An increased interest in healthy and fresh food coupled with a desire to create more resilient, local and sustainable economies is spurring new metropolitan and regional food planning efforts. Over the last few years, the Portland area, known for its foodie culture, has taken significant strides to create a vision and toolkit to facilitate creation of an equitable, healthy and environmentally sustainable regional food system. Located in the fertile Willamette Valley, the Portland region is well poised to move toward a food economy that supports local jobs, keeps farmland as farmland, and supports long term a regional healthy ecosystem.

In Ashland, many businesses implement sustainable practices that are considered cutting-edge in terms of green business practices. The City of Ashland's Green Business Program is a voluntary program that encourages environmental stewardship while actively employing economical and ecologically sound business practices. Ashland's Green Business Program is known for its flexible and attainable criteria that organizations of any size and type can address and achieve. Categories include energy, water, waste management/recycling, toxic reduction, transportation, and education. 

Portland, OR is located in the Pacific Northwest where rainfall is more than average compared to the rest of the United States. Due to the weather, stormwater management becomes critical to prevent flooding and maintain the overall health of City's watershed. Clean River Rewards, Portland's stormwater utility discount program, purpose is to reduce stormwater volume and flow rate while reducing pollution and sediments that collects in stormwater.

Perhaps the most studied example of managing urban growth in the United States is the Portland region's Urban Growth Boundary (UGB). UGB's are typically implemented through state, regional or local planning agencies, or legislative bodies. In particular, the region's program was implemented under a state mandate that required every city and metropolitan region in Oregon to designate an urban growth boundary and negotiate boundary lines.