Brightwave Therapeutics: Discover a Brighter Path to Wellness!
October 24, 2023 – Nestled in Hood River, Brightwave Therapeutics introduces the transformative potential of photo-biomodulation therapy (PBMT). PBMT essentially uses light to stimulate and fuel the body’s cells to reduce pain and inflammation and promote overall wellness. Hood River resident Deya Shapiro witnessed the life-changing effects of PBMT firsthand when she saw a close friend avoid surgery after a car accident and then experienced the benefits herself with personal relief from nerve pain. Deya realized the Columbia Gorge community could benefit immensely from this therapy, and so the idea for her business, Brightwave Therapeutics, was born. Photo-biomodulation therapy isn’t just a one-trick wonder; its versatility is truly remarkable. It’s been shown to significantly reduce inflammation (a root cause of many ailments) and accelerate the body’s repair processes. Whether you’re grappling with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or seeking a natural approach to healthy aging, PBMT offers a holistic approach, catering to a myriad of health concerns and promoting overall vitality. For anyone dealing with pain, PBMT is a potential lifeline to a more comfortable, active life. For the elderly, it’s a beacon of hope in combating age-related degeneration, and with thousands of clinical studies backing its efficacy, athletes in the leading sports teams in the NBA, NFL, NHL, UFC and Olympics have turned to this technology for faster recovery and enhanced performance. For the Gorge’s vibrant community of athletes and adventurers, this therapy offers a rapid recovery solution – which means spending less time on the sidelines and more time embracing the great outdoors! Thanks to a loan from MCEDD, Brightwave is equipped with a state-of-the-art LightMD Mark II Med Pro device. This isn’t just any light therapy device; it’s a game-changer. Unlike many red light panels that offer limited wavelengths, the LightMD device delivers pulsating red and infrared light that can penetrate into the deepest tissues within the body. With customizable programs, all tissue types can be targeted including skin, muscles, nerves, joints, bones, and organs. The infrared light is even able to penetrate through the skull to reach the brain, making this treatment promising for conditions like Alzheimer’s, depression, and various autoimmune disorders. Brightwave invites you to experience the future of natural healing! Clients have the options of receiving treatment at the business’ downtown Hood River location or in the comfort of their own home by booking a mobile treatment. If you have a chronic pain condition, consider giving this treatment a try with Brightwave’s First Time Special! Brightwave Therapeutics 23 E State St. Hood River, OR 97031 Phone: 424-653-8362 Email: brightwavehr@gmail.com Website: http://brightwave.health/ [Continue Reading]MCEDD Provides Assistance to Fund Remodel at The Dirty Cowgirl Saloon
September 27, 2023 – The Dirty Cowgirl Saloon is a full-service restaurant and bar located in Wasco, Oregon, that provides lunch and dinner options to locals and travelers. The business originally began its operation in Goldendale, WA, first as a food cart and then a full-service restaurant during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Dirty Cowgirl moved to Sherman County with a business plan to provide an inviting and comfortable place with great food and drinks, where locals and travelers could meet and connect. The building purchase, initial remodel and restaurant opening were all done without outside funding or hiring contractors, and in November the Dirty Cowgirl opened its doors for business as a classic saloon, rough and ready, in true Sherman County style. Business owners Celeste Jackson and Kory Geddes have continued to work towards their long-term business plan’s two main goals: to provide high-quality food in an inviting and comfortable dining experience. In pursuit of their goal to provide the restaurant experience that locals want, they have modified their menu to include offering breakfast, soft serve ice cream and espresso beverages, all based on customer feedback. After the first winter’s operation, they were ready to address the building improvements needed to create the comfortable and inviting dining experience that will ensure their restaurant’s long-term success. The renovations needed to improve the building’s energy efficiency and accessibility for customers required major remodeling, including removal of the diesel heat and installation of a new heat pump, adding a door to the outdoor seating area, making the front entry ADA compliant, repairing and upgrading equipment, and replacing a broken skylight and some windows. Because their restaurant is located in Sherman County, Celeste and Kory were able to access the capital they needed through MCEDD’s business lending program after they were denied a loan at the bank to fund their remodel. The Dirty Cowgirl Saloon 1214 Clark Street Wasco, OR 97065 Website: www.thedirtycowgirl.com Facebook: facebook.com/thedirtycowgirlsaloon/ [Continue Reading]Outfishing Adventures Now Offers Guided Fishing Trips on the Deschutes
