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!

 

 

Construction is underway on the Hood River Waterfront Park The Park will be developed in two phases over a time period of several years.

The Oregon Investment Board (OIB) provided $10,000 in grant funds to the Waterfront Park Association to hire a grant writing and fundraising consultant. MCEDD provides staffing services for the OIB. To learn more visit the OIB website by clicking here.

 

A great keynote speaker is lined up for the next PubTalk on Tuesday, March 11th. Labor continues to be one the critical issues facing gorge area businesses. Kit Silver, Staffing Manager for Insitu will provide thoughts on finding and keeping staff. Two firms will also give their pitch to the Gorge Angel Community.

Join the next PubTalk at Full Sail Brewery in Hood River from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance; $15 at the door. To RSVP contact Bill Fashing, Hood River County Office of Economic Development, 541-387-6863.

The Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) Program application deadline is April 15, 2008. Are you working to build capacity in your community or do you have community building, natural resource, or planning projects that you do not have enough time to work on? The RARE Program might be your answer to getting those projects completed.

For more information about RARE and application timeline, including the benefits and the costs of the program, please visit the RARE web site at: http://rare.uoregon.edu/.

The Sixth Annual Columbia Gorge Job Fair will be at The Dalles Civic Auditorium on Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early registration fee is $75.00 and must be received by March 14, 2008. The fee will provide the exhibitor with one 6-foot draped table, two chairs and two lunches for your representatives.  The cost is $100.00 for registrations received afer March 14, 2008. 

For more information contact:
In Oregon:
Hood River - 541.386.6020 ext. 226
The Dalles - 1.877.241.6806

In Washington:
White Salmon - 509.493.1210
Toll-free - 1.800.511.7388

 

The USDA Rural Development recently released its Rural Community Development Initiative grants for fiscal year 2008. For more information click here.

 

To prepare, a workshop is planned for March 19th from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Rural Development Office in Portland. Workshop will focus on lessons learned about filing and completing applications. RSVP for the workshop to John Brugger at 503-414-3362.

The Mosier Groundwater Study has moved into its second phase. The study is designed to investigate the hydrology of the Mosier Creek Basin and use the knowledge gained to develop a set of tools that can be used to evaluate the sustainable yeild of the ground-water resource. Ground water levels in this area have been dropping by as much as 4 feet per year since the 1970's. In this phase of the study, input parameters are being modified to view the anticipated outcome and determine what will be the end result if water use does not change.

 

It is anticipated that the techniques developed during this study will be widely applicable in similar studies of Columbia River Basalt aquifers.

 

Click here for a copy of the Mosier Watershed Assessment and for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/12-4/13/2008 - Gorge Artists Open Studios Tour, Mid Columbia Gorge

 

4/15/2008 - RARE Application deadline.

 

4/19-4/27/2008- 29th Annual Northwest Cherry Festival. Contact The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.

 

4/22/2008 - Gorge Technology Alliance meeting, 6:30 pm, The Dalles/Wahtonka High School, The Dalles.

 

4/24/2008 - Making Renewable Energy Projects Happen, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Portland.