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Each year, the Alliance conducts an annual membership survey to determine how our members are feeling about a variety of policy issues, the services and benefits we provide, and our communications. This year, more than 300 members responded - a record number - which we attribute to a shorter survey and a new, more user-friendly survey tool, Zoomerang.

We pay particular attention to the responses on two survey questions: 1) whether our members will renew and 2) whether they will recommend membership peers. In this economy, with the limited capacity for discretionary spending, more than 80 percent of respondents said they will renew their membership, and more than 80 percent say they would recommend Alliance membership to other businesses. I am pleased to see that our members see value in what the Alliance does for business and want to stay engaged through Alliance events and committees.

While there is good news in the survey results, we also found areas for improvement. For example, according to the survey, 89 percent of members join because they want to make connections, but 60 percent feel the Alliance is delivering on that benefit. At the Alliance, we are working to make sure we are attracting new people to our events, focusing on hot button issues, and making sure members have access to events that best fit their business needs. If you are not sure what event or event series is best for you, contact your Business Development Manager or Mirabai Vogt at mvogt@portlandalliance.com.

Another area for improvement is increasing member awareness of our advocacy work. About 75 percent of respondents value our advocacy work, however, 53 percent feel that we are delivering. While we increased our delivery on advocacy work by 13 percentage points over last year, there is still room for improvement. The Alliance has added a staff member to focus on this intersection between communications and public policy and is developing ways to better communicate with you about policy issues that matter to business.

We also took this opportunity to ask how members are feeling about the economy and, while many members are seeing the light at end of the tunnel, there is still a long way to go. Supporting Alliance members through this recession is a top priority, which is why we have formed a Small Business Task Force and are developing event programming and communications to help businesses manage through the recession.

The membership survey is very important to the Alliance. Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond to it.

In response to these needs, the Alliance is focusing communications on these issues. Be on the look out for the summer Small Business Connection e-magazine, which will focus on updating your business's marketing/communications strategy.

Advocacy: Respondents indicated what advocacy issues were most important to the region's economic prosperity, and what issues were most important specifically to their business:

Important to the region's economic prosperity

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3. Alliance endorses Tom Hughes for Metro President

Because Metro has jurisdiction over land use decisions, transportation planning and many other issues that impact business and economic development, the board decided to make an endorsement in the three-way race between Tom Hughes, Rex Burkholder and Bob Stacey.

"After much discussion during the March board meeting, the Alliance board decided to endorse Tom Hughes due to his proven ability to focus on job creation and economic development," said Jill Eiland, chair of the Alliance's Government Relations Executive Committee and NW Region Corporate Affairs Manager for Intel.

Hughes is the former mayor of Hillsboro, and was elected to that position in 2000. During his two terms as Hillsboro mayor, Hughes helped to boost the city's economy, add more than 30,000 jobs and attract companies such as Solar World and Genentech. Hughes also serves on the governor's Green Jobs Council.

"What we need is an all-hands-on-deck effort at job growth, and that includes Metro," said Hughes.

Alliance board endorsements are based on a process that includes an endorsement committee interviewing the viable candidates for the political office and presenting a recommendation to the board. Two-thirds of the board members present must agree before an endorsement is made.

The endorsement committee that interviews the candidates and makes recommendations to the board has interviewed candidates in many of the other regional races as well. The committee recommendations for other races will be brought to April's board meeting, and final endorsement selections will be made then. Stay tuned for more endorsement announcements.

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4. Leadership Portland application deadline extension

If you are interested in learning more about the issues facing the Portland region, getting involved in a community impact project and building lasting relationships with a variety of people from the private, public and non-profit sectors - here is your chance! The application deadline for Leadership Portland has been extended to April 23.

To apply for the 2010-11 Leadership Portland program, candidates must submit an application, signature page and two letters of recommendation, one from their employer and one from a community leader by Friday April 23, 2010. More information about the Leadership Portland program can be found here.

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5. NEW EVENT: EMERGE Exclusive with... Gregg Kantor

Are you an emerging leader in the Portland region? Do you want to meet other emerging leaders and get to know established leaders by hearing their stories and their worldview? Then the new Alliance event series, called EMERGE Exclusives, is for you.

Get to know: Gregg Kantor, CEO of NW Natural

When: Thursday, April 29, 2010
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (program from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)

Where: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
1211 SW Fifth Avenue, 19th Floor

Hear him talk about how he got to where he is, his views on leadership and his thoughts on being civically engaged.

Discussion moderated by Emerging Leader: Aresh Irajpanah of World Wide Products, Inc.

About the Alliance's EMERGE Initiative: This event series is part of the Alliance's EMERGE initiative to connect emerging civic and business leaders with established civic and business leaders in the Portland region. The initiative includes the Exclusives event series, outdoor Excursions and community Engagement. Learn more about EMERGE at www.portlandalliance.com/EMERGE.

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6. Alliance members meet with congressional leaders, Secretary LaHood and Treasurer Rios

A delegation of Alliance members visited Washington, D.C. from March 16 through 19 for the Alliance's annual D.C. trip. The Alliance delegation, led by Chair Charles Wilhoite and Government Relations Chair Jill Eiland, met with Oregon congressional leaders, as well as Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, Congressman Brian Baird of Washington, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios.

