June
2009 Newsletter
Top
Stories
1. From the Chair: State legislature's decisions
bad for region's employers
2. New
business, personal income taxes pass House, Senate
3. Alliance
COO Pam Knowles wins race for Portland School board
4. Leadership
Portland graduates 2009 class, two classes set for 2010
5.
Business community saves Washington Park Concert
Series
Public
Policy
6. Alliance
convenes a land use task force
7.
Alliance working on urban renewal investment
on downtown's west side
Downtown
8.
More BigBelly solar trashcans coming to downtown
thanks to partnership with city
9.
Alliance's 2009 Dining Guide now available
Membership
10.
Green Hour June 24: Portland State University,
VideoPresence
11.
Connect on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog
12.
Member Discount of the month: El Hispanic
News
Alliance
Events
13. June Forum: Universities Unite! -
June 17
14.
Women's 9-Hole Golf Scramble - June 25
15. Business After Hours @ Inn at Northrup
Station - July 8
Member
News
16. CH2M Hill named to Fortune 500 for
first time
17. Liberty Northwest to sell workers
compensation insurance through independent agents
18. Pacific University picks new president
- Dr. Lesley M. Hallick
19. Special offer for Alliance members to
Oregon's famed pinot event!
20. Resort at The Mountain completes
$1.5 million in upgrades
Member
Events
21. Meet Multnomah County's new library
director - June 30
22. Climate Action Plan Town Hall
- Business Focus - June 15
23. Planning the Smart Grid for Sustainable
Communities - June 18
24. Relay For Life of Portland
25. Internet Strategy Forum Summit
26.
Upcoming meetings
FROM
THE CHAIR
1. State
legislature's decisions bad for region's employers
 By
Steve Holwerda, Chair,
Alliance Board of Directors
During
the past year, I have had the privilege to serve as the chair
of the Portland Business Alliance. It was a rocky year at
times, with a historic economic crisis leading to dramatic
challenges for businesses and Oregonians that will continue
into the future. We also had a scandal at city hall, which
remains unresolved at this time. But the one issue that has
been the most frustrating and disappointing to me is the legislature's
decision to move forward with tax increases on companies and
individuals as the main solution to the state budget crisis.
To combat
these tax proposals, the Alliance teamed up with the other
business organizations around the state to demonstrate the
severe impact the new tax proposals would have on our state's
employers and the Oregonians who work for them. Unfortunately,
our concerns have gone unheeded and it looks as though these
increases, which will result in the state's largest business
tax increase ever of roughly 40 percent, will be enacted.
With Oregon
topping the list in personal taxes and increasing business
taxes, what does that mean for economic development in Oregon?
How can we recruit more employers to this state and our region
with such a severe tax structure? How can we expect our existing
companies to invest the funds necessary to restore some of
the thousands of jobs lost this last year if they face paying
steep tax bills even in years when they aren't making money?
Bottom line: this isn't just going to hurt business; it is
going to hurt the Oregon families that depend upon business
jobs for their livelihood.
The Alliance,
in partnership other state business organizations, have argued
four consistent points that we believe our critical to a long-term
solution.
- The
state government must cut their budgets before looking to
raising taxes. Businesses and individuals have had to
cut costs to survive this economic downturn. False claims
by our legislature leadership of cutting $2 billion in spending
are sorely disappointing. Their definition of a cut is to
not spend a projected revenue increase - that is funny math
that Oregonians know is not a real cut.
- The
legislature's choice to tax corporate revenue with no regard
to profits is a losing proposition. When employers cannot
operate profitably they reduce head count. Increasing a
company's taxes on revenues is an added expense that will
lead to more lost jobs. This does not solve the budget problem
but adds to it.
- All
Oregonians are in this situation together and we need to
rely on everyone to pull us out. If the legislature
chooses to raise taxes it is important that we all share
in the burden. Everyone should help in proportion to his
or her ability. Imagine 100 Oregonians in a boat together
and it is taking on water. The notion that a large bucket
is handed to one person to bail out water while the other
99 people watch is not an effective approach for a situation
that affects everyone.
