Mayoral Report—2005

Beaverton Honored As All–America City Finalist

Recently, the National Civic League (NCL) recognized our Beaverton community as an All–America City Finalist in national competition. This is quite an acknowledgement for us and our entire community shares the credit. Beaverton’s success is all about you!

The opportunity for recognition is open to all cities in the United States through a specific application process and a review of the community profile by the NCL. Only thirty communities are picked as finalists. The NCL evaluates communities for their collaborative efforts, problem–solving skills and abilities to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Our overall success as a community has been our ability to jointly solve problems through cooperative efforts and broad–based citizen participation. This award just doesn’t involve the City of Beaverton but also the efforts of other agencies, businesses and motivated citizens. The entire community deserves a collective pat on the back!

The application process requires highlighting three programs or processes that were implemented in the last three years and submitting an overall detailed community profile. The NCL verifies facts, demographics and reported successes. Several hundred communities apply each year. Though we did not receive one of the top–10 slots, our success profile was similar to the overall winners.

The three programs we submitted for the competition included the opening of new Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, the formation of the City’s new Open Technology Business Center (new software business incubator) and the Christina’s Smile Charitable Dental Health Care Clinic for children. Each of the three projects was submitted under the guidelines for meeting specific community needs–and each is the bi–product of a broad–based community coalition.

For some time, the health care community has recognized that those most vulnerable in eastern Washington County have not had access to basic health care close to home. A broad–based coalition of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, Providence Health Systems, OHSU, both Washington and Multnomah County health departments, the City of Beaverton and other partners came together to place such a health care center in Beaverton. Many hands have touched this project, but the end result is that 25,000 low–income patient visits will be served annually at this clinic.

As a follow–up to a recommendation in the City’s Economic Development Strategic Plan adopted in 2000, this past year we started the Open Technology Business Center (OTBC). It is a first–of–its–kind center dedicated to supporting the formation, funding and growth of new companies in the Open Technology sector, which means the computing and business strategy of sharing core technology. It will operate, in part, like a traditional business incubator, but will also significantly enhance and build upon local strengths in this newly developing field. The Beaverton area has emerged as a leader in such Open Technologies as Linux operating systems and open source software strategies for companies. It provides office space for startups, programs to increase their expertise and other support. The Center supports development of clean industry, new companies and the creation of meaningful jobs. The partnerships include the Software Association of Oregon (SAO), the Open Source Development Lab (OSDL) located in downtown Beaverton, the State’s Economic & Community Development Department and multiple private electronics and software companies.

Finally, the Christina’s Smile Charitable Dental Health Care Clinic for children is a unique partnership with the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) charity, the Beaverton School District, the City of Beaverton and 18 local dentists, hygienists and dental assistants who donate their free expertise and time for local children that have the greatest need for dental services. In the last two years, the free dental clinic has provided $120,000 in donated services for 240 needy children. Local restaurants have donated food and refreshments for the volunteers that assist in making the clinic a success. Though only a capsule of the countless good deeds accomplished by our community, it is strong evidence that community–wide partnerships contribute to our success as an All–America City Finalist. Thanks goes to our entire community for making Beaverton a great place to live, work and play!

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