Healthy businesses create thriving communities.
My ideas for business growth in Wilsonville
I believe that Wilsonville succeeds when entrepreneurs feel confident opening a business, employers choose to invest here, and local companies can grow without unnecessary obstacles.
A thriving local economy isn’t something that happens by accident. City government should actively remove barriers, streamline processes, invest in infrastructure, and become a trusted partner to businesses rather than become another obstacle.
Create Energy and Destination Appeal
People spend money where they enjoy spending time. Wilsonville needs more activity, gathering spaces, and experiences that create consistent foot traffic and community engagement.
My ideas for key actions:
Recruit independent restaurants and experiential businesses
Activate vacant storefronts with pop-ups, markets, local makers, and temporary concepts
Increase evening and weekend programming like concerts, food truck events, night markets, and a signature seasonal festival like Boones Ferry Days
My Goal: Transform commercial areas from “places people run errands” into “places people choose to spend time.”
Become the Easiest City in the Region to Start and Grow a Business
Small businesses avoid cities that feel slow, confusing, or difficult to navigate. Wilsonville should intentionally position itself as business-friendly, responsive, and entrepreneurial.
My ideas for key actions:
How can we streamline permitting and inspections?
Assign a dedicated business liaison or concierge
Create faster approval timelines and transparent processes
Offer targeted startup support such as tenant improvement grants, signage assistance, or temporary rent support based on qualifications
Work directly with landlords to encourage flexible lease structures and faster activation of empty spaces
My Goal: Build a reputation as the city that helps businesses succeed instead of creating friction.
Build a Clear and Authentic Wilsonville Identity
Many suburban cities struggle because they feel interchangeable. Wilsonville has strong fundamentals, but we need a more defined identity that attracts residents, visitors, and entrepreneurs.
My ideas for key actions:
Develop a cohesive citywide brand centered on lifestyle, community, and quality of life
Lean into Wilsonville’s strengths: safety, family-friendliness, recreation, accessibility, and planned-community livability
Market Wilsonville regionally to entrepreneurs, remote workers, and growing businesses leaving more expensive or difficult markets
Support locally owned businesses that reinforce character and community identity
Retain existing businesses and employers by meeting with them to understand what keeps them here and how we can reinforce that.
Survey businesses that have recently closed or moved out of Wilsonville to better understand why, and what their challenges were
My Goal: Make Wilsonville known as a vibrant, connected, high-quality community where businesses and people want to plant roots long term.
More ideas.
As you can see, I’m passionate about business!
I want to see ALL of our vacant storefronts and spaces filled with relevant, successful, desirable businesses that add to our quality of life and economic vitality. How can Wilsonville recruit and keep businesses in our city?
We start by asking:
What experiences are missing from our community, and which businesses are best positioned to provide them?
1. Recruit Businesses One by One
The Wilsonville Economic Development staff should have a "most wanted" list of businesses that would strengthen the community (guided by community feedback and Council input). This is similar to how a commercial broker recruits tenants, except the city is helping make the connection.
For example:
Independent coffee roaster with a bookstore
Co-working cafe
Chef-owned restaurants
Family-friendly craft brewery
Wine bar
Ice cream or specialty dessert shop
Specialty food market
Children's play café
Roller skating rink
Maker/artisan retailer
Event/music venue
Then we should personally reach out to owners in surrounding communities like Portland, Lake Oswego, Sherwood, Canby, Oregon City, and Salem to introduce Wilsonville and invite them to explore opportunities.
2. Sell the Market, Not Just the Building
Entrepreneurs want confidence that they'll succeed. The city should create professional recruitment packets that include:
Population and growth trends
Household income
Daytime workforce
Traffic counts
Consumer spending data
Available commercial spaces
Planned development
Demographics
Success stories from existing businesses
A business owner wants to answer one question: "Can I make money here?"
The city staff should be able to make that case with data.
3. Remove Risks
Opening any business is expensive. The City can lower the risk through:
Tenant improvement grants
Facade grants
Signage assistance
Expedited permits
Outdoor dining flexibility
Shared marketing campaigns
Connections to lenders and state small-business resources
Even modest support can make us more attractive than another city. Sometimes business owners just want to feel like they aren’t going it alone.
4. Help Existing Businesses Become Ambassadors
The best recruiters may be our current business owners. We should ask successful business owners:
What made you choose Wilsonville?
What challenges did you face?
Would you recommend opening here?
Then have City staff feature those stories in recruitment materials and connect prospective business owners with local operators who can answer candid questions. Peer-to-peer credibility is powerful.
5. Create a Community Around Local Businesses
Many of our neighboring cities have business coalitions that create opportunities to get community members, visitors, and travelers alike to stop, dine, and stay in their cities. Whether it’s a Chamber of Commerce or an enthusiastic group of neighbors, I believe we can activate a community of support for our local businesses.
Invite local business owners, community members, and community leaders who are invested in the success of our local businesses to connect and form a group
Create a framework of events and marketing initiatives that drive attention and traffic to our local businesses
Identify opportunities for physical improvements, community events & promotions, and business support/mentorship
I believe that a coalition of of local business owners, property owners, residents, and community members who care deeply about the future of Wilsonville’s business environment can make an impact in our city’s culture and quality of life.