A Visit to Silicon Forest

In just 15 years, from 1990 to 2005, Hillsboro, Oregon's population has more than doubled. It boasts a job growth rate of over 20% for the last five years. Nearly a third of its residents are under age 18. It has a median house value and a Hispanic race population as well as a foreign born population significantly above the state average. What does this say? Well, Hillsboro is not only diverse but also has a strong representation of the new generation, and people from all over the world choose to live there.

What has fueled this growth is the creation of the Silicon Forest. More specifically, the decision more than 15 years ago by Intel (a competitor to AMD) to establish a nanoelectronics industry cluster in this region. Yet all the "experts" tell us that despite this growth, Hillsboro has been able to maintain its high quality of life and to retain and attract the next generation of workers to this exceptional community.

In Warren and Washington Counties in New York, we're part of the Tech Valley initiative and to a large extent hoping to mirror the economic and some might say smart growth success of Hillsboro. One of the ways to ensure our success is to visit with officials in Hillsboro, Oregon, and to see for ourselves what worked and what didn't.

That is precisely what a delegation of local leaders from our two counties will do in late April and early May. In fact, we created this blog to give our delegation the chance to post pictures, videos, and their thoughts and observations during and after their visit so that a new community dialogue can begin. So before we leave for Hillsboro Oregon, please take a moment right now to post a question that you'd like us to ask of our counterparts in the Silicon Forest. When we get there, we'll be sure to ask your questions and to post the answers.