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!

 

Registration is now underway for the Oregon Rural Congress to be held in Cascade Locks on August 21 and 22, 2008. Finances, telecommuications, human services and burdensome federal and state mandates are among discussion topics. Visit the Eastern Oregon Rural Alliance web site to download the brochure/registration form.

Watch the Perseids (PURR-see-idz) Meteor Shower Saturday night, one of the best meteor showers of the year producing up to 60 shooting stars an hour.  The moon will set at 11:50 PM for a dark night of excellent viewing.

Register now for a weekend of touring, meteor watching, camping and merriment. The second Oregon Shooting Star Motorcycle Rally will be on August 9 & 10 at the Fairgrounds in Moro, Oregon.

MCEDD helps organize this event and a portion of the proceeds from this event benefit the Sherman County Fairgrounds.

Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) has announced a new round of grants to help Oregon small businesses access federal funding opportunities.

The state grants aim to increase Oregon's competitiveness in capturing federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. These two federal grant programs provide direct funding to small businesses for research and development of new technologies.

For more information and to download an application, visit www.oregon4biz.com/sbir.htm

As promised in the June 2008 MCEDD newsletter -

A list of twenty initial projects and actions have been identified that are acceptable by both landowners and conservation groups through the consensus process. Click here for a copy of the list and related information.

The Lower John Day Conservation Conference was hosted on May 13 & 14 by the Gilliam County Soil and Water Conservation District. This conference was organized with the assistance of the National Policy Consensus Center and MCEDD.

When & Where: 11 am Wed., July 9, 2008
           Hoctor Road, Klickitat County, Washington
Take a spin at the Northwest's newest wind power facility, the 94-megawatt Goodnoe Hills owned and operated by PacifiCorp. "Flip the switch", ceremonially, and enough power to supply 25,000 average homes for the year will flow onto the electrical grid. This will be the latest addition to what is already the Northwest's largest utility-owned portfolio of renewable, emission free energy. Also get a preview of the Gorge Games, the extreme sports event that this year will be totally green. Tour and photo opportunities. 

This is a fairly remote area about 20 miles southeast of  Goldendale, Wash. If you are coming from I-84, you cross the river on US 97 at Biggs and head to Goldendale. Hoctor Road will be on the right about three miles after you've crested the big hill. Turn right and head east for 14.4 miles. Signs will be posted directing you where to turn off to the project operations center. Parking is limited at the site so please consider carpooling. To RSVP and get a map call 503-813-729.1 A media shuttle will be available from Hood River.
 
Who:   Representatives of PacifiCorp, vendors involved in the project and local officials. Flipping the switch will be athletes from the Gorge Games, a celebration of water and wind-based sports that will kick off July 17 in Hood River.
 
For more information, maps, sample photos, contact Tom Gauntt at Pacific Power, 503-813-7291 or 503-804- 0497.

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 hopes 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.

"Simply Sunsational" the latest video released by Columbia Gorge-based video producer and GTA member John Hardham of Light Wave Communications was chosen for a Bronze Award in Public Relations from over 14,000 entrants to the Telly Awards international competition. Shot on location in The Dalles and the eastern Columbia Gorge in HDTV, "Simply Sunsational" was produced for The Dalles Chamber of Commerce to promote economic development in The Dalles. To learn more visit the Chamber website.

"Simply Sunsational" was funded in part by a maketing grant from the Oregon Investment Board. MCEDD provides staffing services for the OIB. To learn more visit the OIB website by clicking here.

The 13th annual Oregon Telecommunications Conference has been set for October 16-17 in Newport, Oregon. Keynote speaker will be Vinton G. Cerf, vp and chief internet evangelist for Google. For more information, click here.

 

When: Tue, Jul 22, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Insitu, "SuperFortress Room", White Salmon, WA
Speaker: Ed Dietrich, Senior Vice President - Hologram Industries. Ed Dietrich leads the N. American Business Development efforts of Hologram Industries, a leading global maker of authentication and anti-counterfeiting technologies. This presentation will provide you with an overview of a problem which is increasingly affecting a wider number of business, with often severe results, and provide you with some techniques to help you understand whether or not you're being affected, and basic steps you can take to manage and minimize your risk. Cost: Free for GTA Members. $10 for all others. Click here to go directly to the GTA website for details.

Entrepreneurs considering franchising can now access a new online course from the U.S. Small Business Administration and FranNet to help them navigate the competitive franchise industry.

The Franchising Basics course can be accessed from the SBA Web site at www.sba.gov, under the Free Online Training icon by selecting Franchising Basics in the Starting a Business section.  The courses can be reviewed at the learner's own pace and in their own time, and a certificate of completion will be provided to participants who finish the course.

To learn more about opportunities with FranNet call
1-800-FRANNET or visit www.frannet.com

July 2008 Events

• July 9 - "Flip The Switch", 11 am, Goodnoe Hills wind facility, Klickitat Co., WA
• July 10 - Oregon Investment Board meeting, 10 am, Port of Hood River, Hood River, OR. For more information, click here.
  
• July 10 - The Dalles Young Professionals (YoPros) monthly Biz Showcase, 5:30 pm at Hot Yoga, 915 Garrison St, The Dalles, OR.
• July 15 - PubTalk, 5:30 pm 5o 7:30 pm, Hood River, OR
  
• July 17-20 - Gorge Games, Cascade Locks to The Dalles. For more information, click here.
  
• July 22 - Gorge Technology Alliance meeting, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Insitu, White Salmon, WA. See GTA website for details.
  

August 2008 Events

• August 7 - The Dalles Young Professionals (YoPros) monthly Biz Showcase, 5:30 pm at NW Aluminum Specialties, 2929 W 3rd St, The Dalles, OR.
  
• August 9-10 - Oregon Shooting Star Rally, Sherman County. For more information, click here.
• August 21-22, Eastern Oregon Rural Alliance Conference, Cascade Locks.
  

September 2008 Events

• September 23 - Gorge Angel Investors Conference, Hood River, OR
  

October 2008 Events

• October 16-17 - Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, Newport, OR