Archives

July 22, 2011 - Kitzhaber signs higher education restructuring bill

By Portland Business Alliance, A significant step forward was made for Oregon’s economic future. Governor Kitzhaber, joined by Senators Mark Hass and Representatives Tobias Read, Mike Dembrow and Mark Johnson, signed into law Senate Bill 242, the higher education restructuring bill. This legislation shifts the governance structure of the Oregon […]


July 21, 2011 - Oregon economy stuck in neutral

By Patrick Emerson Oregon Economics Blog . The Oregon employment picture looks a lot like the national one which is essentially stuck in neutral (oh, how many metaphors am I going to have to use?). The unemployment rate is basically the same at 9.4% but the real information is in […]


July 20, 2011 - Wal-Mart scoops up properties all over Portland area

Wal-Mart scooping up properties all over Portland area By Oregon Small Business Association Walmart has been prolifically purchasing properties in the Portland Metro area. Walmart plans to open as many as 17 of its smaller stores called Neighborhood Markets in the metro area where it has lacked a presence. While […]


July 19, 2011 - Clackamas turns down invasive union measure

By John Killin Associated Builders and Contractors, Pacific Northwest Chapter The North Clackamas School District deserves a big round of applause. A few months ago it looked like they might make a big mistake that could have costly consequences for local taxpayers. School board member Sam Gillispie, an official with […]


July 18, 2011 - Stark difference between big and small business in the recession

By Bill Conerly, Conerly Consulting, Businomics Small business is down in the dumps. Just compare the attitudes shown in NFIB’s survey of small business owners with the Business Roundtable’s survey of corporate CEOs: It’s always a little dangerous to compare one survey with another, but it sure seems that the […]


July 17, 2011 - 300 trade agreements wordlwide. U.S. has only 17.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has launched an ad campaign in support of expanding America’s Free Trade Agreements. The ad states that the world has roughly 300 such free trade agreements (known as FTAs) yet the United States has an FTA with just 17 countries. The ad notes that there […]


July 16, 2011 - Portable printer that fits in your pocket

With everything going mobile from computer applications, music and video, it was an only a matter of time before the final frontier was breached which is having a portable printer. A printer that fits in your pocket. It is thermal printing that does not require drying. The cost is $170. […]


July 15, 2011 - Full page ad challenges American Dream

Ad Watch: Full page American Family Insurance ad challenges American Dream By Oregon Small Business Association, The below ad was part of a series of full-page Oregonian ads by American Family Insurance.  The idea is to feature provocative question ads to lead people to their website where they answer further questions […]


July 14, 2011 - Chamber releases JOBS scorecard on Legislature

Chamber’s focus on private-sector job creation continues with release of online scorecard By Portland Business Alliance Portland, Ore. – On Wednesday, the Portland Business Alliance released its first ever JOBS Scorecard that evaluates regional elected officials on how their votes support or stymie private-sector job creation. The online scorecard reviews […]


July 13, 2011 - California Overtime Rules Apply To Work Performed In California By Out-Of-State Employees

By Tony DeCristoforo Stoel Rives World of Employment Stoel Rives, Oregon Law Firm The California Supreme Court has ruled that California’s daily overtime requirements apply to work performed in California by non-residents. In Sullivan v. Oracle Corp., three employees of Oracle who were not residents of California worked as “instructors” […]