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!

 

Click here to read MCEDD's annual report for FY 2007-08. Thank you to Nancy White and Custom Interface for hosting the MCEDD Annual meeting.

September 17, 2008- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee adopted legislation regarding EDA reauthorization. Click here for highlights.

It is unclear when the full Senate will consider the measure.
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has yet to take any action on the issue this year.  Regardless of the legislative outcome in 2008, the bill being negotiated by Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and James Inhofe (R-OK) would likely be the starting point for next year.  House and Senate leaders are also keeping the option open of adopting a simple one-year extension of the agency.

EDA can and would continue to function and fund projects without the reauthorization, as long as the agency is funded through the annual appropriations process or the anticipated continuing resolution.
---Information provided by National Association of Development Organizations (NADO).

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator John Ensign (R-NV)  announced that a bipartisan agreement  has been reached on a clean energy tax package. The package includes an extension of expiring clean energy tax credits, credits for the wind and solar industries, and incentives to invest in clean technologies and renewables.

The new tax deal reached by Senate leaders includes several major provisions sought by Northwest lawmakers. The bill would extend a multiyear program that pays rural counties hurt by federal logging cutbacks. Click here for press release. 

NWSEED will be conducting a series of workshops in eastern Oregon to help demystify wind power opportunities 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 workshop in this region will be from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm  in Moro on October 21. For more information and to register click here or call NWSEED at 1-866-759-SEED.

The Columbia Gorge Community College Small Business Development Center is offering a series of basic business classes. The classes are open to anyone in business or wanting to learn more about operating their own business. Click here for more class information.

Columbia Area Transit (CAT) offers fixed route transportation between Hood River and The Dalles. The bus stops at several locations in Hood River and The Dalles plus a stop in Mosier. This past June the service expanded from its morning and evening routes to include a mid-day option. The cost of a ride is $3 each way. Click here for more information and a complete schedule.

Whether your technology involves renewable energy or energy efficiency, or if energy is just a small aspect of your innovation, this site should be useful. Energy TechNet, created by New Horizon Technologies, Inc., with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, is a core collection of information and resources. From idea development to market assessment, intellectual property protection to financing, the website addresses each stage of technology development and commercialization.

The final results of a national competition for Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) from USDA Rural Development were announced on Sept 4, '08.  Overall, Oregon received the 2nd highest number of awards and the 7th largest dollars among the states. Congratulations go to Imperial Stock Ranch for receiving a $100,000 planning grant.

In late 2008 or early 2009, USDA Rural Development will again be soliciting application for value-added projects. A list of Oregon award winners and details on the VAPG program can be found at http://vapg.ruraloregon.biz

Juicy Ideas, a nation wide collegiate competition challenging teams to create value or meaning from a "throw-away" item, will  launch in October. Teams from the Gorge area must sign up before October 13 at http://www.juicyideascompetition.com and have at least one college student from Columbia Gorge Comm. College, Portland Comm. College, Mt Hood Comm. College or Clark College.

Partners and sponsors for the local regional effort include MCEDD, CGCC, SBDC, Lightwave Communications, Tri-County Hazardous Waste & Recycling, Northwest Natural, Dakine, Insitu and Google. If you are interested in sponsoring or learning more, contact Jim Donnelly at MCEDD at 541-296-2266.

An Australian surfwear maker recently announced that it will acquire DaKine Hawaii Inc., which retails surf, skate, snow and windsurfing accessories, for about $100 million.

The deal is subject to regulatory approvals; however, Billabong International Ltd. -- considered the largest surfwear maker by market value -- is expected to take over the now Oregon-based DaKine by Oct. 1.

All members of the current management team are being retained and will continue working along with other employees in the brand's head office in Hood River, Ore., one of North America's premier action sports venues.

Click here to read full article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin

The 'Big Look' Task Force - a bipartisan task force of individuals given the job to review Oregon's statewide land use program- has traveled the state and listened to testimony, conducted research, and considered various ideas to best plan for the challenges of today and tomorrow.

It's your turn to participate in an important statewide discussion about our land-use planning system and what changes you would support to improve Oregon's legacy. There will be a meeting on Sept 29 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, The Dalles, Oregon. Visit the Big Look website for more information and to find out how you can participate.

The Oregon Economic and Community Development Commission met Sept 9th and 10th. Click here for a summary of the recommendations that the commission made at the meeting.  Recommendations to the Governor will be presented in a report later this month.

September 2008 Events

• September 23, 24 & 25 - AWEA Wind Resources Workshop, Portland, OR
• September 29 - 'Big Look' meeting, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, The Dalles, OR, Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
  

October 2008 Events

• October 5-7 - Oregon Economic Development Association, Back to Business Annual Conference, Silverton, OR.
  
• October 9- Oregon Investment Board meeting, 10:00 a.m., Port of Hood River
  
• October 13 - Juicy Ideas secret item revealed for Gorge region teams.
  
• October 16-17 - Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, Newport, OR. 
• October 16-17- NW Summit on Entrepreneurship, Portland, OR. Presented by Oregon Microenterprise Network.
  
• October 17-19 - Harvest Fest, Hood River, OR.
  
• October 21 - Demystify Wind Power Workshop, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Moro, OR