The local news media has been greeting readers with some very welcome “good news” this week as fresh reports came in each day about new job growth and capital investment in Westside businesses.

A $26 million sales agreement announced Monday between Integrated Device Technology (IDT) and Alpha and Omega Semiconductors is being credited with saving as many as 275 IDT jobs at the Hillsboro production facility, which was one of the first fab plants built in Oregon using the state’s Strategic Investment Program (SIP) nearly 20 years ago.

Westsiders were also greeted with reports that Xerox will add 300 jobs in the Tigard triangle, while a small manufacturer of plastic food containers plans to in-source at least 30 manufacturing jobs for a new production facility in Wilsonville.  Trellis Earth Products announced this week it plans to spend $7 million to expand U.S. production capacity after finding it difficult to compete with import tariffs and shipping charges incurred by importing their products from China.

Each of these reports help us frame and set the context for the front page article appearing yesterday in the Community Newspapers, describing the 30-year growth trends and expansion of employment opportunities in Washington County.  The report references the latest economic indicators compiled by WEA.

These latest employment trends and demographic indicators were also referenced in the editorial that appears in this week’s edition of The Portland Tribune.

In some exciting news for younger workers, Intel’s Paul Otellini returned to the Portland region this week with members of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Otellini spoke on the PSU campus about the rising need for skilled engineers.  He said engineers tend to earn a higher wage on average and experience a lower unemployment rate than other industries, yet the U.S. is not graduating enough engineer students to keep up with U.S. manufacturers’ competitive demand.  For the full story.

Ironically, WEA’s August 25 Forum “Where do we grow from here?” was sold out due to space limitations.  Metro President Tom Hughes told the capacity crowd about the work Metro is doing in the region and how it benefits economic development.  Hughes was joined by Bill Wyatt of the Port of Portland, Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey, Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp, Don Mazziotti of the City of Beaverton, and Todd Britsch of New Home Trends. 

Wyatt said our region has a unique diamond in the rough in Hayden Island, which offers more than 800 acres of undeveloped land - acreage most regions would be eager to have.  The land has been part of the region’s industrial land inventory for years and offers deep water marine access readily served by two major rail carriers and an interstate highway, with close proximity to an international airport.  Yet developing this land has become a contentious issue between environmental groups wanting to preserve and create a wildlife sanctuary and those wanting to create jobs.

Mayor Jerry Willey of Hillsboro and Mayor Tim Knapp spoke about the opportunities they see in their cities and in this region.  With all of its scenic beauty and natural amenities, Mayor Willey described our region as being dealt four aces.  However, rather than play the cards we’ve been dealt, Wiley said our region seems to feel guilty about its good fortune and insists on putting two cards back in the deck.

To see a rebroadcast of this Forum, please see TVCTV’s programming schedule.

Later this month Senator Jeff Merkley will address Alliance members and guests for the first time at our Breakfast Forum – “Strategies for creating jobs and turbo charging the economy.”  For more details, see WEA’s website.