Creative economy the target of new marketing effort

By Robert M. Cook
Mainebiz Staff Reporter
www.mainebiz.biz - 5/11/10

Andrew Graham has always known that Portland is a great place to live and work, especially for people who consider themselves members of the creative economy.

Graham, president of the Creative Portland Corp., hopes that now that the group has launched its new website, www.liveworkportland.org, and marketing campaign, the Greater Portland region will attract even more creative economy businesses and professionals.

One of the biggest challenges the nonprofit organization's 11-member board of directors has faced since it was formed by the Portland City Council in August 2009 is how to properly define the creative economy, says Graham, who has owned and operated Portland Color since 1977 after coming to Portland as a college student in 1974.

Graham says the creative economy is also the innovative economy that is comprised of people with intellectual capital. He says that includes a broad range of businesses and individuals who already call Portland home -- like chef Rob Evans and Nancy Pugh, co-owners of Hugo's restaurant, clothing designer Brook Delorme, and pattern and furniture designers Angela Adams and Sherwood Hamill, all of whom are featured on the group's website with their stories on why they chose to live and work here.

According to 2002 research from the University of Southern Maine, more than 63,000 people in Maine were employed in the creative economy, making up about 10% of the state's wage and salary employment. Cumberland County is home to the largest chunk of those people, or 42%.
Graham says the corporation wants to carry the message that Portland offers one of the most welcoming and supportive communities for creative economy professionals who want to live and work in a place that features great restaurants, cultural diversity, a vibrant arts scene and many other like-minded individuals.

Graham says examples of businesses in Portland that embody the spirit of the creative economy include Idexx Laboratories, a biotechnology firm in Westbrook, the Maine Medical Center Research Institute and his company, Portland Color, that produces marketing materials for area businesses and groups to promote their events and products. Artists, software developers, website designers and anyone who creates a basic product and infuses it with creativity and intellectual capital falls into this growing economy, he says.

Creative economy businesses that make products in Portland and then export them to customers outside of the state are also importers of money back into the city, Graham says.
"The city of Portland has a personality that recognizes and thrives on creativity. This initiative of Live/Work Portland will bring this personality to life through graphic communication and a comprehensive website that will serve as a portal to the essence of life in Portland both for the creatives who live here and those interested in joining this community," Graham says.
Companies such as Fairchild Semiconductor in South Portland, L.L.Bean in Freeport and the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce have sponsored the corporation's new marketing efforts, Graham says.

The corporation was formed as a 501(c) 3 organization to encourage more creative businesses to locate in Portland. It receives $30,000 per year for its budget from the tax increment financing district established in 2009 in the downtown arts district. The group also does fundraising and pursues grants to carry out its mission. Greg Mitchell, Portland's economic development director, and City Councilor David Marshall serve as ex-officio members on the corporation.