More from Oregon

More word has come from the contingent traveling through the Hillsboro, Oregon area. After the photos read a travel log sent in around midnight by ARCC President and CEO Todd Shimkus.

Visiting the Civic Center.



Touring the Cultural Arts Center.


A discussion with corporate executive.

Photos taken by Todd Shimkus


Our delegation toured Sun Microsystem's Hillsboro facility. We then traveled throughout Hillsboro by tour bus with Mayor Tom Hughes. On every street and block it seemed, he pointed left and right and shouted out the name of a technology related company located there. In many cases, it was difficult to see the company due to the landscaped berms placed strategically to block the view of the building and parking lots from the cars and pedestrians using the streets and sidewalks. The sheer number and diversity of these companies as well as the size of Intel's various chip fabrication facilities was eye-opening.

Earlier in the day, we met with the Hillsboro School Superintendent. This school district and many others in Oregon were transformed in 1996 when the State passed a law requiring consolidation of local school districts. Through these new economies of scale and the obvious presence and assistance of area technology companies, these schools now all have state-of-the-art technology, new buildings, and an extraordinary commitment to a continuing business, school and community partnership.

We met with officials from Portland Community College on their Rock Creek Campus in Hillsboro. They too have specialized programs in bio-sciences and micro-electronics to train the region's growing workforce. They also maintain a very vibrant agricultural program including a working farm to ensure the continued preservation of farmland throughout the region as required by the comprehensive zoning put in place years ago.

Please know that we've only touched the tip of the iceberg regarding what our 19-member three county delegation learned from this extensive Intercity Visit. We are forever grateful and appreciative of the time, work and facilitation done by Deanna Palm, President of the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Tom Hughes. They've become friends and advisors with whom we hope to continue this very dynamic and enlightening dialogue.