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WHO WE ARE
Forest Grove is a community of 18,000 people on the western edge of
the Portland Metropolitan Area in Washington County, the “silicon
forest” of Oregon.
We are a diverse employment center, reflecting the opportunities found
throughout Washington County. The county drives the regional economy,
significantly outpacing the region in employment growth during the
90’s.
- 50% increase in overall employment
- 50% increase in manufacturing employment, led by a 124% increase
in electrical equipment manufacturing and 65% increase in machinery
- 76% increase in services employment, including the software
industry
- 42% increase in wholesale and retail trade
- 47% increase in finance, insurance and real estate employment
While growing as a manufacturing and services powerhouse Washington
County has continued to grow as an agriculture leader in Oregon.
- Number 3 county in the state in gross farm & ranch sales in 2000
- 24% increase in covered agriculture employment during the 90’s
WHERE WE ARE
45 minutes from two of the greatest spots on the Oregon
Coast, Cannon Beach and Tillamook.
30 minutes from Portland, a dynamic urban area and one of
the loveliest cities in the country.
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WHAT WE LOOK LIKE
A self-contained rural community, also an essential member of the
thriving Portland metropolitan area.
An historic town, with more than 100 historic houses and buildings
in our town center and central neighborhoods.
A university town. The beautiful 150 year old campus of renowned
Pacific University graces our town center.
An agricultural community surrounded by nurseries, wineries, and
busy farms.
A community with vistas everywhere of the Coastal Range foothills,
rolling farmland and nearby Mt. Hood.
A busy economic center with campus industrial settings and a diverse
manufacturing community.
OUR ECONOMY
A FOUNDATION IN
MANUFACTURING & AGRICULTURE
Diversity and excellence mark the Forest Grove manufacturing
base. More than 2000 manufacturing jobs drive the Forest
Grove economy.
| Circuit board manufacturing |
Timber products |
| Wood products, custom design and assembly |
Specialty furniture |
| Plastics manufacture and custom molding |
Industrial machinery |
| Steel fabrication |
Food processing |
| Cold storage, warehousing |
Commercial printing |
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INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS
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Merix Corporation –
Circuit Boards
Named Best Managed Company in the category of Interconnect,
Passive & Electromechanical by Electronic Buyers’ News in 2000.
Named Oregon Manufacturing Company of the Year in 2000 by the
Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum. |
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SakeOne – Sake Brewery – Only American owned sake
brewery in the US. Started and growing in Forest Grove. Has
captured 90% of the U.S. premium sake market. |
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Henningsen Cold
Storage– One of leading cold storage companies in the
NW.
This family owned company started its current development in
Forest Grove in 1973. 4.4 million cubic feet of storage in
Forest Grove, 32 million cubic feet company wide in six
warehouses in five states. |
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Woodfold Marco
– Custom solutions for closings and openings including accordion
doors, interior shutters and wood roll-up windows. Started and
growing in Forest Grove. Recognized throughout U.S. as premier
manufacturer of its product line. |
AGRICULTURE HIGHLIGHTS
Number three county in state in farm and ranch sales in 2000.
Nursery crops are the #2 agriculture commodity in Oregon in sales,
Washington County ranks # 4 among all Oregon counties.
Washington County #1 in greenhouse crops, #2 in blueberries,
hazelnuts, and specialty crops, #3 in Marion and other blackberries and
wine grapes.
Oregon is second in the nation in number of wineries. Forest Grove is
the center of the Washington County wine industry. Many fine wineries
are within a few miles of town including Elk Cove Winery, maker of a
Pinot Gris wine rated top in the world by “Wine Spectator” in the last
two years.
Forest Grove area wineries share the Oregon international reputation
for premier wines. Oregon pinot noirs are the most requested pinot
noirs in restaurants across the country.
| OUR BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Infrastructure:
- A City owned electric utility with the lowest rates in
Oregon. Forest Grove Power and Light has an outstanding
reliability record with no outages in recent years.
- A water supply described as “enviable” by the City’s
consultant and includes a City owned 4500 acre watershed and
membership in a joint water commission.
- A natural gas system throughout the City, owned and
operated by Northwest Natural.
- A world class communication network from Verizon,
featuring a fiber optic network infrastructure with 100%
digital switching centers.
- A twenty year multi-modal transportation plan to
assure convenient, efficient circulation of goods and people
within the City, region and state.
Industrial and Commercial Property:
- Forest Grove offers more than 90 acres of vacant,
available industrial property, most with rail service.
- The community has a supply of built industrial
incubator space for small and medium sized companies.
The historic town center offers a good supply of
commercial and office space, much of it in restored,
historic buildings. Restoration of historic structures is
thriving in Forest Grove.
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EDUCATION IN FOREST GROVE
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
Pacific University:
| One of the oldest chartered
higher education institutions in the West. |
| Annually ranked as one of America’s best colleges by “U.S.
News and World Report”. |
| Ranked as one of the best tuition values in the west. |
| Combines a College of Arts and Sciences, a School of
Education, and a select cluster of graduate schools in the
health professions, including Occupational Therapy, Optometry,
Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies and Professional
Psychology. |
Committed to continual learning enrichment through “theory
to practice” innovations. Projects include:
| The Pacific University Berglund Center for Internet
Studies, the first nonprofit institution in the
Northwest established to explore the relationship
between community, learning, and the internet. |
| The Hewlett Fellow program established with the
Hewlett Foundation to support collaborations, teaching
innovations, and active learning across the curriculum. |
| Collaboration with the Friends of Fernhill Wetlands,
the Oregon Community Foundation, the Metro regional
government, Merix Corporation, and the City of Forest
Grove to establish the Fernhill Wetlands Research and
Education Field Station. |
| Guided the development of the Forest Grove Training
and Education Consortium to develop collaborations among
Forest Grove companies and education institutions. |
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| A founder of the Forest Grove Economic Development
Partnership with the City of Forest Grove and the Chamber of
Commerce, a collaboration to design and carry out a customized
program to enhance the economy of Forest Grove. |
Forest Grove School District:
The only school district in Oregon to earn “exceptional” ratings on 2001
state education report cards.
The only rural school district in the country with the “I Have A
Dream” program, expanding to three schools in the Fall of 2001.
Three elementary schools with dual language immersion programs.
A commitment to music education including an elementary school
strings program.
One computer for every five students, one of the highest averages in
the state.
A four year School to Careers Program including:
Dual course offerings with Portland Community College,
School based enterprises in horticulture, agriculture, nonprofit
services, and internet services,
Internships and job shadow programs.
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