MCEDD Recent News Items

SWPRD Celebrates Groundbreaking of Pine Hollow Boat Ramp

September 11, 2019 –   A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the south ramp on August 28, where officials and spectators posed for a group photo. Work starts shortly on repairing the badly damaged north boat ramp. The project is expected to take 4 to 5 weeks. MCEDD staff assisted the South Wasco Parks and Recreation District (SWPRD) during the bid process for the boat ramp improvement project, funded in part by grants from the Oregon State Marine Board and Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife.  Staff will also provide support through completion of the project to ensure compliance with Oregon’s requirements for prevailing wage projects.   [Continue Reading]

Clean Rural Shared Electric Mobility: The CRuSE Project

August 29, 2019 – The Clean Rural Shared Electric Mobility (CRuSE) Project seeks to demonstrate that round trip plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) car sharing can serve rural communities in a financially sustainable way, while benefiting low-income residents, government and local businesses, the town at large, and tourists. Round trip car sharing, provided by firms like ZipCar, has been well established in many urban centers for years. Rural and low-income communities could benefit most from car sharing services, due to lack of density to support traditional transit, biking, or other options, but car sharing is virtually unknown outside of major urban centers. Hood River presents an ideal opportunity to test, assess, and hone how best to offer an attractive PEV car sharing service, in a rural setting, to benefit drivers from multiple sectors. The CRuSE Project envisions a three-year demonstration program, with five PEVs stationed throughout Hood River, at affordable housing sites, the city center, and tourist destinations. American Honda is loaning five post-lease Clarity EVs to the project. Envoy Technologies will provide the car sharing platform, enabling users to reserve and access vehicles via a smart phone, paying by the minute or hour, and returning the PEV to its home base. As part of this Project, Envoy will provide a Spanish translation of its app to appeal to diverse community members, alternate payment mechanisms to meet the needs of those without access to credit cards or bank accounts, and tiered pricing structures, enabling different prices to be charged to different user groups, enabling the potential for subsidies to be offered to qualified user groups. Forth will work with the City of Hood River, Hood River Columbia Area Transit, the Port of Hood River and Ride Connection, along with several community organizations such as Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation (an affordable housing provider) and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to assess transportation needs and establish Envoy car sharing at optimal parking locations. Several of these organizations have indicated a willingness to provide a parking space for car sharing services throughout the three-year project period. PEV Charging installations will be facilitated by the local utility, Pacific Power, and OpConnect. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will perform data collection and analysis, to help the Project develop a model of financially sustainable car sharing, which will be refined and improved throughout the project. Forth and Columbia Willamette Clean Cities will disseminate the findings via webinars, conferences, regional workshops, to publicize results and entice other Clean Cities Coalitions to pursue initiating PEV car sharing in rural communities, nationwide. If successful, the CRuSE Project could bring PEV car sharing services to underserved rural communities nationwide, providing rural America with improved transportation access, energy efficiency benefits, environmental benefits, at lower costs to users.   [Continue Reading]

New MCCFL Facility Opens in The Dalles

August 29, 2019 – Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) began seeing clients at its new facility at 1060 Webber Street in The Dalles in early August.  Construction of the facility was funded by a combination of grants, matching funds, and loan funds. Wasco County received $2 million from the Community Development Block Grant program from the Oregon Business Development Department.  MCEDD supported Wasco County with grant administration for the project since 2016 when the funds were awarded. In addition to grant funds, the project was supported by MCCFL funds and a loan from Wasco County. As the grant recipient, the County officially owns the new facility for the first five years. MCCFL provides integrated physical and behavioral health services for people with mental illness, substance abuse and intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new facility allows MCCFL to consolidate all programs and administration into one building and enable separate treatment areas for adult and children’s services. In addition, the building will provide for state of the art lighting, electrical, plumbing, heating, and technology. It will also provide a comfortable, safe healing center designed and developed for and with people who have mental illness, addictions and/or developmental disabilities. The facility will allow MCCFL to provide treatment and services for 1,600 low to moderate-income adults, children and families dealing with mental illness, addictions and/or developmental disabilities.   [Continue Reading]

LINK Offers Free Rides to Farmers Market

August 29, 2019 –   The LINK Public Transportation is offering free public transportation to The Dalles Farmers’ Market for the last six Saturdays of the 2019 season. From 9am to 1pm on Saturdays from September 7 through October 12, the community can book a door-to-door ride on The LINK from home to the market and back. “The Dalles’ Farmers Market is an important event for our community, with healthy local fruits and vegetables, prepared food, live music and a fun atmosphere. We are happy to offer free rides to bring the community together,” said Charlotte Sallee, Transportation Operations Director for The LINK.  This free service is thanks to sponsors Mid-Columbia Medical Foundation, Providence Health and Services, and The Arc of the Mid-Columbia. The LINK is operated by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) and provides door-to-door public transportation within the City of The Dalles and select areas of Wasco County, reaching as far as Mosier, Dufur and Celilo Village. In April 2019, the LINK also started a bus route that loops key stops in The Dalles every hour and makes deviations with ¼ mile of the route.  Anyone and everyone in The Dalles is welcome to ride the LINK to the market. To ride, call the LINK at 541-296-7595 to request a pick-up time and location. For best availability, schedule rides at least one day before. The LINK picks up riders at their door and brings them to The Dalles Farmers’ Market at The Dalles City Park. After enjoying the market, the LINK takes riders home, or to their location of choice.   [Continue Reading]

