Growing Jobs in Oregon: Economic Gardening as a Model Worthy of Our Support

Despite an assertion by The Oregonian’s Harry Esteve that Economic Gardening is "untested" [Oregonian, February 4, 2012, "Fellow Lawmaker’s Pet Program is Spared"], Economic Gardening is a sustained, long-term strategy to grow jobs and create wealth by providing a suite of services to high potential second-stage companies. And it is a strategy that is gaining traction across the country and in Oregon.

States and cities are learning that the most jobs come from the businesses we already have. Between 1998 and 2008, Oregon-based companies were net job creators (209,400) while non-resident companies were net job losers (-10,348). And Oregon’s smaller companies (<100 employees) were net job creators (168,829) while larger companies (100 employees) were net job losers (-19,728). (Source: National Establishment Time Series).By Valerie Plummer and Wilda ParksFull Story: http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/growing_jobs_in_oregon_economi.html