August 30, 2023 – Ben Stephenson and Evan Unti established their business, Outfishing Adventures, LLC, in 2022. They provide single- and multi-day guided fly-fishing trips on the Lower Deschutes River. Both partners have over seven years of working experience in local recreational fishing, including both retail sales experience specializing in fishing gear and as fishing guides/camp managers running multi-day trips down the river. The two guides met as coworkers at the Deschutes Angler Fly Shop in Maupin and decided to create their own company that would emphasize education while still enjoying the river. Outfishing Adventures clients will learn various fly-fishing techniques, how to target specific species, hatch identification and presentation, proper catch and release procedures, and how to reduce environmental impact. The partners also offer technical clinics focused on casting and presentation techniques. Still in the startup phase, Ben and Evan sought MCEDD’s lending assistance to finance the purchase of their company’s equipment and to refinance their drift boat. Their future plans for the company include utilizing their guiding skills and experience to provide guided fly-fishing trips for at-risk youth and people with disabilities. Learn more about the company’s services and reserve your trip on their website: outfishingadventures.com [Continue Reading]Community Revitalization Town Hall Meeting on September 12th
August 23, 2023 – The City of The Dalles, the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District and the Port of The Dalles extend a special invitation to all community partners to attend a Community Revitalization Town Hall Meeting where we will be celebrating successful local projects that were funded through the Brownfields grant that was awarded to the City two years ago. We will also be providing information on the next steps for properties needing renovation: what are the eligibility requirements and how can you get your project or property into the program. The meeting will be held at the City of The Dalles Council Chambers (313 Court Street) from 4 – 5 PM on September 12th. A walking tour through downtown that will visit a number of properties where revitalization is in progress will follow the town hall. To date, the City’s program has supported the revitalization of fourteen properties in The Dalles and three properties in greater Wasco County. The meeting will include several successful case studies including the following: Recreation Building and Last Stop Saloon – Property owner Todd Carpenter (invited) Tonys Building – Josh Chandler, Columbia Gorge Urban Renewal Agency Director (invited) Former Model Laundry Building at 205 Washington – Property owner Tony Zilka (invited) Sigman’s Flowers Building at 200 E. 2nd – Property owner Michael Leash (invited) We hope you are able to come celebrate with us! Please feel free to forward this invitation to others you believe to be interested in the revitalization of our community. [Continue Reading]MCEDD Receives NADO’s 2023 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award
July 21, 2023 – Washington, DC, [July 20, 2023] – Mid-Columbia Economic Development District in the Mid-Columbia Gorge region (OR and WA) has been awarded a 2023 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Gorge Regional Transit Strategy project. NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies to strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards showcase organizations for noteworthy projects and practices in rural and small metropolitan transportation planning, program delivery, and special initiatives. “The Excellence in Regional Transportation Awards program showcases effective and creative transportation initiatives. Programs and projects like the Gorge Regional Transit Strategy foster community and economic connections and promote effective transportation networks.” -shared current NADO President Chris Fetzer. “The Gorge Regional Transit Strategy develops a roadmap for a coordinated and integrated public transportation system in our rural, bi-state region,” Kathy Fitzpatrick, Regional Mobility Manager for MCEDD, explained. “Our communities worked together to craft a collective regional vision and then we brought transit experts on board to help us figure out how to achieve that vision.” For more information about this award-winning project, visit the Gorge Translink website. [Continue Reading]Frutas Locas Y Mas
