Hillsboro Economic Development Council

Hillsboro Economic Development Council
Name	Hillsboro Economic Development Council
Type	Nonprofit organization
Founded	1986
Location	Hillsboro, Oregon
Area served	Washington County, Oregon
Key people	Board of Directors

Hillsboro Economic Development Council

The Hillsboro Economic Development Council is a nonprofit economic development organization based in Hillsboro, Oregon, focused on business retention, expansion, and attraction in Washington County. It works with municipal entities, regional utilities, and private firms to support sectors including semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, bioscience, and logistics. The Council engages with state agencies, academic institutions, and trade groups to coordinate workforce initiatives, site development, and incentive programs.

History

The organization was formed in the mid-1980s amid the rise of high-technology firms such as Intel Corporation and the expansion of the Port of Portland regional influence, responding to growth pressures similar to those faced by Santa Clara County and King County. Early collaborations included partnerships with Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Business Development Department, and local jurisdictions like Hillsboro, Oregon and Beaverton, Oregon. During the 1990s and 2000s the Council navigated cycles tied to global semiconductor demand, coordinating with multinational firms such as Applied Materials, Texas Instruments, and trade organizations like the Semiconductor Industry Association. In the 2010s it broadened efforts to include clean technology and medical device firms, aligning with academic partners including Oregon State University, Portland State University, and Oregon Health & Science University. The Council’s history reflects interactions with federal initiatives such as programs administered by the U.S. Economic Development Administration and state-level incentives under legislation championed by the Oregon Legislature.

Mission and Governance

The Council’s mission centers on business attraction, retention, and expansion for Washington County jurisdictions, engaging with municipal partners like City of Hillsboro, Washington County, Oregon, and regional bodies such as the Metro (Oregon regional government). Governance is overseen by a board of directors composed of executives from companies including Intel Corporation, Nike, Inc., and local small business representatives, alongside elected officials from county and city offices. Operational leadership liaises with workforce entities such as WorkSource Oregon and education partners including Portland Community College and Century High School. The Council’s governance documents and strategic plans reference state economic policy coordinated with entities like the Oregon Business Council and federal economic priorities from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Programs and Services

Programs include site selection assistance for industrial parks, permitting navigation in coordination with planning departments of Hillsboro, Oregon and Cornelius, Oregon, workforce development aligned with Oregon Workforce and Talent Development Board, and export support working with U.S. Commercial Service. Business services extend to incentives counseling related to Tax Increment Financing used by local urban renewal agencies, coordination with utilities such as Portland General Electric and Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), and connections to venture networks including Oregon Angel Fund and incubators like Minespace-style facilities. The Council runs sector-specific initiatives for semiconductor suppliers, medical device manufacturers, and logistics operators interacting with freight infrastructure such as Port of Portland and rail providers like Union Pacific Railroad. It also administers workforce training partnerships with trade unions and apprenticeship programs registered with the Oregon Building Trades and certification programs offered through Apprenticeship and Training Councils.

Economic Impact and Outcomes

Measured outcomes cite job creation, capital investment, and site development comparable to benchmarks used by entities like the Economic Development Council of Palm Beach County and metrics tracked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Council attributes retention of major employers—drawing parallels to corporate decisions by Intel Corporation and Nike, Inc.—to coordinated incentives, land-use approvals, and workforce pipelines. Economic indicators include increases in manufacturing payroll, growth in export shipments facilitated by port and rail links, and higher occupancy in business parks similar to Hillsboro Technology Center-style developments. Evaluations reference statewide impacts observed in reports by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services and fiscal assessments used by Washington County, Oregon budget offices.

Partnerships and Funding

The Council’s partnerships span municipal partners like City of Hillsboro and Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, regional agencies such as Metro (Oregon regional government), state agencies including the Oregon Business Development Department and Oregon Department of Transportation, and federal entities like the U.S. Economic Development Administration. Funding sources include membership dues from corporations and small businesses, contract revenue from local government economic development budgets, grants from foundations such as the Meyer Memorial Trust and program grants from federal agencies. The Council also collaborates with philanthropic and industry groups like the Oregon Business Council, Port of Portland, and trade associations such as the Semiconductor Industry Association.

Facilities and Properties

The Council assists with site development and marketing of industrial properties including business parks and technology campuses comparable to those managed by Port of Portland and municipally designated industrial zones in Hillsboro, Oregon. It coordinates redevelopment and brownfield projects with agencies like the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and supports infrastructure upgrades involving utilities like Portland General Electric and transportation improvements tied to TriMet and Oregon Department of Transportation projects. The organization engages brokers, property managers, and regional real estate developers similar to CBRE and JLL to position sites for manufacturing, research, and logistics tenants.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Oregon Category:Economy of Oregon Category:Organizations established in 1986