Westside Economic Alliance

Portland General Electric, one of our longest standing members, is hiring two key Government Relations positions (one in Washington County and one in Clackamas County). Work with PGE and partner with WEA. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/grK4nuib

Learning can be fun! A few weeks ago some WEA Board members, staff, and partners met up just west of Banks to learn about the progress on the Salmonberry Trail. Salmonberry Trail Foundation aims to restore an 82-mile trail that, when completed, will connect Banks to Tillamook. Executive Director, Caroline Fitchett, took the group for an informative walk up to the Williams Creek Trestle where volunteers had been actively clearing sections of the trail from invasive species. We learned about what benefits the trail would bring to Oregon in terms of recreation, tourism, interconnectivity, and more. After seeing the progress being made on the trail firsthand, the group closed out the Fun Day by visiting one of the local wine makers in the area, Apolloni Vineyards, for snacks, wine, and a tour of their wine cellar. Thanks to our friends at the Salmonberry Trail Foundation Trail, Dave Parulo of Explore Tualatin Valley and Laurine Apolloni and her amazing staff at Apolloni Vineyards, for making our Summer Board "Fun Day" so memorable!

Another day. Another important regional effort. #Westside #JoinWEA #infrastructure #CleanWater

Westside Economic Alliance was honored to have our Executive Director, Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, emcee the opening of TriMet’s Red Line extension. A Better Red extends MAX Red Line service east to the Hillsboro Airport/Fairground station, and made significant infrastructure and service improvements to the Gateway/PDX portion of the line. Jump on and you can grab a one-seat ride from Hillsboro to PDX and back. A thriving economic region relies on smart transit investments. Kudos to our member, and partner, TriMet. Federal Transit Administration Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool , TriMet General Manager Samuel (Sam) Desue, Jr. MBA Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, City of Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway, City of Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty, Port of Portland ‘s Chief Public Affairs Officer Dave Robertson, Oregon Department of Transportation Transit Administrator Suzanne Carlson, Portland Bureau of Transportation Director Millicent D Williams, Centro Cultural de Washington County Policy Director Nansi Lopez.

Earlier this week Westside Economic Alliance was thrilled to join our friends and partners in celebrating the opening of the Port of Portland’s new terminal. Congratulations! It is so much more than a pretty space, it is a signal to ourselves - and the world - that Portland and our region never went anywhere. We can still do brilliant, well-thought, beautifully executed public projects that reflect who we are and where we are going. Kudos to the Port and yay for the rest of us who get to enjoy it. #PDX #travel #business #Westside

Yesterday in our regular newsletter our Executive Director, Elizabeth Mazzara Myers, addressed some recent coverage of Portland, and Oregon, in the NY Times. Here's what she had to say. "Portland in the NY Times & Why WEA Cares Back on June 15 Oregon-born journalist Nicholas Kristof wrote an opinion piece in the NY Times and asked the question, "Why put liberals in charge nationally when the places where they have greatest control are plagued by homelessness, crime and dysfunction?" He makes the case that the?issues we are currently facing here in Oregon is the result of liberal governance in West Coast cities and states. What his opinion piece failed to do was to give an honest assessment of the work that has been done to address some of the challenges we currently face. In response to Krisrof,?Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler wrote to the Times?(second piece on the page) to point out the important work being done on the ground in Portland to address some of the issues highlighted. Why does WEA care enough about the woes of Portland to feature this op-ed response in our newsletter? Because we function as a three county, regional economy. And our problems don't care about city or county borders. When Portland is under attack by the national media as a 'liberal dumpster fire' or Oregon is under attack for 'failed policies', that has an impact on business recruitment and retention. And it is important that we lean into efforts to correct the perception that we are a failing state or region. When we talk about Westside Economic Alliance working to create a vibrant economy on Portland's Westside, we are by definition in a relationship with the City of Portland itself. Yes, maybe we do things a little different on the Westside, but it only harms our chances of realizing our goal when we dismiss the good work being done to help cement smart and pragmatic policies and programs by our neighbors. Kudos to Mayor Wheeler for standing up for the good work. There is a lot more work to be done. But, together, I am confident we will find solutions that will work for our tri-county region."

As Westside Economic Alliance leans into the conversation around transportation revenue models and afternoon joining the 6th Annual Business Leaders Regional Transportation Summit seemed a good way for our Executive Director to spend a rainy Monday afternoon. Columbia Corridor Association, Identity Clark County, TriMet, Portland Metro Chamber, Black Business Association of Oregon, Interstate Bridge Replacement Program #Transportation #odot #TriMet #Transit #KeepOregonMoving #Westside #JoinWEA

Come work with me and Elizabeth Mazzara Myers!

We are excited to announce we are hiring for a newly created position: Executive Assistant & Committee Coordinator. We are looking for someone to bring their eye for details and excitement for working in person and at events with us. Are you ready to learn more about regional policy? Do you care about regional growth and prosperity? If so, maybe this job is for you! Visit www.WestsideAlliance.org for more information and instructions to apply. #hiring #Westside #transportation #landuse #housing #housingproduction #advocacy #business #regionalgrowth

Every six years, Metro Regional Government issues a report that provides a growth forecast to ensure there is enough land for 20 years of growth. The land inside the boundary must be available for production of housing, employment lands and retail areas. WEA has been actively engaged in the conversations leading up to the production of the report, which will issue at the end of June. The public will have the opportunity to review the report and submit comments during the month of July. Westside Economic Alliance members are welcome to join us on Thursday June 6 at our Land Use and Housing Committee as we get an update from Metro staff on where they are in the process and what comes next. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ghwCkxsx #LandUse #Growth #Business #UrbanGrowthBoundary #JoinWEA #Westside