- Any
tax increase must be temporary. Instituting permanently
higher taxes on individuals and companies damages private
enterprise. We must never forget that businesses are employers
- they create jobs. Employers are the fuel that feeds the
economy by creating jobs. We must create a healthy environment
for our employers not squash it.
As a strong
business advocate, it has been very difficult for me to watch
this crisis unfold and then to see the state legislature make
significant changes in our business tax structure because
of it. The decisions that our elected leaders are choosing
will shape the future of our state for many years.
Clearly,
we have more work to do educating elected officials about
what makes a healthy business environment and what a healthy
business environment means to the overall health of our state
and Oregon families. I hope you will continue to support the
Alliance and our efforts to make the value of business known.
Back
to the top
2.
New business, personal income taxes pass House, Senate
This
week, the Oregon House of Representatives and Senate
passed a set of tax packages that will make permanent
changes in Oregon's business and personal income tax
structure. The Alliance has been working on behalf of
its members in Salem on these issues, and has joined
forces with every major business organization in the
state to strongly oppose these changes.
"We
have been telling lawmakers that the Legislature should
not be making permanent and sweeping changes to Oregon's
tax structure at the height of the recession, when companies
are struggling to keep Oregonians employed," said Portland
Business Alliance board chair Steve Holwerda.
The
bills, which together would raise an additional $765
million from employers and individuals during the 2009-2011
fiscal biennium, passed out of the Joint Ways and Means
Committee late Friday. The Alliance expects them to
come up for a vote in the House early this week. The
Alliance has been urging members to call their respective
legislators as well as leadership of both houses and
tell them what these changes mean to their business.
More
details about the proposed increases >>
3.
Alliance COO Pam Knowles wins race for Portland School board
On
May 19, Pam Knowles, Chief Operating Officer and General
Counsel for the Alliance, won the Zone 5 seat on the Portland
Public Schools' Board. Pam will start her four-year term
on July 1. Pam will be working with the six other board
members to develop a means of providing stable adequate
school funding, lower the drop out rate, support the professional
development of teachers and principals and ensure equity
in programs and services across the district.
She
joins Alliance members David Wynde from U.S. Bank, Dilafruz
Williams from Portland State University and Martin Gonzalez
from Trimet on the school board.
Back
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4.
Leadership Portland graduates 2009 class, two classes set
for 2010
At
the Leadership Portland graduation in early June, the class
of 2009 demonstrated their strong commitment to the success
of the Portland region through their community service project
presentations. The program, which graduated 35 business
and community leaders, refines and develops participants'
leadership skills through participation in interactive exercises
and a challenging curriculum. For a 2009 class list see
sidebar.
The
class participants are required to complete community service
projects that tackle a specific challenge that exists in
the region. The class divides up into teams, identifies
a need within the community and aligns themselves with a
community partner to work on a project that betters the
community. Project highlights include:
-
Helping
71 children served by the Boys & Girls Club of Portland
with the Children's Health Fair, to get access to dental
care with 20 receiving dental work.
-
Working
with Hands on Greater Portland to mobilize more than 100
teenagers to volunteer in the community.
-
Producing
a marketing project for Open Meadow, an alternative education
program for middle and high school students in the Portland
area.
-
Creating
a program for Young Entrepreneurs Business Week (YEBW)
students that teaches them how to create and execute a
business plan.
-
Developing
a professional network of contacts for the Village Gardens/Food
Works program.
-
Expanding
Friendly House's Art Therapy program in partnership with
Marylhurst College's art therapy program.
The
success of the program over the last seven years has led
to an increase in demand for the program, which is why the
2010 class will actually be two classes of 25 participants.
Learn
more about the program >>
Back
to the top
5.
Business community saves Washington Park Concert Series
With
an initial gift of $50,000 by civic and business leader
Gordon Sondland, the CEO of Hotel deLuxe and Hotel Lucia
and co-principal of the Sondland Durant Foundation, a request
went out to the business community to raise the other $50,000
to save this summer's Washington Park Summer Festival. Businesses
responded in record time with more than the necessary funding.
