MCEDD Recent News Items

Cascade Locks Corrosion Control Treatment Facility

November 22, 2019 – In 2017, the City of Cascade Locks received funding from the Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund administered by the state to construct a treatment facility to reduce the corrosion potential of City water, thereby reducing copper concentrations that exceeded acceptable levels per the Lead and Copper Rule. Construction of the facility began in April 2019 and is now substantially complete. MCEDD has supported the City with grant administration and labor standards compliance for the project and will continue to do so until the project is fully closed out. The City is now working with Oregon Health Authority on the operational aspects of the new facility. The facility includes a new building with a chemical feed system to adjust pH and improve the buffering capacity of the water system.  To learn more about MCEDD’s involvement in infrastructure development work related to water/wastewater click here.   [Continue Reading]

Webworks: Hood River

November 22, 2019 – Looking to take advantage of online tools to support your business? Join us for a workshop hosted by MCEDD and the Hood River Chamber of Commerce featured Nicole Bernard of NB Marketing. Wednesday, December 4, 12:00 pm at Hood River Chamber of Commerce (720 East Port Marina Drive, Hood River, OR). Instagram 101 will give an overview of how to use this platform to market your business.  Through the workshop, you will also get a brief overview of the variety of digital marketing tooolls available to your business and get a chance to share with the Chamber about future training needs. Join us to share ideas, ask questions, or explore what’s possible online! Refreshments will be provided. This event is free to attend, but please RSVP to Carrie Pipinich (carrie@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266).   [Continue Reading]

Argonaut Investments, LLC Grows Business, Invests in Community

November 22, 2019 –   Auto-Electric Co-Working space (above) and the Copper West building (right) located at 314 Lincoln St. in The Dalles   Argonaut Investments, LLC is the umbrella company for the projects owned by business partners Maui Meyer and Ben Stenn. Mr. Stenn is the Executive Chef at Celilo while Mr. Meyer is Managing Partner and Principal Broker of Copper West Real Estate. Both companies are related via co-ownership. “Since our first days as partners of the Sixth Street Bistro, Ben and I have worked closely in partnership, and Argonaut Investments is  a logical extension of that” says Meyer. “It was time for us to have a distinctive space with high visibility for our office, which has been in The Dalles for the past six years. Remodeling the iconic Auto Electric Building into two separate spaces was a great solution and will provide a new business hub on the west end of downtown The Dalles,” said Meyer. “One half is now Auto Electric Co-Working space, and the other is the new Copper West building. It’s a great way to grow our business and invest in The Dalles in one project.” The MCEDD Loan Program is available to entrepreneurs, start-up businesses and existing businesses doing business in the five county (Sherman, Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania) Mid-Columbia Area.  This loan program is part of MCEDD’s efforts to strengthen and support the region’s economy.   [Continue Reading]

Regional Economic Symposium Celebrates 50 Years of Economic Opportunity

November 7, 2019 – The annual Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium hosted by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) took place on November 1, 2019 at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center. Presentations from the keynote speaker, regional economists and MCEDD’s Executive Director, Amanda Hoey, are available here. This year the annual, half –day event included a focus on 50 years of economic opportunity in the Gorge in celebration of MCEDD’s 50th Anniversary. David Anderson, the CEO of NW Natural, served as the event’s keynote speaker. Barbara Briggs moderated a panel of local business leaders from key industries in the Gorge. The panel addressed critical components of the regional economy from the last 50 years and discussed issues to explore to support the next 50 years in the Mid-Columbia. Panelists included: Paul Jones, WyEast Timber Services Megan Thompson, Cascade Cherry Growers/Sage Fruit Company Jeanne Carver, Imperial Stock Ranch Rudy Kellner, pFriem Family Brewers David Windsor, Cardinal Glass Industries, Inc. Mike Graham, Real Carbon Nicole Bassett, The Renewal Workshop   Regional economists Scott Bailey (Washington) and Dallas Fridley (Oregon)  took a look at economic and employment trends at the regional and county level, covering Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania counties. The 2020 Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium is slated for Friday, November 6th. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */ Symposium Attendees arrive at Fort Dalles Readiness Center Keynote Speaker David Anderson, CEO NW Natural 2019 Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium Amanda Hoey, MCEDD Executive Director 2019 Symposium Industry Panel 2019 Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium Board chair Bill Schmitt and immediate past Board chair Ken Bailey Amanda Hoey recognizes Harold Hakke for hours of service MCEDD Board Members, Past and Present   [Continue Reading]

