BRENT HUNSBERGER, The Oregonian

What does Portland's business climate have that you can't find in Chicago, San Jose, Salt Lake City or Boise?

A bevy of creative talent and relatively cheap digs.

So say leaders at four advertising agencies that have opened offices here in the past 11 months, most of them picking Portland over cities in California and on the East Coast.

The latest newcomers include Chicago marketing firm Tangible Worldwide and Boise-based Fuel3 Advertising, which announced its entry into the market Wednesday. They join San Jose, Calif.-based Liquid Agency Inc. and Salt Lake City's Struck Inc.; Struck opened a Portland office in October; Liquid did so in July.

"This is a proactive move," said Tangible's chief executive, who goes by the single name of Merrick. "More than anything, this office is for talent, because we are in need of talent more so than clients."