1 Has the economy changed what Oregonians value?

2 Welcome Tim Hibbits, DHM Research Partner An economic survey of Oregonians sponsored by PGE and PBA Sandra McDonough, PBA President and CEO An Economic Health Checkup study for the Greater Portland Metropolitan Area Q&A

3 About Portland General Electric 4,000-square-mile operating area 821,000 customers 43% of Oregonians depend on PGE for electricity 52 cities served Working continuously to improve service to your region: More than $33 million in upgrades to Washington County, Lake Oswego, Wilsonville area over past few years New Scholls and Cornell substations and feeders ( ) $10.3 million Sunset Substation upgrades and 35kv feeders to new D1X Fab to support Intel Ronler Campus ( ) $9.8 million New Horizon bulk power substation ( ) $11 million

4 Economic development Long-term economic vitality of our region a top priority We cant be successful unless you are successful Working with WEA, government and business to: Retain and grow existing companies Attract new businesses to region Merged Greenlight Greater Portland and Regional Partners with support of Tom Hughes, Mayor Denny Doyle and Mayor Jerry Willey, and others Westside enjoying fastest job growth in the region, with 4,900 jobs added 12 month period. Intel Ronler Acres Campus

5 Jointly sponsored and funded by PGE and PBA Goal: Learn how Oregonians are responding to economy Identify their key areas of concern Survey overview

Portland-Salem Area Voter Survey: Perceptions of and Priorities for Economic Opportunities and Development February 2011 Portland General Electric Portland Business Association

7 Research Objective Purpose: To gauge voter opinions in the Portland-Salem area about the economic and job climate in the area. This survey also assessed voter priorities and goals for future economic and job development, and where these rank against other quality of life priorities.

8 Methodology Telephone Survey o Scientific telephone survey o Conducted February 4-7, 2011 o 600 registered voters N=250 City of Portland N=250 Multnomah County (outside City of Portland), Washington County, and Clackamas County N=100 Marion County o Questionnaire length of 17 minutes o Quotas by age, gender, and area of city for a representative sample o Margin of error +/- 4.0% at the 95% confidence level

9 Key Findings General Attitudes and Awareness about the Areas Economic Climate

10 General Attitudes of and Awareness about the Areas Economic Climate

Voters are lukewarm about the general direction of things in their area. 11 Q1 N=600 Direction of the Portland-Salem Area

This lack of enthusiasm about the areas direction is linked to their economic concerns, which a large plurality considers to be the biggest issue facing the area. 12 Q2 Top Issue to AddressN=600 Employment opportunities/job opportunities38% Educational funding6% Economy conditions – general6% Too much government spending4% Education/schools – general4% Lack of government financial planning/budgeting3% Taxes – general3% Improving infrastructure such as roads, bridges, highways, etc.3% Poor government leadership2% Crime – general2% Social/community services2% Cost of living2% Nothing/none/refused2% Dont know4% Most Important Issue to Address in the Portland-Salem Area (Open-Ended)

What would you say is the biggest issue facing our area at this time? (open-ended) 13 Q2 We have a high level of unemployment and the economy is terrible. The economy. No employment and the falling prices for houses. Many people have mortgages that are bigger than the house is worth. Jobs. There are not many jobs out there that you can live on and when you do find a job, they are so far away. Jobs and income. Our state is running out of money and people arent paying taxes because they dont have an income. The economic situation and the way it affects the revenue the government gets.

Over five in ten think we are in a severe or mild recession, or worse. 14 N=600 Q14 Current Condition of the Economy in This Area

Just under 5 in 10 think their household is worse off economically than it was two years ago. 15 Q15 N=600 General Economic Condition of Household Compared to Two Years Ago

Unaided concerns about the economy are validated when asked to rank their concern for 11 issues. 16 N=600 Q3-13 Top Box (9+10) 54% 47% 45% 35% 26% 19% 24% 19% 12% 21% Current Level of Concern Over Issues Facing the Area No concern at all Very concerned

54% of voters rate their concern about the economy at the top of the scale (9+10). 17 N=600 Q7 Current Level of Concern About the Economy No concern at all Very concerned Mean: 8.3

And just under five in ten (47%) give a top concern score for creating good wage jobs. 18 N=600 Q13 Current Level of Concern About Creating Good Wage Jobs No concern at all Very concerned

A plurality thinks incomes in the area are comparable to the national average. 19 N=600 Q22 Incomes in the Portland-Salem Area are….

But when told its 10% lower than the national average, two- thirds express concern and dissatisfaction. 20 N=600 Q24 I am concerned and not satisfied that this area has a lower income level than the national average. Quality of life starts with having a good, family wage job. Having a lower average income level negatively affects the area in many ways, including making it tougher for families to get ahead economically, and lower incomes means less funding for vital programs like education. I am not really concerned that this area has a lower income level than the national average. Too many cities and places do nothing but chase the dollar and give in to business interests too easily. We are different in that respect and we have a quality of life that is second to none, and that is a fair tradeoff to make for having a lower average income level. Dont know Which Statements Comes Closest to Your Point of View?

