In 2009, the Portland Sustainability Institute, in partnership with the City of Portland, launched the EcoDistricts Initiative as part of the Portland region's broadening commitment to sustainability. The EcoDistricts Initiative is a comprehensive strategy to accelerate sustainable neighborhood development. PoSI drafted a Framework, released in March 2010, to clarify the value proposition, define performance areas, and outline an implementation strategy.
An EcoDistrict is a neighborhood or district with a broad commitment to accelerate neighborhood-scale sustainability. EcoDistricts commit to achieving ambitious sustainability performance goals, guiding district investments and community action, and tracking the results over time.