Advance Portland Economic Development Strategy

At a glance

Based on uploaded (human-made) captions.

  • What: Advance Portland, the city's five-year economic development strategy adopted in April 2023, and Prosper Portland's recalibration of its work plan for the final two years.
  • Where it stands: presentation and discussion only, document 2026-360; no action. The four objectives are unchanged; initiatives are re-sorted into "recovery" (funded or ready) and "growth" (16 initiatives needing research, funding or approval).
  • Contested: councilors pushed on focus and results. Councilor Ryan wanted concrete priorities (Broadway Corridor first) and better economic analysis; Councilor Avalos said East Portland is deprioritized; Councilor Pirtle-Guiney wanted public subsidy limited to family-wage employers and local wealth building; Councilor Morillo raised commercial rents and renters.
  • Next: Prosper Portland board October 14; a new Advance Portland advisory committee convenes October 20; Council involvement in the next strategy over the coming year.

The recalibration

  • Presenters: Donnie Oliveira and Cornel Wesley, with Andrew Fitzpatrick answering on examples and wage standards.
  • Priority projects named: Broadway Corridor, OMSI district, Union Station, Lloyd Center, Moda, Albina Vision Trust and the 1803 project.
  • An online dashboard now tracks every initiative.
  • Wage benchmark cited for the enterprise zone: 150% of the county median wage, about $84,000.

Follow-ups promised

  • Contact the East Portland businesses Councilor Avalos visited; name bureau partners per objective; send storefront program data.

Sources

Discussion time

About 77 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting Minutes
2026-10-13 - City Life Committee 77

Log

  • 2026-10-13 - City Life Committee - Oliveira, Wesley and Fitzpatrick presented the update; Zimmerman, Ryan, Avalos, Pirtle-Guiney and Morillo asked about business mix, priorities, East Portland, family-wage jobs and rents. No vote.
  • 2026-09-23 - Work Session - the plan calls for a refreshed citywide economic development strategy through Prosper Portland; Ryan asked for it; no vote.