Reading this newsletter is a good thing, having your news included is even better. Just send us your economic development news, including activities, events and anything else of interest in the five county area by the third week of each month. Send it directly to Layne at: layne@mcced.org

THANK YOU!!

MCEDD Staff

Amanda Remington
Executive Director

Eric Nerdin
Loan Program Manager

Sherry Wickert
Finance/Operations

Jessica Metta
Project Manager

Alina Aaron
Project/Mobility Manager

Pat Hoffman
Administrative Assistant

Layne Sylvester
Assistant Project Manager

MCEDD Board Members

Barbara Briggs, Chairperson
Hood River County

Rex Johnston, Vice Chairperson
Klickitat County

Cliff Jett, Secretary/Treasurer
Cities of Sherman County

Paul Pearce
Skamania County

Dan Ericksen
Wasco County

Michael Smith
Sherman County

Jan Brending
Cities of Klickitat County

Bill Dick
Cities of Wasco County

Don Stevens
Cities of Skamania County

Jane Beatty
Cities of Hood River County

Chuck Daughtry
Oregon Ports

Tony Bolstad
Washington Ports

Ray LaFond
Washington Chambers
of Commerce

Dr. Susan Wolff
Education Representative

Tonya Brumley
Oregon Chambers of Commerce

Harold Haake
Utilities Representative

Ken Bailey
Agriculture

Martin Campos-Davis
Minority Representative

Nancy White
Technology Representative

Dianne Storby
Healthcare Representative

Disclaimer

This newsletter is sponsored by MCEDD. The items contained herein are published as submitted and are provided for general information purposes only. This information is not advice. Readers should not rely solely on this information, but should make their own inquiries before making any decisions. MCEDD works to maintain up-to-date information from reliable sources; however, no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions or results of any actions based upon this information. If you have any questions regarding any of these items, contact the organizational representative of that source.

This newsletter may contain links to websites that are created and maintained by other organizations. MCEDD does not necessarily endorse the views expressed on these websites, nor does it guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information presented there. Furthermore, visitors should be aware that other sites linked from this newsletter may use persistent cookies that track visitor viewing habits.

Welcome to the MCEDD newsletter, featuring highlighted regional
activities that are of interest to the
five counties MCEDD serves.

MCEDD Loan Client Profile

Tumbleweeds Grocery and Gas: Fuel Stop Reopened in Shaniko

Unleaded gasoline and diesel are now available at Tumbleweeds Grocery and Gas in Shaniko, Oregon. New owners, April Pitre and Laura Cortez reopened the small store in July of 2009 and worked their way through roadblocks to install new fuel pumps and tanks. The new fuel station has 1000 gallon tanks for both regular unleaded and diesel to provide vehicle fuel in Shaniko for the first time since 2007. Previously, the nearest year round fuel stations were 41 miles south in Madras and 56 miles north in Biggs.

Tumbleweeds Gas and Grocery also stocks snacks and food items in their store, including hot coffee, espresso and hot food items for breakfast and lunch. They are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Loan funding for the purchase and reopening of the gas station and convenience store was provided by Mid Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD). Assistance in preparing the funding package was provided by the Small Business Development Center at Columbia Gorge Community College.

For more information on MCEDD's loan programs, contact Eric Nerdin, MCEDD Loan Fund Manager, at 541-296-2266.

As a service to the regional business community and as a strong part of our economic development strategy for the region, MCEDD manages several business loan programs that provide an accessible, affordable source of capital for projects that create and/or retain jobs.

MCEDD Budget Committee

MCEDD Budget Committee Announcement

MCEDD has opened the process to nominate applicants for its budget committee. Applicants must be representative of the services provided MCEDD. Interest forms are available electronically at http://www.mcedd.org/appointments.htm or at the MCEDD offices at 515 East Second Street in The Dalles, Oregon, 97058. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on February 26, 2010 for consideration of appointment.

All interest forms will be reviewed and provided to the MCEDD Executive Committee. Appointments are made by the Executive Committee and ratified by the Board. Appointments are made for a three year period.

Columbia Gorge Transportation Summit

Registration Now Open for 2010 Transportation Summit

The 2010 Columbia Gorge Transportation Summit will be held on April 22, 2010 at the Pioneer Center located in White Salmon, Washington. Registration is now open on our website at http://www.mcedd.org/cgts.htm. Take part in this action planning event to develop local solutions to transportation issues.

The 2010 Columbia Gorge Transportation Summit is hosted by the MCEDD Board in partnership with our sponsors and coordinating committee. MCEDD provides regional support services, with a focus on coordinating transportation options.

