Description

State of Business 2026

Building Tigard’s Next Chapter: Turning Vision Into Action

What’s next for Tigard and what does it mean for your business?

Join the Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce for State of Business 2026 Presented by Columbia Bank, our annual gathering of business leaders, decision-makers, regional experts, and community partners focused on the forces shaping Tigard’s economic future.

This is more than an update. It’s a day designed to give you insight you can use.

From Tigard’s new economic development roadmap and the regional economy to workforce trends, transportation investments, redevelopment, tourism, and the future of our Main Streets, State of Business brings the conversations that matter to our business community into one room.

If you own a business, lead an organization, manage a team, make investment decisions, or care about Tigard’s economic future, you should be in the room.

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what’s changing, what’s coming next, where opportunities are emerging, and how businesses can help turn Tigard’s vision into action.

Opening Keynote

City of Tigard Strategic Plan & Economic Development Roadmap

Presented by Mayor Yi-Kang Hu, City Manager Brian Rager, and the City of Tigard Economic Development Team

Get an inside look at the priorities and investments expected to shape Tigard over the next three to five years, including:

• Strategic Plan priorities
• Tigard’s Economic Development Strategic Plan
• Key projects already underway
• What success looks like over the next 3–5 years
• Opportunities for business partnership and engagement

Event Agenda

9:00 AM | Networking & Strategic Business Expo

Start the day by making connections with businesses and organizations helping move our region forward. Coffee by Symposium Coffee and Pastries by Ava's Roasteria.

9:30 AM | Opening Remarks & Building Tigard’s Next Chapter

Hear directly from City leadership about Tigard’s strategic priorities, economic development roadmap, major projects, and opportunities ahead.

10:30 AM | Regional Economic Forecast

What is the data telling us about the economy and what should businesses be watching?

Featuring:

Brittany Hjelte
Workforce Analyst serving Washington County

Matthew Insco
Branch Chief, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Gain perspective on employment, industry trends, economic conditions, and the forces affecting businesses and workers across our region.

11:15 AM | Workforce & Education: Preparing for What’s Next

Presented by Dr. Liza Morehead, Research & Data Analyst, Worksystems

Take a deeper look at our regional workforce pipeline, education and skills trends, and what the data tells us about the talent businesses will need in the years ahead.

12:00 PM | Lunch, Networking & Strategic Business Expo

Continue the conversation, build new relationships, and connect with participating businesses and community partners. Lunch provided by PNW Artisan Boards and Tigard Area Chamber of Commerce.

12:30 PM | Infrastructure & Transportation: What’s Coming and Why It Matters

Transportation and infrastructure decisions directly affect employees, customers, development, accessibility, and the cost of doing business.

Hear about projects, priorities, challenges, and investments shaping Tigard and the region from:

TriMet

Tiffany Gehrke
Principal Transportation Planner, City of Tigard

Jeff Pazdalski
Executive Director, Westside Transportation Alliance

1:30 PM | The Future of Main Streets, Tourism & Destination Development

What makes a community a place where people want to visit, shop, dine, invest, and return?

Our closing panel moderated by Congresswoman Andrea Salinas looks at the future of Tigard’s Main Streets and commercial districts, redevelopment, tourism, placemaking, and the role local businesses play in creating destinations people choose to experience.

Featuring:

Sean Farrelly
Redevelopment Manager, City of Tigard

Dave Parulo
President & CEO, Explore Tualatin Valley

Kevin Bates
Owner, Symposium Coffee and Vault & Main

We’ll close with one of the most powerful actions each of us can take to strengthen Tigard’s economy: choosing to shop, dine, visit, and support local.

2:30 PM | Closing Remarks, Networking & Strategic Business Expo

Take what you’ve learned and turn conversation into connection and action.

3:00 PM | Event Concludes

One Day. The People, Data & Decisions Shaping Tigard’s Future.

State of Business is where business, government, workforce, transportation, tourism, and economic development come together in one room.

Come for the insights.
Come for the connections.
Come to understand what’s next.

Most importantly, come because the decisions and investments being discussed today will help shape the environment your business operates in tomorrow.

Building Tigard’s next chapter takes all of us. Be in the room.