ambassadors' first European Best Practices visit to Scandinavia
is the latest in a series of trips to top-rated, forward-thinking
cities. Meetings with key leaders in Denmark and Sweden and
project site visits will explore the innovations and projects
that have earned these cities worldwide acclaim for everything
from the best trail networks to energy use and clean-technology
exports.
Due to
spring vacation, the deadline for early registration for the
Scandinavia trip has been extended to April 15. The trip will
go from June 14 to 21. The opportunities to learn (and have
a great time!) are endless on this trip, so please consider
joining the Ambassadors! Go to www.i-sustain.com,
click on the link to Portland Ambassador trip to Scandinavia
for more info and registration.
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18. Shuttle
Express launches Seattle-Portland share ride service
Shuttle
Express launched a daily scheduled share ride service between
Seattle and Portland, using luxury limo vans that feature
WiFi, DVD/CD/TV monitors, workspace and coffee service. The
Puget Sound transportation company is best known for its door-to-door
airport share ride, and will offer the convenient door-to-door
option with the Seattle-Portland service. General Manager
John Rowley said the new service is a convenient and economical
alternative to flying. Guests can book their seats online
at www.shuttleexpress.com
or through the reservation center at 866.666.4188.
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19.
Portland versus Vancouver - Who will be deemed the fittest
city?
Northwest
Personal Training is hosting its annual six-week Ultimate
Spring Weight Loss Challenge. Bragging rights goes to the
winning city. In addition, Nautilus is honoring one person
from each city who will be awarded the Most Inspirational
Success Story and will win a Nautilus Home Equipment piece.
All participants get a Nike t-shirt for completing the challenge
and lots of great educational information. Call Northwest
Personal Training at 503.287.0655 or go to the event
Web site to register.
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20.
Mercantile opens new, luxurious store in downtown Portland
 Earlier
this month, Mercantile's new store opened, providing Portland
shoppers with a large selection of American and European designers
in a luxurious space. The 7,000 square foot store was designed
by Ankrom-Moison and includes many personal touches including
handpicked fixtures and furniture and luxury dressing rooms.
Shoppers can continue to find Mercantile's popular clothing
by Burberry, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Vince, Eileen Fisher, Eskandar
and many more.
The
store was officially opened at a ceremonial ribbon cutting
with storeowner Victoria Taylor, Mayor Tom Potter and Commissioner
Sam Adams.
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21.
Oregon Partnership annual dinner and auction set for April
12
The Annual
Dinner and Auction is a major fundraiser for Oregon Partnership,
a statewide nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of alcohol
and drug abuse. Oregon Partnership also operates four crisis
lines, including a suicide prevention line and YouthLine,
made up of teens helping other teens. U.S. Senator Gordon
Smith and Sharon Smith and Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers
will be honored at the event. The dinner and auction will
be held at 6 p.m. on April 12 in the Oregon Ballroom at the
Oregon Convention Center. For more information, visit www.orpartnership.org.
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22. Applications
sought for 2008 Excellence in Family Business Awards
Nominations
are now open for the 2008 Excellence in Family Business Awards,
presented by Oregon State University's Austin Family Business
Program. Nominations, including self-nominations, can be submitted
on behalf of family-owned businesses throughout the Northwest
including from Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and California.
Nominations can be submitted online at www.familybusinessonline.org
or by mail, fax, or telephone. The deadline for completed
applications is May 1. The awards program is one of many year-round
activities of OSU's Austin Family Business Program, an organization
that works to support and encourage family-owned businesses.
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23. Upcoming
Meetings
April
8 , Communications Committee, 10 am
April 8, Transportation Committee, noon
April 11, President's Council, noon
April 22, Public Safety Sub-Committee, 8 am
April 23, Government Relations Committee, 7:30 am
April 23, Small Business Council, 3 pm
May 7, Central City Standing Committee, noon
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