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Board approves $100,000 to fund countywide economic development landscape analysis
Summary
Commissioners authorized $100,000 from contingency to commission a landscape analysis and report to inform a potential Multnomah County economic empowerment strategy focused on workforce and traded-sector job growth.
The Multnomah County Board approved a $100,000 budget modification to fund a countywide economic development landscape analysis aimed at informing a future economic empowerment strategy.
County leaders said the county has historically not led economic development and that the analysis will map current assets, gaps and opportunities countywide (not limited to Portland) to support family-wage jobs, retain and attract employers and coordinate county, city and regional partners. Speakers said neighboring counties and regional partners have dedicated economic development offices and that Multnomah County needs a strategic approach focused on traded-sector employers, industrial land readiness and workforce pathways into family-wage jobs.
Staff said the study will leverage existing reports (from Greater Portland Inc., Prosper Portland, Port of Portland and others), be informed by a task force including county leaders and community representatives, and produce actionable recommendations by August. Commissioners asked for coordination with workforce efforts and Port of Portland work on industrial land readiness and emphasized embedding workforce and equity measures in any recommendations.
The board approved the $100,000 contingency allocation by roll-call vote and directed staff to involve county departments, cities and regional partners in developing the scope and to report back with the final analysis.