July 20, 2023 – Veronica Hernandez opened Frutas Locas Y Más, LLC, as a family-operated food truck featuring authentic Mexican food in May of 2018. As the name states, there are crazy fruit-inspired creations! “And More” includes such wonderful offerings as champurrado, carne asada fries, pozole and of course, tamales! Veronica’s specialty homemade Mexican style treats and snacks can’t be found at any other Mexican food places in The Dalles, and her food has steadily grown in popularity. By 2019, the business was able to open its brick-and-mortar location as a family-style restaurant at 623 E 2nd Street in The Dalles. Veronica runs the kitchen, her husband Francisco orders products, her daughter takes orders and cleans when she isn’t in school, and Veronica’s son helps manage the restaurant. While the pandemic hit all restaurant businesses hard, Frutas Locas Y Más was able to survive with the addition of some regular local catering contacts. In 2022, the restaurant began offering home delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats, creating enough sales to support hiring an additional employee. In 2023, Veronica obtained business assistance through the Mt. Hood Economic Alliance’s microlending program to secure working capital to finance wages and pay the business’s property taxes, overhead and expenses. Veronica’s success story is an important milestone for diversity, equity and inclusion in local small business lending. [Continue Reading]The State of Oregon Requests Community Input to Develop Statewide Broadband Plans
June 23, 2023 – Oregon will receive millions in federal dollars to expand broadband access, adoption and utilization over the next five years! Input via surveys and meetings is crucial to developing a plan that will meet the needs and funding required to deliver high-speed internet access to all corners of the state. The state’s Broadband Office is seeking community input now! Please take a few minutes to complete the applicable survey(s) to support improving broadband access and resources for digital equity to the Mid-Columbia region. Thank you! Oregon Internet Accessibility Needs Assessment[for individuals and families] Oregon Agency Asset Inventory Questionnaire[for state, regional, county, local and tribal governments] Oregon Community Anchor Institution Broadband Access Questionnaire[for public school, public or multi-family housing authority, library, medical or healthcare provider, community college or other institution of higher education, State library agency, and other nonprofit or governmental community support organization] Oregon Covered Populations Broadband Barriers Analysis Questionnaire[for organizations that serve or represent the following individual or members of their households: Aging; Incarcerated; Veterans; With disabilities; With a language barrier, English learners; and low levels of literacy; racial or ethnic minority groups; and reside in a rural area] Oregon Digital Equity Programmatic Inventory[for those that are providing: devices, internet subsidies, computer and security training, and tech support for the public] Oregon Internet Service Provider Engagement Questionnaire[for ISPs] Oregon Workforce Development Opportunity Questionnaire[for those in the workforce development space] Learn more at: https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/Oregon_Broadband_Office/Pages/default.aspx [Continue Reading]Miss O’s Espresso Loan Program Spotlight
June 12, 2023 – Miss O’s Espresso has been a family-owned and -operated coffee cart in Pine Grove, Oregon, since it’s opening in 2015. Located at the east end of the Pine Grove Grocery Store parking lot, the cart is open most mornings from 6-11am. Courtney Harvey originally opened the cart to support herself without spending most of her day away from her new daughter. Courtney worked her way through college by running the business as the coffee sales grew steadily through the years. The stand is now a regular feature of the upper Hood River Valley community, and Miss O’s Facebook page clearly illustrates that family life and community is the heart of this business. In 2021, Courtney turned over management to Caitlyn Grant, another Mom in the family with a young son to raise. Pictured above are Courtney with her daughter Oaklee on the right (Oaklee is Miss O!), and Caitlyn with her son Hudson on the left. In order to manage the rising costs of business since the pandemic, Courtney applied to MCEDD for funding to allow Miss O’s to refinance its business credit card debt. Because MCEDD’s lending programs often require that clients work with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to benefit from business development resources, this upper Valley family’s Mom entrepreneurs will continue to raise their children while actively running their business successfully, and providing fabulous coffee drinks and homemade baked treats to the local community! Miss O’s Espresso 2375 Highway 35 Hood River, OR 97031 541-645-5554 [Continue Reading]Microloan Lending Supports Sole Proprietor Landscape Construction Company
