Jobs and Businesses Boom in Downtown Portland

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Wednesday, December 03, 2014

Joanna Evoniuk, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Downtown Portland has seen an increase in business growth and employment, according to the Clean & Safe District’s 2013 Business Census and Survey released Tuesday. 

Last year, 1,917 employees and 489 businesses were added to the area, according to the survey.  

“The upward trend in employment and businesses downtown is great news for the region because a thriving Central City is essential to the region’s economy,” Ty Barker, general manager of Unico Properties and chair of the Downtown Clean & Safe District, said in a media statement. “The public and private investments in downtown over the years have made it a convenient as well as clean and safe place to do business.”

According to the survey, 94 percent of downtown workers felt the area is safe. However, survey takers agreed the impact of panhandlers and public inebriates needed the most improvement. 

Retail, construction, and technology businesses saw the most growth downtown. The biggest employment increases were in construction, wholesale, technology and information sectors. 

The Downtown Clean & Safe District conduct a survey of downtown employers every year. The group is funded by downtown property owners and managers in the 213-block district. 

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