Wondering how Portland will push through the down economy and grow stronger in the future? Mayor Sam Adams spoke with creative industry folk at the PAF event on March 10. He outlined his Sustainable Economic Development Strategy that details a five year plan to promote economic growth and job creation for our fair city. There are lofty goals including building the most sustainable economy in the U.S. and creating 10,000 new jobs. To do so, we (the businesses of Portland) must be leaders in sustainable job growth, sustainable way of life and inclusive prosperity that doesn’t leave anyone out from reaping benefit to growth.
Recognizing the strength of creative services industry and the subset that includes marketing, advertising, design, and interactive shops, he told those in attendance that he would travel to help local businesses grow and help gain focus on local firms pitching clients outside the city and region. He and his team are also working diligently to aid in bringing new business headquarters to Portland (read – new clients).
Currently the Mayor and his team are working on a “creative capacity” project strategy to be delivered in April. Based on what he explained, this strategy does not include creative firms and is mostly the arts (due to lack of funding and the need to stabilize the arts). However, the plan is to partner with Portland’s creative services industry to aid in – what many have longed to hear – developing a brand strategy for the City of Portland. He followed by emphasizing that the goal is to be strategic, not simply develop a logo or a look.
Our Mayor seems to get the benefit of brand development. But, it leaves me wondering, why not include the creative service industry folks in the planning now? To deliver on the brand, it’s got to be infused into and aligned with all functional areas of our city and needs to be a part of the strategy now, not simply a piece of the delivery. Just as a private sector organization must align its business and brand strategies in order to deliver on the brand promise throughout the organization, so too should government entities align city strategies and brand. If not, our fair city may miss the boat and wind up with just a logo and a look and another campaign.
Hello Kim. Ran into Erin at an event last night and came across your post this morning. I am one of the Co-Founders of Oregon Creative Industries and we have been working diligently with Mayor Adams and his team to address your thoughts in the last paragraph. I was the one who had Sam comment on the Creative Capacity project in my question to him about our(the Creative Economy’s) efforts to collaborate now moving forward. OCI does need our community’s support – thank you much for your insights. TL
Hey Tad–
It was great talking to you last night. We are definitely all in this together, so the more we can work together the better we will all be.
Thanks Tad. Collaboration is definitely key and all the local trade organizations should work together along with OCI. If I can lend a hand in OCIs efforts, let me know. Creative services industry is an important piece of Portland economic engine and it would be a shame if we didn’t get a seat at the table.