Lost Lake Resort: Tradition and History Get a Refresh on Mt. Hood

August 29, 2019 – Jason Taylor and Derek DeBorde purchased Lost Lake Resort in 2012. A resort at Lost Lake has been in operation since 1921 and runs with a permit on land managed by the US Forest Service.  Set on the edge of a 245-acre lake with majestic views of Mount Hood, this lodge and camping retreat is open from May to October.  Lost Lake Resort features 148 campsites, a public boat launch, an accessible fishing dock and numerous trails. Visitors can rent clear bottom boats, kayaks, row boats, pedal boats and paddle boards both hourly and daily. Rentals and services can be scheduled and paid for at the General Store, which also carries a variety of items ranging from fishing tackle and camping equipment to toys, beer and wine. Another one of the many attractions at Lost Lake is the old growth boardwalk, an interpretive trail the meanders through one of Oregon’s large old growth stands. With financing through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) Taylor and DeBorde were able to complete a comprehensive remodel and tune up of the resort that included the addition of a new cabin, new rental units, new shower and laundry facilities, a new boat house and a new restaurant, the Lost Lake Grille. The MCEDD Loan Program is available to entrepreneurs, startup 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. Contact Isreal Ayala Guevara at 541-296-2266 or israel@mcedd.org for more information on MCEDD’s Loan Program.   [Continue Reading]

Volcanic Bottle Shoppe: Craft Beer and Community in Hood River

July 26, 2019 – Amanda Goeke and Abe Stevens opened Volcanic Bottle Shoppe nine years ago to bring a curated craft beer selection to the Columbia River Gorge. This craft beer bar and retail shop, located at 1410 12th Street in Hood River, features a wide selection of carefully curated beer.  Amanda and Abe go out of their way to seek new, trending, and non-mainstream breweries and beers. They pride themselves on their tap list and coolers and are mindful to support the “little guys.” Volcanic Bottle Shoppe also offers a community meeting space where Hood River residents can meet over a drink in a light and open environment focused on after work and early evening meet-ups.  For several years they have offered beer school classes hosted by guests from local industry and they are always happy to talk to their customers about different beer styles. With the help of a loan through the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board (a fund staffed by MCEDD) Amanda and Abe were able to refinance the purchase of the building that Volcanic Bottle Shoppe calls home. Volcanic strives to set themselves apart by their selection and personalized customer service.  At Volcanic, you will find a passion for craft beer and for community. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District operates a number of business loan programs, including funds through the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board. The MCEDD Loan Programs are 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.   [Continue Reading]

Everybody Rides/Todos Arriba

July 16, 2019 – The videos are here!   [Continue Reading]

College Reaches UAV Training Milestone

June 28, 2019 – Columbia Gorge Community College recently announced that they are now the first institution in the Pacific Northwest offering “Trusted Operator Program ‘Level One'” certification training for commercial UAV pilots.  Read more: https://www.cgcc.edu/news/college-achieves-unmanned-flight-training-milestone   [Continue Reading]

Ziegenhagen Builds Business

June 28, 2019 – Ziegenhagen Enterprises, LLC is a 16 year old construction business located in The Dalles, Oregon.  It is owned by husband and wife, Scott and Sarah Ziegenhagen.  With an increasing line up of contracted projects for  2019, Scott contacted MCEDD about financing to purchase equipment and to obtain additional working capital. The equipment, including concrete form boards and welding equipment, will allow the business to grow and take on more projects that Scott enjoys doing. With approval for a small loan, Ziegenhagen Enterprises is poised to have a strong year and complete some great projects, including a 1750 sf custom home, a 36’ x 36’ shop, a 30’ x 40’ shop, and a fitness area at Sorosis Park. Scott’s reputation in the industry has allowed him to operate primarily by word-of-mouth from satisfied customers. Ziegenhagen Enterprises LLC can do all phases of construction from the initial design (under 4,000 sf), site excavation, foundation, framing, siding, roofing and finish work.  He also does concrete driveways, walkways, patios, and steps to include stamped and decorative finishes.  Scott can do whole building demolitions.  He particularly enjoys the concrete work and designing and building garages, shops, and houses.  For inquiries about projects, contact Scott at (541) 296-3420. 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.  For more information on MCEDD’s Loan Program, visit www.mcedd.org.   [Continue Reading]

Downtown Hood River Parking and Transportation Survey

June 27, 2019 – The City of Hood River is gathering public input on transportation and parking options in and around Downtown Hood River. Please take a few minutes to fill out their survey to share your preferences and help shape how the City will invest in parking and mobility improvements in Downtown over the coming years. The survey is open until July 15, 2019. Survey More information: http://ci.hood-river.or.us/Downtown_Parking_Study   [Continue Reading]