Everything that drew hiking-sock maker Dahlgren Footwear to the Portland area - the creative-class workers, the quality of life and the growing reputation that Portland is the place to be for outdoor apparel, footwear and even a bit of fashion - is also what has appealed to an expanding number of small specialty clothing and shoe startups moving into Nike’s territory. The list is long and includes everything from snowboard outerwear and fly-fishing boots to sports bras and shock-absorbing, Italian-designed high heels. Read about what's making Portland's apparel cluster thrive in today's OB Original.

Oregon Business publisher Andrew Insinga weighs in on the "phantom exodus" of Oregon companies. "There is real fear and real pain on the part of business owners and executives. I know because I’m one. With each new piece of legislation, policy, tax or even trend comes both an obstacle and opportunity. But the low-hanging savings fruit was picked long ago."

Be sure to also vote in this week's new poll: What is the biggest threat to recovery?

The state is scheduled to hold a lottery Monday to provide 8,000 low-income Oregonians with health care. When former Gov. John Kitzhaber first started the Oregon Health Plan in 1994 about 100,000 people enrolled. It was an expansion of coverage beyond regular Medicaid recipients. But the recession of the early 2000s decimated the Oregon Health Plan, leaving just a couple of thousand people with coverage.