The Columbia River Crossing (CRC) was one of the main issues the Alliance delegation discussed with legislators. The Alliance hopes the CRC project will move forward this year. The Alliance also advocated for higher education and innovation, asking for continued federal support of the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute and the Oregon Translational Research and Drug Development Institute.

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7. Working Waterfront Coalition voices concerns about River Plan

The Working Waterfront Coalition (WWC) is continuing to have discussions with city staff and commissioners about details in the River Plan, which greatly impacts harbor businesses. Portland City Council took final testimony on the River Plan at a hearing on April 1 at 2:00 p.m.

At the hearing, members of the WWC testified about the complexity and cost of the new permit process proposed by the River Plan. At the close of the hearing, the council discussed the mayor's amendment package and ultimately approved it for final action at the next meeting on April 15.

The WWC remains hopeful that Portland City Council will embrace the fee-in-lieu of additional review, which is the compromise the WWC has proposed for the River Plan. Alan Sprott describes this concept in an op-ed piece, which ran in The Oregonian on March 26. Sprott is vice president of Vigor Industrial and is chairman of the WWC.

Read Sprott's op-ed >>

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8. Alliance CEO visits Dubai, travels with chamber leaders from across U.S.

Alliance President & CEO Sandra McDonough recently visited Dubai, from March 5 to March 12. The trip, planned by the Dubai Chamber and the American Council of Chamber Executives, highlighted trade and other economic opportunities between the U.S. and Dubai. McDonough stayed at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel with 40 other chamber of commerce leaders from across the country who attended the weeklong trip.

During the trip, the group learned about the history of Dubai, which literally rose out of the desert over the last 10 years. They visited Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, and the Jebel Ali Port, the sixth largest port in the world. Companies from Oregon like Nike, Otak, CH2M Hill and Columbia Sportswear all have a presence in Dubai, and McDonough visited Nike's small office, where six employees are charged with establishing the Nike brand in the Middle East. The group also explored the desert on ATVs and camels! While in Dubai, McDonough blogged extensively about her unique experiences. Read all the details >>

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DOWNTOWN SERVICES

9. Clean & Safe Program receives award for graffiti removal

The Downtown Clean & Safe Program, run by the Alliance and funded by the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID), has received the City of Portland's Graffiti Abatement All-Star Award. Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz hosted the annual Graffiti Abatement Summit on March 18 at the Kennedy School. The award is presented to a person or an organization that takes extra steps in combating graffiti.

Graffiti removal is an integral part of a thriving downtown and Portland's Clean & Safe program has become a national model. The businesses in the BID spend more than half a million dollars a year on cleaning and maintenance. Last year, more than 25,000 graffiti tags were removed in the BID's 213-block area of downtown Portland.

Michele Martin of Ashforth Pacific (right), the current Downtown BID chairperson, accepts the award from Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz (left) at the Graffiti Summit.

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10. 2010 Annual Development Finance Summit in Portland

The Council of Development Finance Agencies is hosting the 2010 Annual Development Finance Summit May 10-13 at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower. The program addresses a variety of development finance topics and is designed to educate both novices and seasoned development finance professionals. General sessions will focus on broad views of the development finance industry while in-depth sessions will explore specific finance concepts such as:

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

11. Leadership Portland community project helps at-risk youth

One component of the Alliance's Leadership Portland program is a community impact project, and this year ice cream became a focus for one Leadership Portland team called Project Catalyst.

Members of Project Catalyst chose to work with with New Avenues for Youth (NAFY), a Portland-based nonprofit that helps at-risk and homeless youth to exit street life and lead healthy, independent lives. Five years ago, NAFY won a competitive process to operate the Ben and Jerry's "Partner Shop" franchise at 524 SW Yamhill. The 'Scoop Shop' serves as a workforce training opportunity for youth in the NAFY programs.

Project Catalyst is working with NAFY to develop an updated business plan for the Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop. The five-year business plan will assist NAFY in:

Because of the successful involvement with Leadership Portland, the Yamhill Scoop Shop has renamed Ben & Jerry's flavor Berry Berry Extraordinary in honor of the Portland Business Alliance.

Kirsten Pennington, CH2M Hill
Jennifer Gilstrap Hearn, Wayfinders Strategy
Chris Oxley, Rose Quarter
Brian Speer, Wells Fargo
Karin Wandtke, McDonald Jacobs

The Walmart Foundation's Oregon State Giving Program is now accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations across the state. Funding focuses on much-needed community programs, especially those that address hunger, homelessness, education, job training and other basic needs. Organizations must currently operate under the tax-exempt status Section 501(c) (3). The minimum award for each grant is $25,000. Interested organizations may apply online at www.walmartfoundation.org.

13. Oregon coast gains DoveLewis emergency after-hours animal hospital

DoveLewis Emergency Hospital has expanded its veterinary emergency and urgent care services to the Oregon Coast. After months of planning, DoveLewis opened its doors in Lincoln City March 11. DoveLewis also has an Animal Hospital in Northwest Portland.