Federal Street Lofts Project Celebrates Grand Opening

October 24, 2019 – Developer Travis Dillard hosted a reception to celebrate the grand opening of the Federal Street Lofts Project on October 10th. Guests were invited in to see the new loft-style apartments, which boast historic charm along with all the expected high-end amenities.  This includes stainless steel appliances, washer / dryers, quartz countertops, restored double-pane windows, vaulted ceilings, abundant storage and more.     Located at the unofficial center of downtown on E 2nd and Federal Street in The Dalles, the Historic Honald Building was constructed in 1910 by the Walther-Williams Hardware Company.  The 10,000 square foot first floor is the current home to local businesses but the second floor had been unoccupied since the 1930’s.  Dillard secured construction financing through MCEDD and Columbia Bank to complete the project.  You can read more about the project here. MCEDD offers flexible financing for housing development and housing rehabilitation in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties through the North Central Oregon Attainable Housing Development Revolving Loan Program. The fund is designed to spur development of housing at rates affordable to those who live and work in the region (generally 60-120% of median family income). MCEDD also has a Business Loan Program that is available to entrepreneurs, start up businesses and existing businesses doing business in the five county (Sherman, Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania) Mid-Columbia Area.  Both of these loan programs are part of MCEDD’s efforts to strengthen and support the region’s economy.  Contact MCEDD at 541-296-2266 for more information on  these MCEDD loan programs.   [Continue Reading]

Farming, Fermentation and Hospitality:  The Grateful Farmer

October 24, 2019 – Katrina (Trina) McAlexander is a third generation farmer, fermenter and nurse practitioner.  She continues to build on the traditions her family started over 50 years ago at Mt. View Orchards, a 50-acre apple and pear farm nestled just north of Mt. Hood in the quaint town of Parkdale, Oregon.  Mt. View Orchards continues to grow delicious, top-grade, environmentally sustainable fruit and is an important fruit grower in the Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge region. Katrina cares deeply about growing fresh fruit for her community and with help from the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Loan Program, has taken steps to broaden the scope of what the orchard has to offer. In 2016 Trina planted a vineyard and began plans to open the Grateful Vineyard Tasting Room.  The Grateful Vineyard opened Memorial Day weekend of 2019 as the very first winery/cidery in Mount Hood and the southernmost vineyard in the Columbia River Gorge.  In keeping with their mission of creating a restorative place for people to come and be refreshed in the heart of the orchard, the tasting room allows visitors to sample both wine and cider and also serves as a beautiful and welcoming space for indoor events.  In addition to its offering of Grateful Vineyard wine and cider from their own Golden Row label, the tasting room also offers artisanal pizzas featuring seasonal fruit and vegetables, farm fresh eggs and other local ingredients. Trina identifies hospitality and generosity as two of the biggest core values of her family and their farm.  Weaving together farming, fermentation and hospitality fills her life with joy and meaning and this is something she hopes to share with customers new and old.     [Continue Reading]

WebWorks: Maupin

October 23, 2019 – Looking to take advantage of the new high speed internet connections in Maupin? Interested in what it can do for your business or organization? Wednesday, November 6, 4:00 pm at Imperial River Company (304 Bakeoven Rd, Maupin, OR) representatives from businesses and service providers will share how they leverage the internet to conduct their business. Topics will include building a useful website on WordPress, social media strategies, and productivity tools overview. Bring a laptop or other device to use! Join us to share ideas, ask questions, or explore what’s possible online! Refreshments will be provided. This event is free to attend, but please RSVP to Carrie Pipinich (carrie@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266).   [Continue Reading]

