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Welcome to MCEDD's September
newsletter! In an effort to keep you informed of regional
events related to economic development, we have included
news from across our five-county district. Have a great
month!
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MCEDD
Expands and Adds New Staff Members |
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To help keep up with all of the
projects that MCEDD is working on, MCEDD welcomes three new
staff members.
Sherry Wickert joined MCEDD in August
2007. She has taken on the role of Finance and Operations
Manager. She holds a degree in Accounting from Eastern
Oregon University and is in the process of completing her
M.B.A. at Eastern. Sherry has an extensive background in
finance and accounting methodologies and practices. She has
worked for governmental agencies, non-profits, and for small
businesses. She is a third generation Oregonian and looks
forward to getting to know the wonders of the Gorge.
Elizabeth Wallis joined MCEDD in August 2007 as an
Assistant Project Manager. Elizabeth has recently moved to
her familial home of Sherman County after 20 years in
Seattle. Her experience ranges from event planning at
Microsoft, wedding planning and the hospitality industry to
Sherman County projects including KidsQuest, the Perseid
Motorcycle Rally and a Chamber of Commerce. A recent
enrollee of the Ford Family Leadership Program, Elizabeth
will be focusing initially on the Columbia Gorge WineGrowers
Association and the continued development of Rural Clusters.
Having worked on a few projects in the past with
MCEDD, Layne Sylvester has joined MCEDD as an Assistant
Project Manager. She will be assisting the rest of the staff
on various projects, drawing from her experiences as a
Program Development Specialist with an emphasis on
telecommunication and GIS in rural areas for the Regional
Services Institute at Eastern Oregon University. A fifth
generation Oregonian, Layne will continue to work part time
in Central Oregon doing physical therapy work on pleasure
and performance horses.
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SBDC -
Business services in the Gorge |
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Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide
small business owners with training and free counseling on
day-to-day business operations. SBDCs can help business
owners develop business plans, establish bookkeeping
systems, or map out business strategies.
Local Offices:
Linda Johnson is the SBDC
Certified Business Advisor for Klickitat County. Scheduled
advising hours in Goldendale are usually every other month
on the 2nd Tuesday. Upcoming scheduled dates are September
11 and November 13, 2007. Meetings with clients are by
appointment only at the WSU Leaning Center and appointments
can be scheduled by either calling Linda directly (509)
454-7612, or by calling (509) 773-5620. Click here for more information
The SBDC at Columbia Gorge Community College provides
services in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler
counties. Walk-ins are welcome. Business counseling,
assistance with Quickbooks, help with buying and selling
businesses, financing business expansion are all topics
provided in a confidential environment. Open Monday through
Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Call 541-506-6121 for an
appointment. Click here for more information.
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Cultivando
Comunidad Trainings |
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Rural Development Initiatives and
Wasco County agencies are organizing a Spanish-language
community building workshop called Cultivando Comunidad, or
Cultivating Community to be held November 16 and 17 at
Columbia Gorge Community College. Besides deepening
community building efforts and developing personal
leadership skills, participants will receive a $10 grocery
gift card, a certificate of completion, meals and childcare
during the training and learn about scholarship
opportunities.
For more information or an
application for you or someone you know, contact Max Gimbel
at (541) 359-5284 - mgimbel@rdiinc.org or Sara Curiel Robles
at (503) 545-2918 - scuriel@rdiinc.org.
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Oregon's
Creative Vitality Index Better Than National
Average |
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Oregon's creative health is robust,
according to a new report commissioned by the Oregon Arts
Commission. Oregon's 2006 measure of Creative Vitality Index
(CVI) ranks 1.05 against the national average of 1. The
Creative Vitality Index, or CVI, measures public
participation in the arts as well as arts-related
employment. Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wheeler, and Wasco
measured 1.07. For the Gorge, one item mentioned
specifically was the artistic ferment where gallery and
museums purchases in the five county area measure 4.21 -
three times more per capita than the Portland metro area.
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For a copy of the full report visit
www.oregonartscommission.org |
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Gorge Wine
Celebration Benefits Hospice of the Gorge |
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The 4th annual Gorge Wine
Celebration, benefiting Hospice of the Gorge, will take
place on Saturday, September 8th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at
Divots (Indian Creek Golf Course, 3605 Brookside Drive) in
Hood River.
Eighteen Gorge wineries will gather to
showcase more than 60 local wines-from the classic Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay to the lesser-known Viognier and
Barbera. The Gorge is home to two federally recognized
American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) or Appellations: the
Columbia Gorge AVA (est. 2004) and the Columbia Valley AVA
(est. 1984). The Winegrowers Association holds this event
each year in order to give each of its members an
opportunity to present the fruits of their labor.
Tickets are $35 in advance ($40 at the door) and can be
purchased at:
- Local Tasting Rooms
- Collage of The Gorge in White Salmon, WA
- Klindt's Books in The Dalles, OR
- Waucoma Books in Hood River, OR
- Hospice of The Gorge Offices (1630 Woods Ct in Hood
River and 751 Myrtle St in The Dalles
- Columbia Gorge Winegrowers (call 866-413- WINE)
The cost of admission includes a commemorative
wineglass, unlimited wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres and live
entertainment. There will also be a live auction that
features winemaker dinners, private barrel tastings, and spa
packages. Attendees must be at least 21 years of age.
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Click here for more
information. |
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Gorge
Technology Alliance September Meeting |
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The September meeting of the Gorge Technology
Alliance will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at the
Port of Hood River Boardroom. The meeting starts at 6:30
p.m. with networking, followed by a brief business meeting
then the main speaker. This meeting will feature a
presentation by Entrepreneurs Foundation of the Northwest
(EFNW). EFNW assists companies with the implementation of a
community involvement program that matches their corporate
culture and philanthropic interests with the many needs in
the local community. Click here for more information about EFNW. To
learn more about the Gorge Technology Alliance, click here. GTA meetings provide an opportunity
for high tech entrepreneurs to network with one another and
to learn from educational presentations. MCEDD provides
project management services to the Gorge Technology
Alliance.