May 16, 2023 – Sergio Almader is a one-man equipment owner/operator doing various construction projects with his Toro Dingo and its various attachments, trencher, rototiller, bucket, augur, mini backhoe, grader and forks. The Toro Dingo is a smaller version of a Bobcat, only 42 inches wide, which opens up many opportunities for equipment use in constricted areas in a project that would otherwise require hand digging. Sergio has over 30 years of experience in landscape construction, with many years spent running his own Landscaping business. Sergio later became a salesman for with the Toro Company and sold Dingos to contractors. After moving to the Hood River area and working with a local home builder, he realized there was a huge lack of available labor in the local construction industry. Homeowners were having difficulty finding contractors for projects because the contractors were either too busy with larger projects or didn’t have the labor to take on additional projects. He decided to start his own trenching business in 2021 and purchased a used Toro Dingo with its 10 attachments with a used truck and a custom trailer to haul everything and started doing side jobs. Sergio Almader works with both homeowners and contractors digging trenches for gas or water lines, holes for fence posts and pole barns, tree removals, digging out leech fields and moving large quantities of soil or sand. DBA the Dingo Dude, Sergio’s business has been successful with only word-of-mouth and social media advertising. MCEDD’s microlending program has given Sergio the ability to refinance and consolidate the credit card debt incurred from the purchase of the business’ equipment, allowing him to save on interest and pay off the debt more quickly. Website: www.dingo-dude.com Facebook page: @DingoDude Phone: 541-340-4884 [Continue Reading]Gorge Pitch Fest
April 28, 2023 – Wasco County Innovation Initiative partners were pleased to announce the launch of a small business pitch competition on June 14, 5:30 p.m. at the Granada Theater in The Dalles. The competition invited entrepreneurs to showcase their business ideas and compete for a chance to win funding and exposure. Twenty-eight small businesses from Wasco, Hood River, and Sherman Counties submitted responses to the call for businesses interested in pitching. The group included businesses with different focuses from light manufacturing to food production to software. The six businesses that were selected as finalists include: Ada Analytics –provides an artificial intelligence powered platform for the cryptocurrency market that delivers real time insights to help investors make informed decisions. The founders are working together to develop a user friendly platform that will support actionable insights for crypto investors. Ankhiale Outdoors –helps people find themselves outside. Their team has developed a prototype cold weather tent and apparel that will help customers stay comfortable for winter season camping and is working to scale up their product. Bad Nutrition –makes chia seed pudding for the rule breakers of the world. Their product is focused on delicious flavor and inherent nutrition, making healthy food that appeals to the average consumer. Monkey Brittle – is an organic snack made from dried bananas, nuts and raisins. It tastes just like banana bread but is light and airy with a crunch! Propel Flow – Consulting for businesses who want to utilize AI to “Propel the Flow” of business. Woodsy Craft Co – is focused on creating DIY craft kits for friends and family to enjoy together. These kits started out as retail at the Workshop and they are looking to scale to wholesale production more efficiently On June 14th at 5:30pm, these six finalists had the opportunity to pitch their business idea to our panel of four judges; James Martin of Sunshine Mill Winery, Lee Weinstein of Weinstein PR, Gregory Price of the Columbia Gorge Community College Small Business Development Center, and Jessica Metta of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. Woodsy Craft Co was announced as the grand prize winner for $7,000 and also won the crowd favorite for an additional $500! The second place prize went to Bad Nutrition, and third place was awarded to Monkey Brittle. Over 100 people came out to learn about these innovative business ideas and to vote for their favorite! Wasco Innovation Initiative partners involved in this event include Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Columbia Gorge Small Business Development Center, Port of The Dalles, Columbia Gorge Community College, Business Oregon, the Wasco County Economic Development Commission, and The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce. This event is hosted partially thanks to a grant received from Business Oregon’s Rural Opportunities Initiative program and is supported by the sponsors noted below. Email planning committee chair: Carrie Pipinich at carrie@mcedd.org. Información del evento Pitch Fest en español aquí. Event Photos! Ryan Huggins presents Monkey Brittle. Katie Potter presents Propel Flow. Sophia Malek presents Bad Nutrition. Ray Hsu presents ADA Analytics. Ron Entriken presents Ankhiale Outdoors. Alyssa Schroppel and Lindsey Brady present Woodsy Craft Co. Judges from left to right: James Martin, Lee Weinstein, Jessica Metta, and Gregory Price. Woodsy Craft Co Wins the Grand Prize! Final Prize award winner with the judges! [Continue Reading]- « Previous Page
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