Pat
Vogal from Pacific Power and Roger Hinshaw from Bank of
America immediately joined the effort to save the concerts
and helped raise the necessary funds. Their fundraising
efforts were so successful that the city now has dollars
for the 2010 series as well.
"We've
had an extraordinary response," Commissioner Fish said.
"The support from these businesses and individuals demonstrates
how important saving this much-loved Portland tradition
is for our community, especially in these tough times. This
is an example of what the best kind of private/public partnerships
can achieve."
The
successful fundraising effort will enable Portland Parks
& Recreation to present the Festival during the first two
weeks of August, continuing the 60-year tradition, free
of charge for the community to enjoy. More
about the summer concert series >>
Back
to the top
PUBLIC
POLICY
6.
Alliance convenes a land use task force
The
Alliance recently formed a task force to consider several
upcoming and important land use planning decisions that
will impact the region and city.
"Land
use is a very complex issue with many stakeholders who
at times can have competing agendas," said Steve Clark,
Publisher and President of Pamplin Media Group.
"There
are many important land use issues coming up in the near
future. For example, Metro is working with local governments
and stakeholders to consider designating areas outside
the present urban growth boundary as protected urban or
rural reserves. "These choices will stand for up to 50
years and shape our region's future. Meanwhile, the City
of Portland will be working to revise its comprehensive
plan and also advance complex planning for the future
of the Willamette River, including adjoining land uses."
The
committee will be looking at how each of these issues
impact jobs and our region's ability to grow native business
and recruit new employers. Through this process, the Alliance
wants to understand and communicate where land use decisions
will have potential impacts to the region's business and
overall community. Additionally, the Alliance hopes to
have an appropriate role in these discussions and help
influence upcoming decisions.
"We
also hope to serve as a facilitator in helping diverse
voices and competing interests find common ground," said
Clark.
The
task force's first assignment was to review and comment
on Metro's proposed renewal of the Construction Excise
Tax. The task force found that the Construction Excise
Tax should be renewed under the conditions that funds
generated by the tax should:
-
Improve
the region's ability to generate and sustain employment
and prosperity;
-
Increase
the predictability of development and the availability
of readily developable land that responds to real time
market needs;
-
Provide
for planning in Urban Reserves and areas recently added
to the Urban Growth Boundary that lack the ability to
directly generate planning resources through development
taxes and excises; and
-
Emphasize
the planning, development and preservation of employment
lands, particularly those associated with traded sector,
manufacturing and port-related facilities.
7.
Alliance working on urban renewal investment on downtown's
west side
The
Portland Development Commission (PDC) and the Mayor's office
recently launched the Potential Central City Urban Renewal
Area Evaluation Committee. Sandra McDonough, Alliance President
& CEO, serves on the committee, along with several Alliance
members.
The
committee is evaluating additional urban renewal investment
in the west side of downtown Portland and will make a recommendation
to the PDC by fall, 2009. If the decision is to proceed,
recommendations will be the foundation of a new urban renewal
plan.
The
Alliance is advocating for urban renewal to continue as
an important job creation and economic development tool
in the central city and as an opportunistic, ongoing investment
tool for the downtown retail core. If you have thoughts
you would like to share about urban renewal in Portland,
please contact Carly Riter at criter@portlandalliance.com
or 503.224.8684.
DOWNTOWN
SERVICES
8.
More BigBelly solar trashcans coming to downtown thanks to
partnership with city
 The
City of Portland and the Alliance joined together to increase
the number of solar-powered trashcans downtown. Two of the
units, called BigBelly Solar, are currently on Portland streets,
but 10 more units are on their way thanks to a partnership
announced at Portland City Council in May.
Greg
Goodman of City Center Parking who donated the original two
is donating eight more units and the downtown Business Improvement
District is donating two more.
"With
the summer festival season upon, you can really see the value
of these solar-powered trash cans," said Goodman. "Overflowing
trash, which can get into our streams and rivers, and the
increased number of trips by the garbage haulers means more
emissions in the air. With BigBelly, trash collections are
reduced by 80 percent and more garbage can fit in the container."