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Lower John
Day Watershed Project List |
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MCEDD is close to finalizing a list
of projects that have been proposed by land owners, farmers
and local government. The projects will benefit the Lower
John Day Watershed and fish habitat in Sherman, Gilliam and
Wheeler Counties while either improving, or at least not
interfering with, current and future agricultural practices,
private land owner rights and economic development
strategies. A final review by land owners and the Soil and
Water Conservation Districts will occur in September and
then this list will be presented to natural resource
organizations, foundations and agencies. The next step
involves working to coordinate resources to begin project
implementation. Some of these projects require funding, some
require regulatory change and some simply need attention
MCEDD plans to continue work on this project in 2008 to
bring these projects to completion, provide evaluation, and
develop a plan for the next phase which will include the
upper watershed. Funding is being provided by the Wyss
Foundation through Portland State University and the Oregon
Solutions office. We have been sending one consistent
message since this project started, which is that strategies
need to be thought of in terms of decades and generations
rather than a 'quick fix'. We are optimistic that this
message is being heard throughout the funding community.
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Hood River
Art Fundraiser |
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Don't miss the 4th Annual Art &
Soul fundraiser for the Columbia Center for the Arts. The
auction will take place on Saturday, September 15th, with
the silent portion of the evening from 5-7 pm, followed by a
live auction from 7:30 - 9:30 pm, followed by dessert. The
theme for this year's event will be "Treasuring the Arts."
This event will feature a variety of culinary treasures from
local restaurants and wineries. Tickets are $75 per person
which includes food and beverages. Purchase online or at the
Center at 541- 387-8877. Columbia Center for the Arts is an
art organization that nurtures creative life in the Gorge
and is a participating member in MCEDD's regional arts
cluster.
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For more details visit
www.columbiaarts.org |
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Sherman
County Special Transportation Plan |
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The Special Transportation Plan for
Sherman County is in draft form and the Sherman STF Advisory
Board and Court are reviewing and providing input. We would
appreciate comments from Sherman County users and citizens.
Contact Link Shadley, link@mcedd.org or 541.705.4127, or
Marnene Benson-Woods at the Courthouse for copies. A final
plan will be presented to the County Court on September 19th
for adoption and then sent to ODOT. This plan is important
because it qualifies the County for funding from ODOT to
operate the Sherman County Community Transit system and also
positions the County for discretionary grants to replace
equipment and provide special services.
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Gorge
Artists Open Studio Tour - 2008 |
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Gorge Artists Open Studios is an annual self-directed
art studios tour that distinguishes itself from other tours
by giving the public an insider view of artists at work in
their own studios. The 2008 studio tour will be held April
12-13 2008. Artists who wish to participate in the 2008
tour, need to apply by October 20, 2007.
Applicants will be juried by a panel of outside area arts
professionals. Gorge Artists Open Studios provides an
opportunity for artists to show and sell their work, build
an audience and communicate with the public. Studios or work
spaces must be located in Skamania, Klickitat, Hood River,
Wasco or Sherman County. Click here for more information on the tour and
to get an application to become a participating artist.
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Waste
Water Treatment Alternatives |
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MCEDD is working with several
communities to evaluate and study the feasibility of
installing small decentralized wastewater treatment
facilities that either replace the need for large
centralized plants, or at least relieve pressure on existing
plants. The equipment is both Oregon DEQ and Washington DOE
approved and appears to provide a substantial saving over
traditional approaches to sewage treatment plants. They can
also be phased in gradually as the need and financing
dictate rather than force a community into assuming a huge
debt load. It may be possible to provide some additional
treatment so potable water is produced that can be fed into
salmon and steelhead bearing streams to improve habitat.
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Calendar
of Events |
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September
Events
9/8/07- Gorge Wine Celebration for
Hospice, 5:30 to 8:30 at Divots Indian Creek Golf Course.
9/11/07 - PubTalk, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Horse and Hound
Pub in Hood River. This will be a special networking only
event with updates from previous presenters. Admission is $5
which includes snacks.
9/11/07 - BizTalk, 5:30 to 7:30
om at Erin Glenn Winery, 710 E. 2nd Stree in The Dalles.
Biz-Talk is a free workshop offered by the Columbia Gorge
Community College SBDC. The workshop on Sept 11th is free
and will focus on how to reduce your capital gains and
inheritance taxes
9/13/07 - Oregon Investment Board
Meeting, 10:00 a.m. at National Scenic Area Office in Hood
River
9/15/07 - Hood River Art Fund Raiser, 5 pm to 9:30
pm at the Columbia Arts in Hood River.
9/20/07 - Cascade
Locks Action Team meeting, 12:00 p.m. at Charburger
Restaurant
9/25/07- Gorge Technology Alliance meeting,
6:30 p.m. at Port of Hood River conference room. Featured
speaker is Entrepreneurs Foundation of the Northwest
9/26/07- MCEDD annual meeting, 4:00 p.m. at the Pioneer
Center in White Salmon
October Events
10/08/07-Showcase of regional industry clusters. TBA.
10/20/07 - Deadline to apply for 2008 Gorge Artists Open
Studio Tour.
10/25 through 10/27- Regards to Rural IV at
Skamania Lodge
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Submit
your News! |
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Reading this newsletter is a good
thing, having your news included is even better. Send it to
us! Items are required by the third week of each month.
Please send items to layne@mcedd.org.
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