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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Still no sign of missing girl Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal Public Meetings: Feb. 2-6 Super cheerleader Restaurant Inspections Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Man who allegedly almost robbed Purple Parrot returns Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. Ashland Ski Area crew dips to five Public sounds off on gas pipeline Mt. Ashland ski area announces layoffs Bear cub headed to rehabbers in Idaho State News 'Seven Wonders' ads pay off, Oregon park officials say Sales call leads to rescue of beaten woman Feds: Oregon logging rules don't protect fish, water Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Oregonians face Feb. 15 health insurance deadline Nation - World Obituaries Nordica Mae Irvin William (Bill) Earl Shewman III A Celebration of Life for Karen Weaver Joseph Richard �Rich� Halliday, Jr. Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Kennedy earns 200th win as Raiders roll Hunters lead North swimmers to victory Spartans romp past Seattle Bucks cap fine week at Blazers' expense Varsity 541 College Sports Kennedy earns 200th win as Raiders roll Defense keys No. 7 OSU's rout of USC Duke knocks Virginia from unbeaten ranks West has double-double, key basket in triumph Young's hoop leads Oregon over Arizona State Pro Sports Detroit downs Houston, ends four-game skid Bucks cap fine week at Blazers' expense Sons represent Seau at Hall ceremony Rodgers MVP, Watt sweeps defensive votes Clutch putts keep Laird in lead Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Homes for the long haul Blog: Southern Oregon Business Conference 2014: Gross, unadulterated enthusiasm Blog: Better than Ordinary...Extraordinary! Medford moving up in economic rankings Umpqua now largest community bank on West Coast Real Estate News Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Agriculture Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you George Will: Our annual season of wretched excess Dana Milbank: Bernie Sanders is right to be outraged Editorials Our View: Wood-fired steam plant at SOU makes sense Other Views: Nothing to see here; move along Our View: Improving graduation rates isn't easy Our View: Revving up the gas tax debate Our View: Updating Oregon's presence in the U.S. Capitol Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 1 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 29 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Guest Opinions Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline A fair shot for all: addressing our low-wage crisis Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Lifestyle Latest stories Southern Oregon Journal: Discovery of the Bigfoot brownie Some like it hot Time with the Tiger-lilies Pet of the Week — meet Fuzz Charleston's Marine Life Center eyes spring opening Food Community blog: Raise a cup of bone broth to better health Good to the Bone Gail Ciampa: Marcona almonds make this a salad with substance The next Pike Place Market? Food for Thought: These healthy Super Bowl snacks are game-changers Home and Garden Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Home Help: 5 ways to revamp your outdoor living space this year Paint a room or two in a weekend Dear Monty: Sell home now? Or wait until summer? Health Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health HealthStyle: Are you in an unhealthy relationship? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Old stained-glass windows face threats Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Still no sign of missing girl ... Renovating The Bricks ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... Still no sign of missing girl ... Renovating The Bricks ... Mining company faces long odds in Smith River proposal ... BUSINESS Medford moving up in economic rankings 'Best-Performing Cities' report shows city is trending in the right direction Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 6:35 pm By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 6:35 pm » Social News Medford's improving economy is masked in part by a delayed recovery that only began manifesting itself statistically in 2014. The Milken Institute's "Best-Performing Cities" report shows a stirring from the dismal days of the Great Recession that technically ended in July 2009, but the report released earlier this month is based on 2013 data. Minoli Ratnatunga, co-author of the "Best-Performing Cities" report, told attendees at the 12th annual Southern Oregon Business Conference Thursday that Medford had plenty of good news. She suggested data shared by University of Oregon economist Tim Duy will strengthen the local economy's position in relationship to its peers when the numbers are crunched for later reports. Medford moved up in the report to No. 91 from No. 114 out of 179 small markets, with populations of less than 300,000. "What was most surprising to me was the high-tech performance," Ratnatunga said. Milken looks at job growth, wage and salary growth, and high-tech concentration, diversity and growth. Medford dropped to No. 11 from No. 1 during the year in the high-tech diversity measure. She said the change had more to do with expansion elsewhere than weaker performance here. "Shifts in the national economy can make you look less concentrated even if you have a steady growth year," Ratnatunga said. Unlike major metropolitan areas with massive technological firepower or academic drivers, the Rogue Valley relies on start-ups.  You have organic growth here, not the result of a big research university and its spin-offs, or a major employer campus suddenly deciding to locate here," Ratnatunga said. "Rather it comes from local people's entrepreneurism and money from elsewhere." Prior to the housing bubble, credit crisis and recession, Medford was a front-runner in such reports. In an interview, Ratnatunga suggested Medford was once again trending in the right direction. "We don't see (in the 2013 numbers) the recent growth you've had here," she said. "I would expect you'll see Medford continue rising up the ranks." Of the small Oregon cities tracked by Milken, Bend shined brightest, at No. 45, propelled by one-year job growth and high-tech activity. Corvallis was No. 105.   "Across the board, Eugene being the exception, Oregon metros all have a pretty impressive high-tech performance," Ratnatunga said. "Portland is leading the pack, it has the most growth out of any of the large metros out of 200 in high-tech output during 2013." While economic data has shown that Oregon's rural areas have lagged in a variety of ways in job and wage growth, being closer to Portland doesn't necessarily ensure better performance. "Salem doesn't actually perform that well in tech measures, except for growth, and that's with a low base," she said. "Maybe if you're near a big metropolitan area known for tech, you may lose people who are migrating into the big cities to get those jobs." Oregon's overall tech performance may open other doors, Ratnatunga said. "Once you make it onto the site selector's list, they'll start looking at availability of space, the employability of the population for their particular needs and that kind of thing," she said. There are other factors necessary to attract employers and develop existing companies, said Ratnatunga, noting being far from major commercial centers isn't a deal killer. "I don't think being far away from a major metro is necessarily a disadvantage," she said. "You see a  lot of cities around a major metro like in the Bay Area where they become bedroom communities. Then it becomes very hard for people to spend on anything other than their houses and consumer goods; you don't have jobs created there." Areas with a highly educated population are attractive to companies, she said. Milken produced a study several years ago called "Matter of Degrees" that revealed the relationship between academic attainment and income. "We found for every extra year of schooling among the employed population, we saw a 10.5 percent increase in per capita GDP." Ratnatunga said attention to science, technology, engineering and mathematics course work is increasing nationally. "The importance of people being technology-able is important," she said. "It doesn't need to be a bachelor's degree, master's degree or Ph.D. Sometimes associate's degrees are the right thing to fill the position." Communities also have to be prepared for opportunities before they arrive, she said. "Every city has to work hard to continue to adapt to a changing economy. That involves making sure you invest in your infrastructure and have available sites for new companies and are developing a workforce. It's an ongoing struggle." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge .             By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 29, 2015 @ 6:35 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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