CFM Legacy
Here are 10 examples of CFM activity over the last two decades:
Early years:
1. Helping the Portland area become greener: By using our research and issues management skills, we helped Metro establish and fund the region’s first efforts to acquire and preserve open spaces.
2. Helping Portland Community College grow: Through our research and campaign communications efforts, PCC won a $90 million bond measure to construct facilities supporting workforce training and other educational needs.
3. Helping renovate historic buildings: Portland’s only city hall (1895), Blitz-Weinhard Brewhouse (1905) and Central Library (1913) were rebuilt with CFM public affairs staffers serving on various project management teams.
Middle years:
4. Helping the Red Cross help others: At the time of the September 11 terrorist attack, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross was going through a transition in its communications office. CFM immediately assigned one of its own staff members to work full-time on-site. He wrote key messages, set priorities, tracked requests and made staff assignments.
5. Building transportation systems: Through the efforts of CFM’s state lobby team, Oregon lawmakers have passed major funding programs to fix our bridges and roads, as well as fund deepening of the Columbia River shipping channel. Our federal affairs team has helped bring home transit funding to places such as Marion County.
6. Extending health care to those in need: Our state and federal lobbying teams have affected numerous pieces of legislation making it possible for Providence Health & Services to extend care to seniors, low-income persons and children.
More recently:
7. Assisting Oregon Public Broadcasting to go digital: Our lobby team in Salem gained state financing for OPB and other public broadcasters to extend digital television service to rural communities.
8. Redeveloping downtown Vancouver: Our federal lobbying team helped the City of Vancouver, Washington obtain more than $7 million in federal funds, providing infrastructure support for a massive downtown waterfront redevelopment project.
9. Creating a trade association for manufacturing: CFM led in the founding of the Manufacturing 21 Coalition, which has effectively leveraged millions of dollars in public funds for investments in university-level applied research, as well as supporting workforce training programs throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.
10. Branding new products: CFM helped Henry Weinhard's introduction of Boar's Head Red, then worked with developers Gerding Edlen create the Brewery Blocks. More recently, the firm has helped other food and beverage producers expand into new areas and launch new products.