Symposium Tickets Now Available
June 25, 2019 – Tickets are now available for the 2019 Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium. Last year’s event sold out, so register now to secure your space. Join us at the Fort Dalles Readiness Center on Friday, November 1, 2019. Purchase tickets for the Symposium here. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of MCEDD, this year’s symposium will focus on a discussion around 50 years of the Gorge economy. David Anderson, NW Natural CEO, will serve as the event’s keynote speaker. Aggregated regional data as well as county data will be provided by economists Scott Bailey and Dallas Fridley, covering Hood River, Wasco, Sherman Klickitat and Skamania counties. [Continue Reading]Gorge Opportunity Zones Convening June 21st
June 18, 2019 – WHAT’S ALL THIS ABOUT OPPORTUNITY ZONES? FIND OUT JUNE 21st! Workshop will look at new federal tax incentive and how it can work in the Mid-Columbia If you’ve heard about the new Opportunity Zone tax incentive and still aren’t sure how you can participate, you’re not alone. An upcoming workshop is planned to help clear up those questions. “Opportunity Zones” starts Friday, June 21, at 8:30 a.m. at the Hegewald Center, 710 SW Rock Creek Dr., Stevenson. The event is organized by the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District as part of its mission to promote economic growth. The Opportunity Zone program was established through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, and was designed to provide tax incentives to investors who fund businesses in underserved communities. Investors can defer paying taxes on capital gains that are invested in Qualified Opportunity Funds. In turn, those funds are invested in distressed communities designated as Opportunity Zones by each state’s governor. In the Mid-Columbia counties of Hood River, Klickitat, Sherman, Skamania and Wasco, 10 opportunity zones census tracts have been identified, five in Oregon and five in Washington. This workshop will bring in authorities who will discuss Opportunity Zones from several different perspectives. Melissa LaFayette of the National Development Council will provide an overview of the topic including: Opportunity Zones 101, locations of opportunity, Opportunity Zones as a tool for housing and business development. Qualified Opportunity Fund operators will explore how investors can participate and what funders are looking for in projects. Stephen Brooks of the Oregon Model will discuss project awareness and community connections, including mechanisms to promote projects and the social impact of Opportunity Zone investing. RSVP is required. RSVP to marla@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266. [Continue Reading]The Dalles Completes Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
May 24, 2019 – In 2015, the City of The Dalles embarked on a Progressive Design-Build project to upgrade their wastewater treatment plant. Since January of 2017, MCEDD has been supporting the City in management of labor standards for the project to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations during the construction. The goals of the project were to provide residents with sustainable and reliable treatment facilities that were in full compliance with state and federal regulations. After four years of planning, design and construction, the project is complete. The many upgrades to the plant, which included a cogeneration facility, will allow the City to treat peak wastewater flow rates while promoting sustainability by lowering operating costs and generating clean energy. The upgrades have also increased plant capacity from a peak flow rating of 7.7 mgd to 13.2 mgd (the projected capacity for the year 2037). To learn more about the details of the upgrades, the Progressive Design-Build process, and estimated project energy savings, click here. [Continue Reading]Housing for the “Missing Middle” Market
May 23, 2019 – Longstanding and well-known builders of homes in the City of Hood River, Mike Kitts and Doug Beveridge, are continuing to build their reputation for completing affordable and workforce housing projects. Over the last 20 years, Mike Kitts and Doug have built over 450 homes in Hood River. They are adding more units to that roster, with the development of a housing project on Belmont Drive. This project leverages their track record for addressing the “missing middle” market by constructing and selling home below market rate. For this project, Mike and Doug partnered with a local land owner to develop an 18 unit single family housing project. Obtaining financing through the North Central Oregon Attainable Housing Development Revolving Loan Funds, the project is addressing a segment of the market that has been underserved. 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). While Mike and Doug would have been able to proceed with the project without the support from the Attainable Housing fund, financing helped them accelerate the phases of development. The homes had a huge demand even prior to construction, with new homeowners encompassing individuals core to the heart of the Hood River community. Doug states: “Thanks to the Regional Solutions/MCEDD loan program, we were able to get 18 homes built in just under 11 months which simply wouldn’t have been possible without [that] funding. With the help of Attainable Housing Loan program, we now have teachers, firemen, nurses, an electrician, and a host of other people who now are able to live in the community they work in.” Through the North Central Oregon Attainable Housing Development Revolving Loan Program, MCEDD offers flexible financing for housing development and housing rehabilitation in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties. 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 or loanmanager@mcedd.org for more information on these MCEDD loan program. [Continue Reading]New Fixed Route Public Transportation Option in The Dalles
April 24, 2019 – Starting April 29, The LINK Public Transportation is offering a new deviated fixed route serving key stops in The Dalles. Circling the city on a one-hour loop on Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm, riders can get on stops at The Dalles Transit Center, near Goodwill to access the 6th street shopping area, Columbia Gorge Community College, Mid-Columbia Medical Center and the Veterans’ Service Office downtown. Similar to The LINK’s dial-a-ride service, which is still available for everyone, rides on the route are $1.50 each way. As an incentive to encourage the community to try out the new service, all rides on the deviated fixed route are free for the first two weeks of the service through May 10, 2019. The bus operates along a route with a regular schedule, but is called a “deviated” fixed route because it can also leave the route to accommodate requests for “off-route” drop-offs or pick-ups. The number of deviations per loop is limited and must be scheduled in advance by calling The LINK at 541-296-7595. Only deviations within 1/4 mile of the route are allowed. Time is built into the schedule to allow for deviations. This