And they point the cause at lack of economic development and job opportunities. 21 Q23 Reasons for Lower Per Person Income than National AverageN=600 Economic development/bringing in industry27% Employment/job opportunities25% Lack of high paying jobs19% High taxes11% Too much government control/infringement10% Cost of living8% Unqualified workforce5% Lack of quality education5% Decline in logging/timber industry3% Housing market in decline3% Poor government leadership3% Majority of population is rural3% Lack of manufacturing jobs in area3% Illegal immigration3% Dependence of government services3% Businesses are outsourcing jobs elsewhere3% None/nothing/refused4% Dont know9% Reasons for the Portland-Salem Area Having A Lower Income Per Person

22 Economic Development Priorities

The area electorate does not rate elected officials well for addressing their top issue – the economy. 23 Q17 N=600 Job Performance Rating of Local Elected Officials at Finding Ways to Improve the Economy

They think its more important to focus on jobs than the environment at this time, and dont think elected officials are doing that. 24 N=600 Q26/ Q27 Preferred Focus vs. Perceived Focus

4 in 10 think the actions and policies of local governments haven't made a difference or have had a negative effect on the business climate. Only 15% think theyve had a positive effect. 25 N=600 Q18 Effects of Local Government Actions and Policies Over Last Five Years

And although a narrow majority think its important to focus economic policies on bringing in larger businesses… 26 N=600 Q25 It is good to have small, locally owned businesses, but that wont cut it when it comes to creating enough family wage jobs to have a health local economy. Our economic development priority should focus on attracting, retaining, and expanding larger businesses that create large numbers of good wage jobs. This area can have a strong and sustainable economy based mainly on small, locally owned businesses. Our economic development priority ought to focus on creating more small locally owned businesses in the area. Dont know Economic Development Strategy Preferences

There are differences in opinions between Portland voters and those in the rest of the area. 27 N=600 Q25 Our economic development priority should focus on attracting, retaining, and expanding larger businesses that create large numbers of good wage jobs. This area can have a strong and sustainable economy based mainly on small, locally owned businesses. Dont know Economic Development Strategy Preferences by Area

Voters across the area have some skepticism about the need to have of large businesses to have a healthy economy. 28 N=600 Q16 48% 47% Need for Locally Based Large Businesses and Corporations

Despite their skepticism of larger businesses, they want local governments to partner with them to improve the economy. 29 N=600 Q19 Local governments ought to be as helpful and cooperative as they can with the business community, and partner with them as often as possible. Local governments ought to deal with the business community in a cautious and skeptical manner, and keep in mind that they have to regulate business and its behavior. Dont know Dealing with the Area Business Community

And they may have more trust in businesses than they do their elected officials. 30 N=600 Q21 What Entity is More Likely to be Right About an Economic Issue?

31 The Economic Image of the Portland Area

While there is agreement that the area can have a healthy economy based on sustainability and local, small businesses… 32 N=600 Q49/ Q54 In this area we are already a leader in the area of smart growth, sustainability and energy conservation. Even if our economy is not doing well now, we need to be patient and stay the course because it may take some time for our economic strategy to pay off in job growth. Here in this area, we have already shown that we can create a healthy economy that is based locally on things like bicycle transportation and tourism, coffee shops, microbreweries, good restaurants, and music and arts. Agreement Levels: Local Economic Strategies Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree

…they strongly agree that it is time to change our priorities. 33 N=600 Q51/ Q58 Here in this area we need to change our priorities. It is time we focus more on creating more family wage jobs and less on issues like bike lanes, and other sustainability issues that have gotten so much attention in recent years. The economy in this area is export driven, and we need to focus just as much on providing industrial land for development and transportation infrastructure as we do on density issues and alternative transportation. Agreement Levels: Need For Change in Local Economic Strategies Strongly Agree Strongly Disagree

34 Future Economic Development Priorities

A diverse array of factors are important to voters quality of life, with good jobs, schools rating at the top. 35 N=600 Q39-48 Importance Rating of Quality of Life Factors Not Important At All Extremely Important

Voters want the area to be associated with a good economy and quality, attractive jobs. 36 N=600 Q28-38 Preference for Area Reputation in Next Ten Years Top Tier Do not want at all Very strongly should

As well as an area attractive to small business entrepreneurs and large corporations. 37 N=600 Q28-38 Preference for Area Reputation in Next Ten Years: Middle Tier Do not want at all Very strongly should

And although culture, small businesses, and sustainability are important, they rate lower than a strong economy. 38 N=600 Q28-38 Preference for Area Reputation in Next Ten Years: Bottom Tier Do not want at all Very strongly should

Tim Hibbitts Rebecca Ball (503)

40 Q & A Follow us on Twitter at PortlandGeneral

A Check-up on the Portland-Regions Economic Health

Average Wage

Per Capita Income

School Funding

Jobs Summit Action Plan Agreement to redefine quality of life: Quality of life starts with good jobs that support families and generate tax revenues to pay for important public services like schools, parks, public safety and human services. Agreement on priorities: Improve education outcomes Improve business climate Expand employment & land supply Address tax policy issues Improve access to capital

What You Can Do Adopt a strategy to support job growth Communicate with legislators and local elected officials about the importance of job creation and retention Communicate with fellow community leaders Wear a JOBS pin!

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