[5]Large Companies Plan to Add 1000+ Jobs in Portland
By Oregon Small Business Association
Several large corporations are entering the Portland market or expanding their local operations over the next several months, giving a boost to Portland’s economy. Though the exact number of jobs to be added is still being determined in some cases, Portland could see upwards of a thousand or more new jobs added to its economy from Aruba Networks, ShopKeep, eBay, Under Armour, CarMax, Fred Meyer and Cabela’s.
• In a sign Portland’s tech sector is gaining strength, ShopKeep recently moved into its downtown 6th Street location. Based in New York City, ShopKeep produces an iPad-based point-of-sale system for merchants. It previously operated out of a temporary office near the Lloyd District with 15 employees. Its new permanent location can accommodate as many as 100 employees, reports the Portland Business Journal. ShopKeep plans to grow its West Coast business and selected Portland as a primary outpost for related expansion.
• Aruba Networks, which specializes in wireless enterprise network infrastructure, has also targeted a location in downtown Portland to house its expanding U.S. operations. According to the Portland Business Journal, the Sunnyvale, California-based company says it will likely add 70-100 local jobs and house it sales and support, IT, and research and development functions in Portland. Aruba Networks, which intends to be in the new office by March 2015, believes the office could expand and eventually include several hundred positions.
• eBay’s quiet but steady growth in Portland may soon be taking an aggressive step forward as the online giant is making room to add 200 local jobs. According the Portland Business Journal, eBay’s Portland office helped generate $20 billion in commerce last year, roughly one-third of its global marketplace business.
In addition to tech companies, several large retailers representing diverse sectors of the economy are also expanding to Portland.
• Last year, sports retailer Under Armor indicated plans to add 20 jobs in its growing Portland office in 2014. The company is based out of Baltimore and opened a Portland office in 2014, pledging 20 new jobs at that time. Under Armor is currently on track to meet its initial job projection and is currently looking to fill new several positions.
• CarMax has officially entered the Portland market. With a store recently opened in Clackamas and one in the works for Beaverton, CarMax plans to add roughly 175 local jobs.
• Kroger, which owns Fred Meyer, has plans to add 20,000 new jobs across the country, including 1700 in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Fifty-three Fred Meyer stores operate throughout Portland.
• Cabela’s held a grand opening on September 18 for its new store in Tualatin—the company’s first store in the Portland Metro Area. The outdoor sports retailer is in the process of filling 200 local jobs.
— For more information go to Oregon Small Business Association.