14. ICSC Oregon hosts conversation about new retail trends

The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) holds events that serve as a forum to introduce the shopping center industry to sate and local governments and to encourage public/private partnerships in retail in order to generate jobs and tax revenue. The Oregon ICSC Alliance Program will host an event entitled No Longer Business As Usual: Exploring New Retail Trends. The event will take place Thursday, May 6, from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Governor Hotel.

15. Northwest Energy Savers: Dealer for SeriousWindows

Northwest Energy Savers sells SeriousWindows, which are some of the most energy efficient windows on the market today. Those same windows were chosen to replace more than 6,500 windows for the Empire State Building's energy efficiency retrofit project.

16. Members make The 100 Best list

Many Alliance members were on the Oregon Business Magazine's 100 Best list this year. Congratulations to:

17. Kadel's Auto Body Hillsboro receives Eco-Logical business certification

The Pollution Prevention Outreach team, a partnership between pollution prevention experts from several local agencies, including DEQ and Clean Water Services, and the Pollution Prevention Resource Center, sponsors the Eco-Logical business certification program. Kadel's Auto Body in Hillsboro is the tenth Kadel's location in Oregon to be certified.

18. Cascade Web Development is on the cutting edge of technology

Cascade Web Development recently launched 'Brand Live,' a live video broadcast tool that allows product demos, employee training sessions, sales rep clinics, live event showcases and e-commerce presentations to be streamed via a secure URL and live video feed. The Brand Live tool can be customized to any brand's look and feel and is cost effective, secure, easy to use and interactive. More Information About Brand Live >>

Additionally, Cascade Web Development's Evergreen software has gone Hollywood, in a partnership with AMP Agency out of Boston and DreamWorks' new animated film: How to train your Dragon. The software is being used in an interactive marketing campaign Web site where amateur filmmakers can upload their own short films about how to train your dragon. More information >>

19. United Way recognizes Wells Fargo with national award for community support

In 2009, Wells Fargo gave $202 million in grants to schools and nonprofit groups across the nation, including more than $60 million through the United Way campaign. Also, more than 32,000 Wells Fargo team members volunteered 1.23 million hours. Because of this outstanding community support, United Way presented Wells Fargo (along with four other companies) with a 2010 United Way Summit Award in March.

20. Help Oregon kids become confident readers!

Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) will host a Read Out Loud volunteer recruitment event at Pioneer Place Mall on Saturday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by and sign up to be a SMART volunteer! Anyone is invited to join former mayor Vera Katz, Portland Timbers' Timber Joey, Miss Oregon 2009 CC Barber, KPTV's Joe V and radio talk show host and sports columnist John Canzano as they read to kids in support of childhood literacy. The event will be held in Pioneer Place Mall, Zone B at the lower level rotunda next to Moonstruck.

21. Celebrate Oregon's 100 Best Green Companies

Oregon Business magazine will announce its second annual 100 Best Green Companies to Work For in Oregon at a June 1 event at the Portland Downtown Hilton. The 100 Best Green Companies also will be announced in the June "Green Issue" of Oregon Business, which will be revealed at the end of the event. For more information and to register for the event, go to www.Oregon100Best.com.

22. Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative Luncheon

The Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative will hold a Business Recognition Luncheon on Tuesday, April 20 at the Governor Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Thomas Higgins, founder of Prosetta Bio-tech and the Portland Business Journal. This free luncheon will acquaint businesses with the benefits of working with the Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative on their staffing needs. RSVP Here >>

23. Upcoming Meetings

April 15, Public Safety Committee, 8 a.m.
April 20, Central City Standing Committee, noon
April 21, Small Business Council, 4 p.m.
May 10, Government Relations Committee, 4 p.m.
May 11, Communications Committee, 9:30 a.m.
May 11, Transportation Committee, noon
May 12, Sustainability Committee, 7:30 a.m.
May 14, President's Council, noon

April 2010 Newsletter

FROM THE CHAIR

1. Membership survey shows positive trends, areas for improvement

2. Membership survey by the numbers

3. Alliance endorses Tom Hughes for Metro President

4. Leadership Portland application deadline extension

5. NEW EVENT: EMERGE Exclusive with... Gregg Kantor

7. Working Waterfront Coalition voices concerns about River Plan

9. Clean & Safe Program receives award for graffiti removal

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

11. Leadership Portland community project helps at-risk youth

13. Oregon coast gains DoveLewis emergency after-hours animal hospital

14. ICSC Oregon hosts conversation about new retail trends

15. Northwest Energy Savers: Dealer for SeriousWindows

16. Members make The 100 Best list

17. Kadel's Auto Body Hillsboro receives Eco-Logical business certification

18. Cascade Web Development is on the cutting edge of technology

19. United Way recognizes Wells Fargo with national award for community support

20. Help Oregon kids become confident readers!

21. Celebrate Oregon's 100 Best Green Companies

22. Portland Economic Opportunity Initiative Luncheon

23. Upcoming Meetings