Many communities in the Pacific Northwest are still recovering from the Great Recession. The emerging Marine or “Blue” Economy presents promising opportunities for economic growth in the form of BlueTech innovations and maritime-related job creation. A Blue Economy based in the Pacific Northwest embraces a development model that is not only sustainable but also resilient. The Blue Economy capitalizes on specialized local assets and renewable ocean resources—all sourced from the abundant coastal capital and related businesses and infrastructure that make the Northwest a spectacular and productive place to work and live. The NW Marine Technology Summit, to be held in Newport, presents a unique forum where economic development, policy, education, and business leaders from across the NW—and beyond—will convene to strategize about next steps for developing our Blue Economy. The Summit convenes at the Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn on October 20th-22nd in Newport. On Tuesday, October 21, the conference will host a panel in the morning providing a comprehensive look at the state of Oregon’s Marine Economy. It will include a presentation on the state’s investments in its marine economy by Rep. David Gomberg, a presentation on developing the state’s workforce by Agnes Balassa, Workforce Policy Advisor in the Office of Governor Kitzhaber, and a presentation on the Yaquina Bay Ocean Observing Initiative by Caroline Bauman, Executive Director of the Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County. The panel will also include a presentation on Oregon State University’s Marine Studies Initiative by Bob Cowen, Director of OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center, as well as a presentation on Clatsop Community College’s United States Coast Guard accredited training program for at-sea operations by Chris Jacobsen. Michael Jones of San Diego’s The Maritime Alliance will deliver a Keynote Address on promoting BlueTech and Blue Jobs during the lunch hour on Tuesday, October 21. San Diego’s success in cultivating its marine sector, and Jones’ firsthand involvement in facilitating that process, can serve as a model for similar efforts in the Northwest. Additionally, Jones will lead a panel later in the day on promoting BlueTech in Oregon. This panel will link the topics of R&D and tech transfer, policy (presented by Senator Arnie Roblan), education (presented by Bob Cowen of OSU), and private industry (presented by Capt. Rick Williams of Leidos Maritime Solutions). Creating Blue Jobs in the Northwest involves a strategic combination of vision, policy, and leveraged capital, with a focus on education. Developing a workforce to meet the needs of emerging Blue Economy employers, including an emphasis on STEM education at the K-14 level, will be an essential part of growing the Blue Economy. To this end, the Marine Technology Summit is pleased to collaborate with OSU, Clatsop and Oregon Coast Community Colleges, and the Oregon Coast STEM Hub throughout the Summit. The Marine Technology Society invites people from throughout the Northwest region to come to Newport to partake in these and the many other important, forward-thinking conversations that fill the agenda of our upcoming NW Marine Technology Summit. A full agenda for the conference can be found at the Summit website. All press inquiries should be directed to Amy Clark, ph: (503) 371-6239 email: amy@thesextonco.com.
