Finding Oregon's common thread

Enlarge Image

People often describe Oregon as "ungovernable" because of the diversity of its communities — the "liberal" folks from the Willamette Valley, the "conservatives" from east of the Cascades as well as the great economic disparities across the State. There is, however, a common thread that runs through all of Oregon’s communities and with proper investment and nurturing it can be a source of economic strength and cohesion. The common thread is sustainability.

Let me explain. Sustainability not only embraces diversity, it depends on it. Sustainable practices, processes and products cover an enormous range of areas from traditional agriculture to the high tech world of nanotechnology. Consequently, it is an "equal opportunity employer" with as much relevance to a rancher in Burns, a nursery grower in Halsey, a timber producer in Medford, a farmer in Prineville, an architect in Portland or a high tech executive in Corvallis. By affording the opportunity for all to share in its potential for economic development, sustainability can bring all of Oregon’s communities within its framework and supporting its endeavors.

Many established Oregon-based companies or companies with a major presence in the state have a conspicuous and growing commitment to sustainability, including, for example, Nike, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Norm Thompson, a number of firms in the architecture/design sector such as Gerdling Edlen and ZGF architects; and firms specializing in regional and urban planning.

There are also many new businesses or clusters of businesses emerging or transforming as a result of a sustainability orientation. Examples include:

• · The natural foods cluster, with organic and sustainable farming (e.g., Stahlbush Farms, County Natural Beef, Deck Family farms), numerous food processors (e.g., Nancy’s Yogurt, Norpac) and food distributors (e.g., Organically Grown Inc., Duck Delivery).
• · The renewable energy cluster (e.g., Cascade Biofuels, Energy Outfitters).
• · Green building products manufacturers (e.g., Potlatch Company, Timber Products Company).
• · Ecosystem service and/or restoration firms (e.g., Dave Evans and Company).

Small and medium sized businesses — the main engines of our economic growth — are the most likely vehicles by which sustainability services and products will stimulate economic development in Oregon. They also provide an economically diverse foundation; the best buffer against the kind of fluctuations that are currently rocking our Oregon economy.

Economic success in creating and providing sustainable services and products is intimately linked with the capacity to innovate. Sustainable development will depend on research and development breakthroughs on a number of key issues. Succeeding on these will require that we pull together resources from all parts of society — providing the common thread noted above.

Higher education prepares most of the professionals who develop, lead, manage and teach in society’s institutions. Part of the job of higher education is to prepare the future’s workforce for the challenges and opportunities that will be faced.

For economic development in sustainability, higher education needs to produce a workforce that 1) meets the demand in companies to transition to a sustainable business model; 2) fills the growing need for people with strong skills in a discipline but able to make lateral connections across disciplines; and 3) produces entrepreneurs with start-up companies and new technologies. Oregon’s universities are the leaders in much of the innovation around sustainability.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski has supported many sustainability initiatives. One of them is our program called The Oregon Sustainability Experience which brings together business, academic, not-for-profit and government expertise to share our knowledge and experience with others from around the state and around the world that Oregon is at the cutting edge of sustainability.

A state as diverse as Oregon can indeed speak a common language and find common cause. Let’s hope our next governor will continue to support such efforts and seek out opportunities demonstrate how sustainability is an economic development opportunity for all the citizens of Oregon.

Susan H. Bragdon, among other things, is the Director of the Oregon Sustainability Experience, www.theoregonsustainabilityexperience.org.