Groundwork - March 2025

groundwork   |    noun   |     graʊndˌwɜrk

• a foundation; basis
• work that is done as a preparation for work that will be done later

Job creation, investment, a talented workforce, commercial vibrancy, and rich culture are the visible outcomes of economic development groundwork.  Often, what we see today is the product of less visible work and relationship-building done years, even decades, before.

Just as Rome wasn’t built in a day, Wilsonville wasn’t either. The city we love was not inevitable, and a thriving community in the future is also not a foregone conclusion.

Twentieth century economic development, called “smokestack chasing,” was all about landing the next big company to provide a majority of jobs and save the town’s economy. This century’s best practices, by contrast, focus on building a diverse and resilient economy by getting maximum utility from existing assets and building upon those assets to create an inherently attractive, even magnetic place that attracts top talent and high-quality development. It’s not about landing the biggest fish, where only a few benefit; it’s about accumulating many small wins that provide economic opportunity and prosperity for all residents and businesses.

Economic development is a multi-disciplinary field, so this column will cover everything from, “Why is the ___________ building still vacant?” to “How can the city bolster the tax base to ensure high quality and plentiful public services in the future?" Heck, with some encouragement we might even tackle, “Can we please get a Trader Joe’s?!”

In the coming months, this space will detail some of the groundwork being done to ensure Wilsonville continues to attract talent and investment for generations.

We also want to hear from you. Please visit Let’s Talk Wilsonville to select the topics of greatest interest to you.