We like to keep it local in Portland.
It’s a trend that can be blamed on our DYI tenancies, a population full of artists and freethinkers, or maybe the remnants of an Oregon pioneering spirit. There are also artist collaboratives and “maker-spaces” dotting the city – Art Design Portland, Shop People and PCC MakerSpace, to name a few. Regardless, “Made in Portland” is a buzzword attached to locally-crafted goods and items that promise quality, innovation and a Pacific Northwest vibe.
But the trend is bigger than Portland.
Oregon as a whole out-performs all other states in terms of manufacturing output. We have industry powerhouses like Intel, Precision Castparts and ON Semiconductor driving the manufacturing sector, playing a significant part in the state’s economy and accounting for many jobs. And now Nike is murmuring about bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., even as it plans a $40.5 million expansion of its Washington County airbag factory.
According to 2012 a report from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, manufacturing jobs accounted for 10.5% of Oregon jobs statewide, compared with the national average of 8.9%. Not to mention we’re also ahead of national averages in terms of manufacturing efficiency and pay. Oregon’s average manufacturing wage was $6-thousand in 2014, compared to $46-thousand for the state as a whole.
Join us this Friday, May 20 on PRP between 1 -2 p.m. for our Biz503 episode “Made in Portland.” Co-hosts Rebecca Webb, founder of Portland Radio Project, and Cindy Tortorici of The Link will lead a discussion on manufacturing in Portland and why the industry is such an important player in the local economy. We’ll talk to local manufactures, dig into trends and data, and offer advice for those looking to make it locally.
Our guests this week include:
Bill Amos, Founder of NW Alpine Gear
Pamela Hill, Retail Experience Director at Vizwerks and Owner at House of Castellon
Sean Kelly, Lead Designer at Grovemade
Jevan Lautz, Co-Founder / Sales Director at Tanner Goods
Matt Preston of Art Design Portland
Mike Rogoway, Business Reporter at The Oregonian/OregonLive
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