Could Nike's expansion happen in Portland?
PORTLAND, Ore. – During a hearing in the Capitol on Thursday, Gov. John Kitzhaber pushed for the state's tax code to remain unchanged for Nike in the hope the company will expand in Oregon, and as he did so, the possibility of that expansion occurring in Portland began to emerge.
Nike won't confirm where it plans to expand, but it's looking good for Portland.
For economist Joe Cortright, it's not a tough equation. He confidently predicted Thursday Nike will expand in Portland, citing a national trend.
"Twitter, which was in Silicon Valley, moving into San Francisco into the downtown; Google's mobile operations are moving into downtown Chicago," he said.
And if Nike follows suit, it's to follow qualified workers.
"Young people, particularly 25- to 34-year-olds with a college degree that we call the young and restless are moving to urban centers," Cortright said.
Another sign pointing to Portland comes from KATU news partner Willamette Week. The paper reported multiple sources indicating an "undisclosed subplot to the (statewide) deal ... that "Nike is considering a major investment in Portland."
In the WW article, sources mentioned two possible sites for Nike expansion. One of them is in Northwest Portland on the Con-Way campus and the other is along the south waterfront in an area where on Thursday the Portland City Council took action to expand development.
A map from the Portland Development Commission (below) shows the area around the Ross
Island Bridge that City Council has expanded for property tax exemption.
But so far city officials haven't confirmed any talks with Nike and some people don't want those talks to happen at all, citing too much government and too many deals with big corporations.
Cortright’s answer to the concerns of critics? "Well, I think you have to look at the terms of the deal, and you have to decide whether what you're giving up is worth what you're getting."
One Nike expansion that is happening comes in the form of local startups. Nike announced plans to support ten startups in Portland that will develop technology for its Nike+ brand.
The company says this is separate from the investment it's talking about with the state, but according to Cortright and a local startup expert, it is still significant for long-term economic growth in the city.
If you would like to begin to approach decent Nike coverage you ought to read up on how Nike operates. The book titled "Who's Afraid of NikeTown?" offers a good introduction.
Nike's a corporation...its only interest is in how much money it can make.
It won't do anything unless it results in a positive income flow in some way.
Kitzhaber needs to remember that he's the governor of the entire state, not just the supermayor of Portland, and encourage Nike to expand into another area of the state. Not only is there ample area for such an expansion in the areas surrounding (not to mention far away from) Portland, there are less tax issues outside of Multnomah County to worry about.
 @xthc2012 It's a bird! It's a plane! It's SuperMayor!
That's what Sammy thinks he is.
I can see the Portland City Commissioners salivating at the possible "money" that Nike will bring to their coffers, if Nike were to go downtown. And as such, there will be more traffic in and out of Portlandia.Â
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Nike should stick to Washington County, were there are areas that they can fill just as easily.Â
 @washcomom Oh yes, because another business in the downtown area would just have such a huge drastic impact on traffic.
*where
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Kitzhaber says this needs to be pushed through in a rush because Nike's ready to go. If there is such a rush why isn't it already known where the expansion site is?
 @I812 Idiot reporters cant be pressed to think that hard !
does this mean the chinese child torture manufacturing plants will get a pay decrease?Â
 @Pixsure Syence You've seen this first-hand?  You've gone to China and documented one of these plants?  Â
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Oh you haven't? Â Then shut your mouth and get a life.
Seems to me if Nike is trying to squeeze the state on taxes, the only way Nike would expand into Portland/Multco the most business unfriendly county in the state would be with some major league tax concessions