Green-Lighting the Local Economy

Economic development organizations and programs play a key role in promoting the economic vitality of the Portland-Vancouver region. In 2007 a group of business leaders established Greenlight Greater Portland, the first business-led and business-funded regional economic development organization in the region. Greenlight’s activities include identifying and promoting the region’s competitive advantages, including high-tech manufacturing, outdoor apparel and sustainable business clusters, and defining strategies for retaining businesses and attracting companies to the area.

On May 30, Greenlight Greater Portland’s Tim Priest and Gillian Floren will assess how well the Portland-Vancouver economic region is faring relative to nine of its west coast competitors. They also will outline the organization’s specific strategies for keeping business in the region and for bringing national and international businesses to northwest Oregon and southwest Washington. Prior to becoming Greenlight Greater Portland’s CEO in 2007, Priest served as executive director of a leading economic development organization in Washington, D.C. Floren edited and managed Oregon Business magazine for ten years before becoming Greenlight’s vice president of marketing and business retention.