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!!

Jane Beatty has been appointed to the MCEDD Board for a term beginning January 1, 2010. She will represent the cities of Hood River County and will replace Randy Holmstrom. Jane is currently a member of the Hood River City Council.

The Gorge Technology Alliance (GTA) was recently awarded a Google community grant for the GTA's Technology Education Program. The majority of grant funds will be used in partnership with the Gorge Robotics Club to purchase robotics kits and laptops for loan to youth robotics programs throughout the Gorge.

The grant will also help support semi-annual robotics competitions in the Gorge. The adult portion of the Technology Education Program will draw four higher profile speakers to address Gorge audiences over the next year in technology-related topics.

Hood River PubTalk is moving to The Dalles for the November session! Keynote presentation is "The Power of Relationships" by Lee Weinstein, Lee Weinstein and Associates, Inc. Networking and presentations by two companies seeking advisers or investment are also be included.

Skamania County Economic Development Council invites business owners and operators to attend a workshop led by the Department of Revenue on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the EDC Conference Room. Lori
Ryf from the Department of Revenue will be covering a number of topics including Washington State B & O Tax, Retail Sales Tax including Destination-based Sales Tax, Use Tax, Reseller's Permits, and preparation of an Excise Tax Return. Please RSVP to SCEDC at 509-427-5110 or via email to Debbie Koch at dkoch@skamania-edc.org.

Oregon Infrastructure website -
Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development) has launched an updated website at www.oregon4biz.com. The site profiles Oregon's business environment, its competitive advantages, key industries, as well as services and programs available through Business Oregon, the state's business development agency. The site also is connected to its "sister" site, at http://www.orinfrastructure.org, which covers the community development programs and services of the state's new Infrastructure Finance Authority.
Washington Infrastructure website -
(http://www.infrafunding.wa.gov/) The Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) is dedicated to helping Washington communities identify and obtain resources they need to develop, improve, and maintain public works programs. Together with IACC, communities are better able to provide the infrastructure necessary to enhance, preserve, and protect Washington 's environment and quality of life. The website has a searchable infrastructure database which is a great resource for locating infrastructure funding or technical assistance in Washington State.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the availability of a new online resource for local governments that assists community leaders and local stakeholders in building sustainable local solar markets. The online publication, Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments, provides local governments with proven best practices enabling them to drive economic development, support clean energy jobs, and reduce carbon emissions by building a robust local solar market. Click here for more information.

Water and Wastewater
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Technical Assistance and Training (TAT) Grant Program. This program supports projects that identify and evaluate solutions to water and waste disposal problems in rural areas, assist applicants in preparing applications for water and waste
grants made at the State level offices, and improve O&M of existing water and waste disposal facilities in rural areas. Responses due 12/31/09. For more info, go to:
http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/tatg.htm. Refer to Sol#
RDUP-TAT-09302009-FY10.

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Value-Added Producer Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Value-Added Producer Grant Program. This program provides support to the agriculture community to develop strategies to create marketing opportunities and business plans for viable marketing opportunities. Ventures must be limited to emerging markets and new markets for value-added products. This may include, but is not limited to: Alternative uses of agricultural products, processing of agricultural commodities to produce bio-materials, green chemicals, on-farm renewable energy, and biofuels. Responses due 11/30/09. For more info, go to:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. Refer to Sol# RDBCP-09-VAPG.
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Solid Waste Management
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Solid Waste Management Grant Program. This program supports projects that assist communities through free technical assistance and/or training geared towards
reducing or eliminating pollution of water resources in rural areas, and improve planning and management of solid waste sites in rural areas. Responses due 12/31/09. For more info,  go to: http://www.usda.gov/rus/water/SWMG.htm. Refer to Sol# RDUP-SWMGRANT-093009-FY20.
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October 2009 Events

• Oct 29 - Gorge Green Drinks by Columbia Gorge Earth Center, 6:30 p.m., Double Mtn Brewery, Hood River, Oregon
• Oct 30- Downtown The Dalles Trick or Treat. Stop by the MCEDD office!
  

November 2009 Events

• Nov 3 - MCEDD Loan Committee Meeting, 8:00 a.m., MCEDD office, The Dalles, Oregon
• Nov 3- Skamania Tax Workshop, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Skamania Economic Development Commission Conference Rm, Stevenson, Washington
  
• Nov 4 - MCEDD Executive Committee Meeting, 4:00 p.m., MCEDD office, The Dalles, Oregon
• Nov 6 - CGBREZ Work Group, 10:00 a.m., Port of Hood River, Hood River, Oregon
• Nov 11- Veteran's Day; MCEDD Office closed
• Nov 16- MCEDD New Member Orientation, 1:00 p.m., MCEDD Office, The Dalles, Oregon
  
• Nov 17 - MCEDD Loan Committee Meeting, 8 a.m., MCEDD office, The Dalles, Oregon
• Nov 17 - PubTalk™, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Erin Glenn Wines at The Mint, 710 E 2nd St, The Dalles, Oregon
• Nov 18 - Oregon Investment Board Meeting, 10 a.m., Port of Hood River, Hood River, Oregon
• Nov 24- Gorge Technology Alliance monthly meeting, 6:30pm, CenterPointe Bank in Hood River, topic TBA
  
• Nov 26-27: MCEDD Office Closed