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Port of Portland pitches East County economic roadmap, invites Wood Village to coalition
Summary
Chris Damian of the Port of Portland described a three-year East County strategy prioritizing equitable economic development, workforce hubs, industrial-site readiness (including Lot 11 and Mount Hood Community College), and transit alignment; the port asked Wood Village to continue participating in coalition work.
Chris Damian, representing the Port of Portland, presented the Port's East County strategy, a three-year roadmap to build "shared prosperity for the region through travel, trade, and economic development," he told the council. The plan centers equity, coalition building across four East County cities, and a set of early projects to produce measurable wins.
Damian said the steering committee has scored roughly 50 candidate sites and shortlisted about 10, with Mount Hood Community College, Gresham Vista (Lot 11) and Vance Park among the top locations for early work. "We're trying to be more mindful of that as an agency moving forward," Damian said, noting the Port sees itself primarily as convener and partner rather than sole implementer. He emphasized workforce development, transit improvements coordinated with TriMet, and industrial-site readiness as immediate priorities.
Councilors asked how Wood Village might directly benefit given limited in-city land; Damian suggested adjacency effects from Lot 11 and college investments would help Wood Village residents, and said federal funding windows (including Justice40-eligible census tracts and preschool-for-all dollars) make near-term coalition advocacy potentially valuable. The Port said it will continue engagement with staff and invited Wood Village representation in coalition discussions; no formal council action was taken at the meeting.
