he Mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon is firmly in touch with its future. Nestled conveniently on Interstate 5, just 45 minutes south of the Greater Portland Metro, the area offers a wealth of opportunity for existing industries as well as new industries that are currently in the recruitment focus of the Strategic Economic Development Corporation, SEDCOR. The area offers a natural alternative to the crowded Portland Metro Area while being strategically located in close proximity to its international resources, Portland International Airport and the Port of Portland. A recent Tri-County Strategic Assessment and Economic Profile completed by Hovee and Associates of Vancouver, Wash., highlights the area's strategic advantages of available industrial lands, location on Interstate 5, and an available and well-trained workforce. Mill Creek Corporate Center, a 650-acre industrial site in Salem is "certified" shovel ready. The State of Oregon and the City of Salem have partnered to create one of the largest, best planned industrial properties in the Pacific Northwest. Their shared goal is to develop the site as an integrated shovel-ready site that will promote economic growth, jobs, and capital commitment that will continue the momentum to drive the economy of the Mid-Willamette Region forward. In contrast to the Portland area which has limited industrial site opportunities, Mill Creek Corporate Center offers clean, well served, large sites near I-5. Other opportunities for industrial sites are also available within the area, some represented by existing facilities that are ready for redevelopment and others represented by fully served industrial sites within existing industrial parks. There is also a very strong system of industrial developers ready to fulfill build-to-suit requirements for new opportunities. Expansions within the Salem Enterprise Zone continue to drive the local economy with such companies as Garmin AT, Yamasa Corporation USA, Kettle Foods, Inc., and IMEX America completing major capital expansions and creating new jobs for the area. Salem is the Metro-force behind the Mid-Willamette Valley with nearly 350,000 people within the MSA. Business Week Magazine recently reported Salem is one of the three healthiest housing markets in the nation with median home prices increasing 16.7% in 2007. This is in strict contrast to other metro areas nationwide that are experiencing negative growth in available housing values. A Manpower Employment Outlook survey of 460 markets nationwide taken in September of 2007 said Salem, Oregon "has the strongest job market in the nation," indicating yet another asset for the area's economy. The survey also indicated that Mid-Willamette employers will "hire at a bullish pace during the 4th quarter 2007." Question: Why the Mid-Willamette Valley? Answer: Available shovel ready industrial land; a solid trained workforce; and a beautiful place to live, work, and play. Visit us at www.sedcor.com or contact us at (503) 588-6225.