State of the Westside 2026

On Thursday, November 19, the Westside Economic Alliance invites you to join us for the 2026 State of the Westside, an engaging discussion about the future of our region and the opportunities ahead.

We are pleased to welcome Candace Beeke, President and Publisher of the Portland Business Journal, as our keynote speaker. Beeke will help set the stage with her perspective on the region’s economic climate, the implications of the recent midterm elections, and where Greater Portland is headed in the years ahead.

Following her remarks, Metro Council President Juan Carlos González will join WEA’s Executive Director for a conversation about his vision for the region and the role Metro will play in shaping its future. As Metro’s first Latino and youngest-ever president, González has brought a renewed focus to modernizing land use planning, improving affordability, expanding access to living-wage jobs, and restoring confidence in the Portland metropolitan area’s economic competitiveness.