The
Alliance has set up a program through their Charitable Institute
to facilitate the donation of BigBelly units to the City of
Portland. The city will then maintain the units. More information
about the new program and how to donate and sponsor a BigBelly
can be found at: www.portlandadoptabelly.com.
Each
public garbage can requires an average of five garbage truck
visits per week; BigBelly receptacles, however, require about
one. This decrease in truck pick-ups in downtown Portland
could ultimately result in 25,000-pound reduction in CO2 emissions
if all cans were converted. Additionally, BigBelly units can
be ordered with a recycling compartment, which would enable
street level recycling that is not currently available on
city streets.
The
Portland Business Alliance will be working with businesses
to donate more units. If interested, contact Lisa Frisch at
503.224.8684.
Back
to the top
 9.
Alliance's 2009 Dining Guide now available
The Alliance's
2009 Downtown Dining Guide, listing all restaurants in the
I-5/I-405 loop, is printed and 50,000 copies will be distributed
to downtown businesses by the Sidewalk Ambassadors over the
summer. If you want copies, please contact Lisa Frisch at
lfrisch@portlandalliance.com.
Back
to the top
MEMBERSHIP
SERVICES
10. Green
Hour June 24: Portland State University, Video Presence
The
Alliance's popular Green Hour event is taking place on June
24 at Portland State University and will feature a technology
company called Video Presence. The Green Hour will not only
highlight what the university is doing to push the sustainability
envelope, but will show attendees how technology can make
their businesses leaner and greener. Wednesday, June 24, 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer
Science Atrium, 1930 SW Fourth Ave. Space is limited -
preregistration is required. Register
Now >>
Back
to the top
11.
Connect on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blog
The Alliance
is using social media to better communicate with you and to
help you network with more people in the region's business
community. Follow the Alliance on Facebook,
LinkedIn
and join in the discussion on the Alliance's
blog about critical business issues and resources.
Back
to the top
12. Member
discount of the month: El Hispanic News
Looking
to market to your current and potential customers in Portland's
growing Hispanic community? Then take advantage of Alliance
member discounts and receive 20 percent off your first ad
in El Hispanic News. Login to Members
Only to learn more about this great discount!
Back
to the top
ALLIANCE
EVENTS
13.
June Forum: Universities Unite! - June 17
Learn
what the Beavers, Ducks and Vikings are doing together and
how they are putting Oregon on the cutting edge of higher
education nationally. Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 a.m. to 8:45
a.m., Governor Hotel.
Register Now >>
Back
to the top
14. Women's
9-Hole Golf Scramble - June 25
Ladies,
bring your clubs and welcome in the summer golf season at
the Portland Business Alliance's Annual Women's Golf Scramble.
Includes beverages, lunch and prizes for the top finishers,
KP and long drive. Thursday, June 25, Colwood National Golf
Course. 7:30 a.m. - registration, golf clinic, continental
breakfast. Shot gun start at 9:00 a.m. Some sponsorship opportunities
are still available. Register
Now >>
Back
to the top
15.
Business After Hours @ Inn at Northrup Station - July 8
Enjoy
appetizers, beverages and networking at one of Portland's
favorite boutique hotels, located right on the streetcar line
in Nob Hill. Wednesday, July 8, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Register
Now >>
Back
to the top
MEMBER
NEWS
16.
CH2M Hill named to Fortune 500 for first time
In the
latest edition of Fortune Magazine, CH2M HILL is not only
listed in the Fortune 500 for the first time in its history,
but is also prominently featured in the magazine. Read
the article >>
Back
to the top
17.
Liberty Northwest to sell workers compensation insurance through
independent agents
Liberty
Northwest recently announced that it has sold the renewal
rights for most of its direct-sold workers compensation policies
written in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Going forward, it will
sell its new workers compensation policies, as well as all
of its other lines of business, exclusively through independent
agents. To ensure service continuity and consistency for its
customers, Liberty Northwest has entered into definitive agreements
to sell these policy renewal rights. More about this change
can be found at: libertynorthwest.com.
Back
to the top
18.
