Swiss Company coming to Portland

Swiss battery-maker ReVolt Technology announced on Thursday that it had received a $5 million federal stimulus grant which the company will use to move forward on its plans for a Portland manufacturing operations and research center. Meaning jobs for our locals.

ReVolt Technology announced last September that it had chosen Portland, Oregon for its United States Headquarters, where it would eventually employ approximately 250 people in a research and manufacturing operation to develop zinc-air batteries that can be used in electric vehicles and other applications. 

James P. McDougall, CEO of ReVolt Technology, said the company had set up an initial Portland office and had began looking for a larger site.  Now, with this Recovery Act stimulus award, they are in the planning stages for their facilities for the manufacturing and research operations.  The initial planning will continue for the next few months and McDougall is confident that he will have the U.S. operational team in place in Oregon by October 2010.

What is the Future of Washington’s Economy?

Washington’s chief economist, Arun Raha, will be keynote speaker for The Columbian’s 2010 Economic Forecast Breakfast Jan. 22. The breakfast is co-sponsored by Clark County businesses First Independent Bank, The Management Group and MacKay & Sposito.

The annual event at the Hilton Vancouver Washington will feature Raha and a select group of local economic experts representing industries such as high-tech, banking, real estate and health care.

If his past events are any indication of Raha’s demeanor, his predictions will be up beat as seen in this Sept 2009 presentation.

Here are some highlights of his Washington economic soothsaying.

•It is almost certain that the recession in both the national and state economies is now over
• On the upside, a synchronized global recovery now unfolding, means exports will kick in earlier
in the cycle
•U.S. housing starts appear to have turned the corner
•Home prices  have reached a point of inflection
•Home prices in Seattle appear to be leveling off
•We are witnessing an unprecedented global recovery
•WA single family building permits are showing signs of stabilization
•The recovery in WA personal income growth is expected to be better than the nation’s

So I cannot wait to see what he says at this new conference on the . Especially in light of recent events.