Greater Portland Pulse:The March of Progress

Rudolf ZallingerSheila MartinDirector, Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies

In the beginning…

Then we added color…

And we had color charts…WOW!!!

Metropolitan knowledge Network

Let’s all pull in the same direction!

Can we get our strokes coordinated?

Greater Portland Vancouver Indicators

Improvements needed:

• Labor intensive update process

• Outdated look

• Inconsistent geography

• Confusing organization of topics and themes

• Unused functionality

Geography

Regional focus

Consistent data across seven counties

State and national level comparators

ThemesBusiness Prosperity: Businesses have access to resources (human capital, land, transportation, and capital) that allow them to thrive financially and offer jobs to residents. 

Educated & Informed Community Members: Community members have the education and information they need to build a fulfilling life for themselves and their families.

Equity: All individuals, regardless of “markers of difference,” including but not limited to race, ethnicity, income, disability, and age, have equal privilege and opportunity to access the basic needs, services, skills, and assets required to succeed in life.

Healthy Natural Environment: Communities protect and benefit from the natural environment.

Healthy People: Community members have the resources they need to achieve and maintain sound physical and mental health.

Individual & Family Prosperity: Community members have access to resources (jobs, education, and income) that allow them to thrive.

Quality Housing: All community members have access to safe, decent, affordable, accessible, and appropriate housing as well as opportunities for wealth creation through homeownership.

Responsive Transportation System: Safe, efficient, and reliable transportation options for people, goods, and services.

Safe Communities: Community members are able to live with minimal risk of danger, injury, harm, or damage in homes, streets, schools, and workplaces.

Strong Sense of Community: Community members feel strong ties to the physical, social, and cultural community. Mutual trust exists between members of the community and public officials regardless of their demographics.

Thriving Kids: Kids have access to the resources they need to thrive, including health care, education, arts, and culture.

Themes, cont.

Indicators organized around themes

Adult Education Levels

Average Wage per Job

Employment by Industry

High School Graduation

Job Growth

Median Household Income

Migration

Per Capita Income

Population and Age

Population Growth

Travel Delay and Congestion

Unemployment Rate

Vehicle Miles Traveled

Wage Distribution

One indicator, many themes

Portland Plan Indicators

Neighborhood Pulse