Pacific University picks new president - Dr. Lesley M. Hallick
Dr. Lesley
M. Hallick was recently named the 17th president of Pacific
University. Pacific University alumna and Trustee Mindy Cameron
'65 chaired the Presidential Search Committee and made the
announcement before a crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni
and community members. Hallick will begin serving as Pacific
President on August 1, 2009, succeeding Dr. Phillip Creighton,
who has served as president since 2003.
Back
to the top
19.
Special offer for Alliance members to Oregon's famed pinot
event!
The
23rd annual International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) will
host over 60 premier Pinot noir producers from around the
world. IPNC guests will spend three days tasting exceptional
wines, savoring unforgettable meals, and learning and celebrating
with luminaries of the food and wine world. Alliance members
get a special deal: 1 IPNC Full Weekend ticket + 6 bottles
of special Oregon Pinot Noir for $975. Details: July 24-26,
2009, on Linfield College campus in McMinnville, Oregon. To
register and for lodging information, please visit www.ipnc.org
or call the IPNC office at 800.775.IPNC.
Back
to the top
20.
Resort at The Mountain completes $1.5 million in upgrades
The Resort
at The Mountain, a premier golf resort located on the western
slope of Mt. Hood, recently celebrated the completion of $1.5
million in upgrades and improvements on Foxglove Nine, part
of The Courses historic 27-hole golf club which is undergoing
a $3.7 million renovation. The upgrades include remodeled
greens, new tee boxes on holes and renovated sand bunkers,
paved cart paths and an updated irrigation system. Visit www.TheResort.com
to learn more.
Back
to the top
MEMBER
EVENTS
21.
Meet Multnomah County's new library director - June 30
A discussion
with Multnomah County's new library director, Vailey Oehlke,
about the public library's role in supporting community engagement,
facilitating learning and nurturing creativity at an individual
and collective level. Moderated by Tim DuRoche of Portland
Center Stage. Event details: Tuesday, June 30, 6 p.m. no-host
bar, light hors d'oeuvres; 7 p.m. program. Gerding Theatre,
28 NW Eleventh Avenue (Portland).
Back
to the top
22.
Climate Action Plan Town Hall - Business Focus - June 15
The City
of Portland and Multnomah County invite Portland's communities
to attend Town Halls to discuss the 2009 draft Climate Action
Plan. The draft Climate Action Plan is a strategy to decrease
local carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. Please join us
to hear about the challenges and opportunities set forth by
this action plan. Your input is valuable. Monday, June 15,
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at SOUK: 322 NW 6th Ave., Suite 200.
Register
Now >>
Back
to the top
23.
Planning the Smart Grid for Sustainable Communities - June
18
Hosted
by Portland State University, the Planning the Smart Grid
for Sustainable Communities Interactive Conference will include
PSU faculty and students, as well as other business and community
leaders and will focus on findings from, "Designing the Smart
Grid for Sustainable Communities." Details: Thursday, June
18, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The University Place Hotel &
Conference Center.
Back
to the top
24.
Relay For Life of Portland
The American
Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that
brings together more than 3.5 million people across the country
each year to celebrate the lives of those who have battled
cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back. Details:
Thursday, June 18 at 4:00 p.m. to Friday, June 19 at 10:00
a.m. at Willamette Park. Register
here >>
Back
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25.
Internet Strategy Forum Summit
Engage
with several thought-leading presenters from top companies
such as Forrester (Jeremiah Owyang!), Intuit, Xerox, Intel,
WelchmanPierpoint and more. These experts will share their
experiences and ideas on how to best leverage the Internet
and integrate it into your overall business strategy. Registration
starts at $195 (early bird) and PBA members receive 15 percent
off by using Discount Code "PBA". Thursday, July 23, 8:00am
- 5:00pm at The Governor Hotel. For complete details, go online
to www.internetstrategyforum.org/summit
or call 971-223-3838.
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26.
Upcoming Meetings
June
23, Central City Standing Committee, noon
June 24, Small Business Council, 4 pm
June 24, Government Relations Committee, 4 pm
July 8, Sustainability Committee, 7:30 am
July 10, President's Council, noon
July 14 , Transportation Committee, noon
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