Updates on PDC's work on the activewear cluster

14 Dec '09

5 min read

o These companies employ talented Portlanders and attract people from around the world.

• Portland is an important West Coast hub for activewear:

o Pendleton, Nike, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear positioned Portland as an activewear hub drawing talent, suppliers, vendors, and other activewear firms to the Portland region;
o Activewear companies have discovered that the region serves as a living laboratory for product testing and experimentation. Oregonians have an experimental spirit and are willing to try new products from barefoot running shoes to custom hard wood bike frames. Portland companies can test consumer acceptance and demand for their new running, biking, skiing, hiking, and rain gear;
o The Pacific Northwest is the perfect playground for a workforce interested in fusing their creativity with a passion for the environment or the excitement of experiencing nature;
o The Portland region offers diverse recreational opportunities – within approximately 30 minutes of downtown Portland there are premier locations for skiing, rock-climbing, wind-surfing, surfing, and hiking, and cycling is both a competitive sport and a primary source of transportation for many commuters;
o Portland's culture of conservation and sustainability has cultivated conscientious and innovative companies who seek to meet demand in the consumer market for sustainable materials and business practices. This business model appeals to a range of designers, entrepreneurs, and workers who strive to be on the cutting edge of sustainable design and production;
o The media calls Portland a magnet for creative people, but has also recently labeled our city as a symbol of West Coast “hipness.” Hipness is an important branding element for many companies and people in this cluster5;
o Senior cluster leaders are available for mentoring emerging entrepreneurs and leaders;
o Portland is more affordable than other major metropolitan areas that offer similar amenities to firms and workers in this cluster; and
o Portland is connected with direct light rail from the airport to the city center, passenger and direct cargo flights to Asia and Europe.

How does the cluster approach allow PDC to be more effective with this cluster?

• Convening cluster leaders is allowing PDC to gain perspective on commonalities between firms and mechanisms that drive growth across the cluster. Both lead to the creation of industry-driven initiatives that serve a range of firms, instead of meeting the needs of just a few;
• The cluster development approach encourages staff to cultivate a deep understanding of cluster dynamics and strong relationships with cluster leaders. In this way, cluster development demonstrates a commitment to understanding the conditions that influence the growth of highly productive firms and to nurturing their ability to become more competitive. Cluster leaders appreciate this commitment and, in return, commit to working with PDC; and
• Finally, this approach is allowing PDC to target its investment in areas anticipated to have the most lasting economic impact for the City.

Click here to read more on Activewear Cluster report

Portland Development Commission

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