On Thursday, April 17, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $100,000 in one-time funds to initiate efforts aimed at reversing recent economic trends and accelerating economic growth within the County.
The proposal, introduced by Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards in partnership with Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, will fund the creation of an Economic Development Landscape Analysis and Report. This report will inform the development and implementation of a countywide economic development strategy.
“Every jurisdiction must look closely at how to stimulate the economy and support a healthier and more sustainable future,” said Chair Vega Pederson. “We have a unique and important responsibility as the provider of social services, health services and supportive safety net services to continue building for the future.”
Commissioner Brim-Edwards noted the County’s historically limited role in economic development, explaining, “the City of Portland had the economic development strategy, while the County focused on human services and other areas.”
Still, she emphasized that the study will be part of a broader plan to retain existing businesses and ensure Multnomah County partners with all cities within its boundaries — not just the City of Portland — as well as the state, business and workforce partners, and other entities driving the region’s economic and employment growth and empowerment.
Bryan Hockaday, Commissioner Brim-Edwards’ chief of staff, presented the proposal to the Board, beginning with an overview of the economic context of the last several years.
“Economic recovery has not been consistent across industries since 2020,” he said. “Despite strong pre-pandemic growth, we have experienced volatility and stagnation since.”
Hockaday further explained that commercial lease rates are a key economic indicator. “We know that the downtown Portland corridor in particular continues to face significant challenges. This trend reflects broader issues also present in neighborhoods across the County, underscoring the need for a comprehensive, countywide approach to economic revitalization.”
The County's role in providing critical safety net services is linked to the local economy's vitality, he said. Supporting economic growth will benefit both residents and businesses, ensuring the County’s financial stability. Hockaday stressed that the County should actively support a diverse workforce, improve economic conditions, and create more opportunities for businesses and residents.
The Economic Development Landscape Analysis and Report, expected by August 2025, will inform strategies to retain and attract businesses, support workforce development, and build wealth throughout Multnomah County.
“The intent here is not just to commission a report alone, but we want to create a road map for action,” Hockaday affirmed.
He also noted that the County will not undertake this work in isolation. Rather, the County will work closely with economic development organizations and “a broad coalition of local, regional and state partners.” Those potential partners will range from neighborhood business and cultural districts to the agencies and jurisdictions with ties to the greater Portland area, including the Port of Portland, neighboring counties, and the Governor’s Office.
Board comments
In light of numerous other economic development reports that have recently been released, Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon inquired how the one being proposed to the Board would differ in scope.
Hockaday responded that the County would work with its partners to leverage existing reports and their associated information and data “so that we're not repeating anything. I want to see this effort as being additive.”
Commissioner Brim-Edwards added that most of the newer, existing economic reports primarily focus on the downtown core, and that she intends for this report to be broader.
“We know a lot of the higher-paying trade sector jobs are more in the industrial areas, outside of downtown,” she said. “While I don't represent the downtown corridor, in District 3 I have many thriving local business districts, so this effort will be much more comprehensive than others.”
Commissioner Meghan Moyer asked about the report's intended insights and potential applications for the Board. “Will it show how the County can engage in economic development within our service portfolio, or will it go in a new direction, asking if we should be putting resources into targeted types of economic development?”
Commissioner Brim-Edwards answered that the report will look to identify economic gaps and areas where Multnomah County could play a particular role.
“In Multnomah County, some of our larger parcels of land are not in the City of Portland and we ought to be putting those forward,” she said. “Part of having a County strategy is knowing what we need to put together in order for us to be competitive for projects or other employers.”
Commissioner Shannon Singleton added she “appreciate[s] the work being done on workforce development and explicitly connecting our antipoverty and ending homelessness work to family-wage job opportunities.”
She mentioned also that she and Commissioner Jones-Dixon are leading a workforce development study and suggested having further discussion on how to leverage, rather than duplicate, their respective efforts.
“We are unique in the role that we serve in our safety net services that are so critical to our community, yet all the things that are happening in the wider economic world have deep impact both on the people we serve and on our employees, as well as our ability to fund and move forward these programs,” said Chair Vega Pederson.
“It was important that we move forward with this step to recognize that we have a role to play in this, we have a voice to say in this, and we should be engaging in this as a Board and as a County.”