Leading Edge of Technology: Renewable Energy and Clean Technology

Gorge Technology Alliance Meeting February 23, 2010

Join the Gorge Technology Alliance for a presentation by Bill Weihl, Green Energy Czar at Google headquarters, on the innovative work he's doing in renewable energy. Bill Weihl runs Google's sustainability efforts for its data centers and leads the engineering groups working on energy information tools and on renewable energy technology.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
7:30 p.m.
Columbia Center for the Arts
215 Cascade Ave in Hood River

The Gorge Tech Alliance received a Google grant to support its Leading Edge of Technology speakers series, making this event free for everyone to attend.

For more information, visit http://www.crgta.org. To RSVP, contact Jessica Metta at jessica@crgta.org

MCEDD provides project management services for the Gorge Technology Alliance. Contact Jessica Metta at 541-296-2266 for additional information.

EDA Investment Policy

Guidelines Released By Economic Development Administration

New guidelines have been released by the Economic Development Administration for funding opportunities. These guidelines cover the following areas:

Collaborative Regional Innovation
Public/Private Partnerships
National Strategic Priorities
Global Competitiveness
Environmentally Sustainable Development
Economically Distressed and Underserved Communities

To view the new guidelines, click here.

MCEDD is part of a national network of 369 economic development districts designated and funded by the US Economic Development Administration. As part of that relationship, MCEDD develops and maintains and Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region.

NTIA and RUS Announce Broadband Tool

BroadbandMatch Connects Applicants for NTIA/RUS Funds

The Commerce Department's National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the USDA's Rural Utilities Service announced the launch of BroadbandMatch, a new online tool to facilitate partnerships among prospective applicants to the agencies' broadband grant and loan programs.

BroadbandMatch allows potential applicants to find partners for broadband projects, helping them to combine expertise and create stronger proposals. Click here to access BroadbandMatch.

MCEDD works to provide regional assistance to partners to improve the availability of telecommunications in our region.

Medical Facilities Expand

Mid-Columbia Medical Center Water's Edge Construction
The dramatic three-story building taking shape on the banks of the Columbia River, just west of The Dalles Bridge in Lone Pine Village, is a very tangible demonstration of Mid-Columbia Medical Center's optimism about the future of healthcare in the region. The approximately 60,000 square-foot Water's Edge center is MCMC's first major construction project since the opening of Celilo Cancer Center in 2001.

In addition to construction on Water's Edge, MCMC has continued to grow its primary care numbers and increase access to specialty care by forging two new partnerships with Oregon Health & Science University. Through the first, the hospital was able to expand the availability of orthopedic care, including highly specialized care that is rarely available in smaller regions like the Mid-Columbia. The second partnership made possible the opening of the area's first full-time cardiology practice.

Providence Hood River Hospital
Also expanding healthcare services in the region is Providence Hood River Hospital. The expansion and renovation follows Providence's "Green Guide for Health Care, focusing on environmentally healthy and sustainable building design, construction and operations." For more information, click here.

Skyline Hospital
Skyline Hospital is underway with a planned three phase expansion. For more information on the $15 million, two-level addition and renovation of the original building, click here.

Each month MCEDD features an article related to changes in the region affecting economic development as submitted by our partners. Information on MCMC was submitted by MCEDD Board member, Dianne Storby, who represents healthcare on the MCEDD Board.

MCEDD Services to the Region

With the start of a new year, we are providing an overview of the services MCEDD offers as highlighted throughout the newsletter. For more information, call 542-296-2266.

Business Assistance

MCEDD administers Revolving Loan Funds to provide businesses in the Mid-Columbia region with gap financing options. Our staff can also support with assistance accessing and applying for state and federal loans.

Technical Assistance/Project Management

MCEDD provides services and assistance to governments and not-for-profits. Services include project development, staffing assistance, and QuickBooks assistance. We also write, review, and administer grants including:

Community Development Block Grants
USDA Grants
Environmental Protection Agency Grants
ARRA Funded Projects

Regional Coordination

We produce an annual regional strategic planning document and facilitate the development of regional coordinated efforts for:

Identification of regional needs and issues
High tech initiatives through the Columbia River Gorge Technology Alliance
Renewable energy with formation of the Columbia Gorge Bi-State Renewable Energy Zone
Transportation coordination and human services plans

Columbia Gorge Featured

National Geographic Society Geotourism: Washington and Oregon locations were recently featured in the National Geographic Society mapguide. The guide showcases the Pacific Northwest's Central Cascades. For more information, click here.

The Dalles Top Western Town: The Dalles has been named as one of the "Top Ten True Western Towns of 2010" by True West magazine. For more information, click here.

Columbia River Gorge Commission: A new video highlighting the Gorge Commission is available on YouTube. Click here to view the video, which was produced by John Hardham, Light Wave Communications.

RARE: Call for Community Applications

Applications Due April 15, 2010

The Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) program has opened the application process for communities seeking RARE volunteers in Oregon. Pre-Applications are due on April 15, 2010 for September placement in RARE communities. RARE participants assist communities in the development and implementation of projects for achieving a sustainable natural resource base and improving rural economic conditions.

