According to a study prepared by ECONorthwest, a Portland-based consulting firm:
Intel's operations have a significant positive economic impact on Washington County, the
Portland Metropolitan Area and the state of Oregon.
Intel's capital spending in Oregon has had a significant and growing positive impact on the
economies of Washington County, the Portland Metropolitan Area and the state.
Intel's voluntary contributions to charitable, educational, civic and arts organizations, along
with its voluntary contributions and payments and payment of taxes to local governments,
have had a positive impact on the economies of Washington County, the Portland
Metropolitan Area and the state.
Intel has the largest economic impact on Washington County, the Portland Metropolitan
Area and the state of any single private employer.
The additional revenues received by local governments and schools from Intel greatly
exceeded the costs imposed by Intel itself.
The revenue local governments and schools receive from Intel's employees far exceed the
costs those employees and their households impose.
Oregon's K–12 schools receive revenues from Intel and its employees that substantially
exceed the costs Intel, its employees and their households impose on schools.
Intel creates high-paying jobs that strengthen the economies of Washington County, the
Portland Metropolitan Area and Oregon.
Intel output and capital expenditures provide significant additional benefits to Washington
County, the Portland Metropolitan Area and Oregon.
Much of Intel's economic impact is created when Intel's employees take their paychecks and buy
groceries, clothes, cars, and a host of other items in the local economy. Intel also affects the
economy by directly purchasing goods and services from local firms. In recent years, Intel has
purchased goods and services from as many as 2,500 Oregon companies a year, buying
everything from engineering services to silicon wafers.
In the typical year, Intel's spending will increase the County's economic output—that is, the
production of goods and services in the County—which will boost the personal incomes of
Washington County residents. The investments will maintain Intel Oregon as a premier research
and development and manufacturing site.
Potential impact of Additional Investment Under Strategic Investment Program
Local businesses, from restaurants and retail stores to home sellers and car dealers, have good
reason to look forward to more Intel investment. According to a study released in 2003 by
ECONorthwest, a team of independent consultants, Intel's annual economic impact on Oregon is
close to USD 9 billion, most of that in Washington County, and its annual payroll is USD 1.5 billion.
That helps support a lot of people and a lot of businesses, both large and small.
In early 2005 Intel said it was poised to enhance its impact. That's the conclusion of a second
report released on March 16 by ECONorthwest.
An Oregon neighbor since 1974, Intel has grown to seven campuses all in Washington County. But
its impact stretches far beyond the county into the entire Portland Metro Area and statewide.
That's because Intel has invested USD 11 billion in Oregon, employs 15,500 Oregonians and has an
annual payroll of USD 1.5 billion. Now Oregon has an opportunity to build on that through approval
of a Strategic Investment Program (SIP) agreement that would set the stage for Intel to invest up to
USD 25 billion more in Oregon.
According to the newest ECONorthwest report:
Approval of a 1999 SIP enabled billions of dollars in investment that continued during the
worst economic downturn in Oregon since 1980; absent that agreement, Oregon's
recession would have been worse.
Intel's potential USD 25 billion investment under SIP '05 would generate 1,500
good-paying Intel jobs.
Intel's potential investments would account for an annual average of 5,330 jobs in Oregon.
Intel Oregon accounts for approximately 33 percent of Washington County's manufacturing
employment and 14 percent of manufacturing employment in the Portland Metro Area;
SIP '05 would likely grow that percentage.
Over 90 percent of Intel Oregon's employees live in the Portland Metro Area where they
spend on such things as housing, groceries, entertainment, transportation services and
healthcare; SIP '05 would extend those regional benefits.
Intel employees live throughout the Portland Metro Area, including 3,576 in Multnomah
County, 9,063 in Washington County and 865 in Clackamas County; additional hiring and
investment would positively impact the entire region.
Intel's potential investments, while benefiting local economies would not require significant
additional government services, such as schools, fire and police because the investment
would be principally on equipment; at the same time, SIP '05 would add USD 7.7 million
annually to Washington County revenues.
Even with existing SIP agreements, Intel and its employees have been paying millions more
to government and the public schools than it cost to serve Intel and its employees
(USD 90 million more annually to government, USD 51.9 million more annually to public
schools).
All in all, these are some amazing numbers, all of them good for Oregon.
