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!

 

The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council gave the go-ahead for what developers say will be the world's largest single wind farm. The project is being developed on private land by Caithness Shepards Flat, LLC in Gilliam and Morrow counties.

Officials say the Columbia River Gorge wind farm will be capable of generating 909 megawatts at its peak - enough to power some 225,000 homes. The largest wind farm in the United States to date is Horse Hollow in Texas at 736 megawatts.

For more information about this project and other projects under review by the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council  click here.

Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development (NWSEED) will be conducting a series of workshops (cosponsored by USDA Rural Development) in eastern Oregon to help demystify wind power opportunity for the layman. 

This workshop will give rural landowners a chance to understand the complexities of wind power development and make better-informed decisions about whether wind is an option to pursue.  

The workshops in this region will be from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm  at:
- Hood River - September 16
- Moro - October 21

For more information and to register click here or call NWSEED at 1-866-759-SEED.

Gorge Angel Investors Conference 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
7:30 am to 2:00 p.m.
Hood River Inn (Columbia Room)

Gorge Angel Investers Conference plans to bring together the Mid-Columbia Gorge's brightest entrepreneurial talent with qualified Angel investors. This year's event promises to be exciting for the attendee, entrepreneur and investor. In 2008 there will be three companies competing for a minimum $70,000 prize. Money will be awarded to the company deemed the most investor ready by the Gorge Angel Investment Network (GAIN).

The Gorge Angel Conference is an event of the Hood River Office of Economic Development in cooperation with Oregon Entrepreneurs Network, MCEDD and SBDC.

"It's an economic and environmental success story in an area hard-pressed for family-wage jobs, an example of "green collar" employment blossoming in reaction to high energy costs and concerns about global warming. And advocates say it shows sustainable technologies don't have to mean cutting back, but can mean growth instead." To read more about how Oregon community colleges and trade unions are expanding training programs for solar and wind energy go to  OregonLive.com for the full article.

The 2008 edition of the Who's Your Farmer? - the Gorge guide to eating local, including 85 farm listings and informational articles - is hot off the presses.

If you didn't get your copy in your local newspaper, you can get a free copy at the Gorge Grown Farmers' Market, the Gorge Grown Mobile Farmers' Market, the Klickitat County Fair, or your local library.

 

Visit the Gorge Grown Food Network website for more information about the Guide and and food-related resources in the Columbia River Gorge region. Gorge Grown Food Network serves as a central source to inform and connect local Columbia River Gorge farmers, food producers and consumers.

The MCEDD Annual Board Meeting will start at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, September 17 at Custom Interface, Bingen, Washington.

 

The MCEDD Annual Report 2007-08 will be posted to the MCEDD website shortly after the meeting.

Biggs Rapids Bridge Deck Replacement Project, Revised Closure Start Date - September 8, 2008
 
The contractor for the Biggs Rapids Bridge Deck Replacement project has revised* their schedule and Highway Restriction Notice for full closure of the Biggs Bridge.

The full closure will now start on Monday, September 8th. (changed from September 3rd).

Brad DeHart, PE
Oregon Department of Transportation
District 9 Project & Operations Engineer
3313 Bret Clodfelter Way
The Dalles, OR  97058
(541) 296-2215 (ph)
(541) 296-1629 (fax)
bradley.k.dehart@odot.state.or.us

The Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission will take formal action on the requested changes to the Oregon Economic & Community Development Department at its September 10 & 11 meeting. This will be a joint meeting with the Oregon State Housing Council. Click here for more information.

August 2008 Events

• August 21-22, Oregon Rural Congress, Cascade Locks, OR.
  

September 2008 Events

• September 3-4 - Washington Governor's 2008 Economic and Workforce Development Conference,
  Lynnwood, WA
  
• September 4 - CGCC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Hood River - Indian Creek Campus, 5 pm - 7:30 pm with ribbon cutting at 5:30 pm
  
• September 10-11 - Oregon Economic & Community Development Department Commission Meeting,
  
• September 11 - CGCC Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at The Dalles - Health & Science Building, 5 pm - 7:30 pm with ribbon cutting at 5:30 pm.
• September 16 - Demystify Wind Power Workshop, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Hood River, OR
• September 17 - MCEDD Annual Meeting, 4 pm, Custom Interface, Bingen, WA
  
• September 23 - Gorge Angel Investors Conference, Hood River, OR
• September 23 - Gorge Technology Alliance Meeting, details TBA.
  
• September 23, 24 & 25 - AWEA Wind Resources Workshop, Portland, OR
  

October 2008 Events

• October 5-7 - Oregon Economic Development Association, Back to Business Annual Conference, Silverton, OR.
  
• October 16-17 - Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, Newport, OR.
  
• October 17-19 - Harvest Fest, Hood River, OR.
  
• October 21 - Demystify Wind Power Workshop, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Moro, OR