Gorge Translink Alliance Wins 2019 NADO Photo Contest

October 23, 2019 – NADO Photo Contest winning photo submitted by the Gorge Translink Alliance Congratulations to the 2019 NADO Photo Contest winners and runners-up!  This year, nearly 150 images were submitted from members across the country that demonstrated what makes their regions great places to live, work, and play. The Gorge TransLink Alliance won in the Sustaining Our Communities category. MCEDD is the lead agency for the Gorge TransLink Alliance, a partnership of five rural transportation providers in the Columbia River Gorge that was established in 2001 to promote a coordinated regional transportation system.  The Alliance works with key community stakeholders to ensure that all community members have access to equitable and accessible mobility options. This photo captures a regular trolley rider as she disembarks at a bus stop near her home after enjoying a local festival down at the Hood River waterfront park.  At 96 years old, she hasn’t driven a car for over 15 years, but continues to participate in community and social events thanks to the local and regionally connected public transportation system.  The Hood River Pink Trolley is the result of a partnership with Providence Health and Services, the City of Hood River, and Columbia Area Transit.  This partnership funds a weekend seasonal trolley service that meets the diverse needs of the community, bringing residents from low income areas to the local farmers market, families to the waterfront park, and visitors to a very busy downtown core.  Public transportation connects the significant number of residents and visitors who do not or cannot drive—seniors, youth, disabled, low-income—to community vitality and opportunity.  For a complete list of 2019 NADO photo contest winners click here.   [Continue Reading]

Newest Service from The LINK: Weekly South County Shuttle to Maupin, Tygh Valley, Dufur

October 17, 2019 – The LINK, Wasco County’s public transportation provider, is continuing to add new services to benefit the community. Starting Tuesday, October 22, The LINK will have a weekly shuttle that picks up riders in Maupin, Tygh Valley and Dufur for a few hours of shopping and appointments in The Dalles. “We will have specific stops in each community where you can meet the bus, but we can also pick up riders at their door if they call ahead and live close to the center of the communities,” says Charlotte Sallee, Transportation Operations Director for The LINK. Every Tuesday, the LINK will stop at Canyon Rim Senior Living at 8:30 a.m., Tygh School Community Center around 9:00 a.m. and in Dufur at Kramer’s Market at 9:25 a.m. The bus arrives in The Dalles around 10:30 a.m., will take riders where they need to go and then will leave The Dalles at 1:00 p.m. to make the return trip. The cost to ride is $5 from Maupin and Tygh Valley and $3 from Dufur. The LINK buses are ADA accessible and can seat 12 riders and 2 wheelchairs. Riders can call ahead to 541-296-7595 to ensure a spot or seating is first-come, first-served. Other new services with The LINK include a weekly shuttle from Celilo Village and Lone Pine In-Lieu Site to The Dalles every Friday, free service to The Dalles Farmers Market while the market was in season, and the deviated fixed route serving key stops in The Dalles. The LINK’s traditional service includes door-to-door service within The Dalles, Dufur, Mosier, Celilo and points between. The LINK Public Transportation is operated by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD). Learn more on The LINK’s pages at  http://mcedd.org/linktransit  or by calling The LINK at 541-296-7595.?   [Continue Reading]

Annual Report Highlights – Year in Review at MCEDD

September 27, 2019 – For 50 years MCEDD has supported economic vitality in the five county bi-state region, focusing on opportunities to build our economy and support business and entrepreneurs. This year, MCEDD continued to deliver high quality technical assistance, business assistance and industry support through its core programs, while also expanding service offerings. In this milestone 50th year, MCEDD: -Reached more than $9.5 million in funds granted and loaned through the Oregon Investment Board -Implemented the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and hosted a sold-out Economic  Symposium to build connections across the region -Expanded the LINK transportation system, providing over 22,000 passenger trips Read the annual report to learn more about these and other milestones and accomplishments in fiscal year 2019. FY19 Annual Report   [Continue Reading]