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Enhancing Portland's Business Environment: A Public - Private Enterprise
June 27, 2008, City Club of Portland
Comprehensive Report (PDF): http://www.pdxcityclub.org/system/files/reports/Business_Environment_2008.pdf
Prosperity in Rural Communities
Economist Andrew Isserman (isserman@uiuc.edu) has an interesting study identifying what makes for a prosperous rural community. He uses low high school dropout rates, availability of jobs, low poverty rates and decent and affordable housing as measures of prosperity. Very interesting summary of what matters most in this report:
http://www.ace.uiuc.edu/Reap/Isserman_PP_071021.pdf
Community Economic Development Institute
"The Community Economic Development (CED) Institute is the only institution of its kind in a Canadian university. It is a vehicle for focusing research within Cape Breton University on community economic development issues. "
http://www.uccb.ca/ced/
902-563-1467
ced@capebretonu.edu
Oregon Progress Board
Click here to download the "Achieving the Oregon Shines Visions Highlights" report published in April 2007: Download
The Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
a comprehensive look at wealth, poverty and the financial security of families in the United States. The Scorecard assesses the 50 states and the District of Columbia on how well residents are faring and what states can do to help residents build and protect assets.
Created and managed by CFED http://scorecard.cfed.org/
Oregon Report from The Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
What Oregon Can Do
There are many policies that Oregon could enact to improve its climate for asset building and preservation:
EXPAND THE REFUNDABLE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT: To help low-wage workers afford food and other needs, Oregon should increase the value of the Oregon credit to 18% of the federal credit.
REMOVE REMAINING ASSET LIMITS FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS: To encourage savings and employment, Oregon should remove restrictive asset limits in public benefit programs.
PROMOTE AND PRESERVE HOMEOWNERSHIP: To increase homeownership rates and prevent foreclosures, Oregon should ensure access to foreclosure prevention services and safe, affordable mortgage products.
Overall Grade: C
http://scorecard.cfed.org/state_data/oregon.php
Washington Report from The Assets & Opportunity Scorecard
What Washington Can Do
There are many policies that Washington could enact to improve its climate for asset building and preservation:
INVEST IN MICROENTERPRISE: To boost its low rates of microenterprise and small business ownership, Washington should make small business capital more widely available through microloan programs, restore funding for Individual Development Accounts and invest in training for microentrepreneurs.
PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP: To lower the cost burden shouldered by homeowners and increase the homeownership rate, especially among lower-income Washingtonians, the state should do more to support first-time homebuyers and ensure that prospective homeowners can access safe, affordable mortgage products.
PROTECT CONSUMERS: To reduce the credit card and installment debt burden of its residents, Washington should enact policies to take a stronger stance against payday lending and other usurious practices that harm consumers.
Overall Grade: A