For more information or an application, click here.

Oregon Asset Building Corps VISTA Applications

Applications due February 19, 2010 for VISTA Volunteers

The Oregon Microenterprise Network (OMEN) is seeking applications to become an AmeriCorps*VISTA host site from organizations working with microenterprise development, financial literacy and asset building. Approved sites will recruit a full-time VISTA volunteer who will serve at their site from August 20th, 2010 to August 19th, 2011.Applications must be received at the OMEN office by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 19th, 2010. To apply, click here.

Gorge Angel Conference Call for Applications

Applications Due February 27, 2010

Applications are sought from Gorge area companies with good growth and profit potential to compete at the third Gorge Angel Conference for an estimated investment award of $100,000 courtesy of the Gorge Angel Investors Network (GAIN3, LLC). Companies should be seeking capital in the range of $100,000 - $1,000,000. For more inforamtion on the application process, click here.

Small Business Workshop

The Columbia Gorge Community College Small Business Development Center, with Carolyn Smale, bankruptcy attorney will offer a workshop on Tuesday, February 23 from 6 - 7:30 pm. called Small Business Bankruptcy Basics.The workshop will cover the processes, ramifications and alternatives for small businesses considering filing for bankruptcy. Follow-up appointments at the SBDC will remain confidential. Call 541-506-6121 to register, seating is limited.

Small Business Bankruptcy Basics Workshop
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Columbia Gorge Community College
400 E. Scenic Drive, Building Two, Room 2.106, The Dalles, OR

Gorge Green Drinks

Gorge Green Drinks Networking Event February 9, 2010

Join the Columbia Gorge Earth Center and the Hood River Sustainability Committee, with support from Hood River Meadows, for an evening discussion about Transition Towns. David Johnson, an expert on Transition Towns, will talk about his experience bringing Transition Initiatives to Portland and offer suggestions for how Gorge residents can enact similar measures here.

Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010
6 p.m.
Springhouse Cellar

13 Railroad Ave. (1st and Cascade), Hood River

	Columbia Gorge Job Fair
Register for Columbia Gorge Job Fair by March 12th The deadline to register for a table at the Columbia Gorge Job Fair is March 12, 2010 The Job Fair will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Civic Auditorium, 323 E. 4th St., The Dalles, Oregon To register, call 541- 296-5435.

Broadband Webinar

Webinar Highlights Effective Strategies For Round Two

Join Government Technology and the Center for Digital Government for a webinar on the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The webinar will highlight:

Challenges from Round One
Corrections and Changes in Round Two
Due Diligence
Advice to and from public sector applicants
Strategies to meet the 3/15 deadline

The webinar will take place on February 10, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. To register, click here.

Grant Highlights:

EDA Community Trade Adjustment Assistance
The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced that nearly $37 million in grants is available to help communities suffering from the adverse effects of import competition develop ways to more effectively compete in the global economy. The funding is available under EDA's Community Trade Adjustment Assistance (Community TAA) Program, which was created in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For more information, click here.

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USDA RD Oregon Rural Business Enterprise Grant
Due March 5, 2010
USDA Rural Development-Oregon (RD-Oregon) is now seeking concept papers for Rural Business Enterprise Grants (RBEG). These grants are made to nonprofits, public bodies, and tribes to support rural business development. They are not direct grants to individuals or for-profit businesses. For more information about the RBEG program, click here.

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USDA RD Oregon Rural Business Opportunity Grant
Due March 5, 2010
USDA Rural Development-Oregon (RD-Oregon) is now seeking concept papers for Rural Business Opportunity Grants (RBOG). For more information about the RBOG program, click here.

By the Numbers - December 2009

Calendar of Events

February 2010

Feb 9- Gorge Green Drinks, 6 p.m., Springhouse Cellars, Hood River
Feb 10- Broadband Webinar, 11 a.m.
Feb 8 - Oregon and Washington Investment Board Appropriation Committee, 1 p.m., Stevenson, WA.
Feb 15 - MCEDD Office Closed.
Feb 16 - MCEDD Loan Administration Board Meeting, 8 a.m., MCEDD office, The Dalles, Oregon
Feb 17 - Oregon Investment Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Port of Hood River, Hood River, Oregon
Feb 23 - Gorge Technology Alliance monthly meeting, Columbia Center for the Arts, 7:30 p.m.
Feb 23- Small Business Bankruptcy Workshop, 6 p.m., CGCC, The Dalles.

MCEDD serves Klickitat, Skamania, Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman counties. We promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the diversification of the economic base, and the growth, development and retention of business and industry within the five-county district.

You are welcome to pass along this newsletter to anyone who may be interested in regional economic development news in the Mid-Columbia area. Past editions of the newsletter are posted on the MCEDD website. To SUBSCRIBE to the newsletter, please send your name and email address to layne@mcedd.org.