means the bus may get to the stops earlier than the scheduled time if there are no deviations, but the bus will not leave that stop until the time posted in the schedule. “This route was identified as a priority in the 2016 The Dalles Transportation System Plan,” said Charlotte Sallee, Transportation Operations Director. “Thanks to a grant from the Federal Transportation Administration and new Oregon state funding for public transportation, The LINK was able to launch this new service as another way to serve our community.” Earlier in April, The LINK announced a new option to pay for rides on LINK buses using a smartphone through the free Hopthru app. With mobile ticketing and a bus route, the LINK has more plans in the works that will better serve public transportation needs for everyone in Wasco County. Find the schedule and map for the deviated fixed route, information about the Hopthru app and more on The LINK’s pages at http://mcedd.org/linktransit or by calling The LINK at 541-296-7595. The LINK Public Transportation is operated by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District [Continue Reading]Sherman County Connects New Broadband with Gorge.net
April 23, 2019 – Over the last two years, Sherman County and its cities have come together to discuss broadband needs in its communities. After conducting surveys, community forums, and several planning meetings, the group identified partnership opportunities to develop a fiber-to-the-home network serving each of the cities in Sherman County and Biggs Junction. GorgeNet was selected to partner in providing that service during the summer of 2018 During the fall of 2018, the City of Moro was connected and this spring the Cities of Grass Valley, Wasco and Rufus will be connected. Speeds up to a gigabit will be available throughout. Carrie Pipinich, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Project Manager, coordinated the planning process, supported the communities in efforts to identify a partner to improve service and worked with the partners to successfully apply for $200,000 of funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund through Regional Solutions. Additional funding was provided by each City, Sherman County, and GorgeNet. Carrie works on broadband issues throughout the region and manages the Gorge Broadband Consortium. For more information on this and other new broadband developments, contact Carrie at 541-296-2266 or carrie@mcedd.org. [Continue Reading]Oregon Investment Board Allocates $80,000 for Expanded Pilot Loan Fund
April 21, 2019 – A program designed to support the financing needs of businesses in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is finding success. The Oregon Investment Board (OIB), staffed by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, created the pilot loan program in 2018 to support the financial needs of small businesses with a streamlined application process, minimal documentation and insurance requirements, ingrained small business counseling, and performance incentives. With eight local businesses successfully accessing the fund since it started last year, the Board decided to increase resources in the pilot loan program to encourage additional applications. Jack Miller, Board chair for the OIB states that, in creating the fund the Board “identified a need for a flexible financing tool to support businesses in the Scenic Area and one which could be deployed following economic emergencies.” Initially seeding the fund with $250,000, Jack notes the board is focused on the success of the program to-date and the future of the program for more businesses. He states “With the success of the pilot program and businesses who have accessed the resource, we are pleased to ensure an additional pool of loan funds, setting aside an additional $80,000 to the program.” Given the streamlined application process, these additional funds are also available in emergency situations. Amanda Hoey, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Executive Director noted that “many of the businesses who initially accessed the fund were suffering a combined period of economic stress from a difficult fire season following a long stretch of winter weather.” The pilot funds were ready to offer interim, short term gap financing. As the pilot program includes business counseling, the program is geared towards long-term success of local businesses as they grow and to support businesses through emergencies. Most often, businesses are accessing the small business counseling through resources at Columbia Gorge Community College’s Small Business Development Center. Overall, the OIB offers a wider range of financing tools for small businesses in the Oregon boundary of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in Wasco, Hood River and Multnomah counties. The OIB programs supplement traditional lending resources available through commercial banks and can provide funding when another lender is unable to work with a business client. More information on the pilot program and the application can be found at http://www.mcedd.org/financing/oregon-investment-board/apply/ In 1986, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act established a bi-state, six-county region shared by the states of Oregon and Washington. In conjunction with this Act, Congress earmarked a small amount of funding for Oregon and Washington for the purpose of making economic development loans and grants. The Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board (OIB) is responsible for the administration of the Oregon Economic Development Plan, within Multnomah, Hood River, and Wasco, the Oregon counties lying in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The Columbia River Gorge Commission certifies projects. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District provides administration for the program. [Continue Reading]100% recycled paper paint palettes company opens in Goldendale
April 20, 2019 – Toss Products LLC, a woman owned company, has developed Paint Plates™—100% recycled paper palettes designed to help artists, teachers, and paint party organizers save time on clean up and contribute to a cleaner planet by safely disposing of unused paint. Felicia Gray, a lifelong commercial artist and teacher, had the idea for the business product. From decades of cleaning up after student painters and washing leftover paint from plastic palettes, she knew those plastic palettes would eventually end up in a landfill and take up to a thousand years to degrade into smaller bits of plastic, potentially harming birds and animals. She states, “I couldn’t stand the fact that I was polluting the water with paint and adding to the plastic mess our planet is in, so I had to do something about it.” She went to work and created a prototype palette made of 100% recycled paper pulp that was water resistant and safely disposable. Her next step was to get the product to market and she knew she would need help. Felicia and her husband, Scott, a high school art teacher and potter, formed Toss Products LLC in early 2018. A few months later, the Grays were joined by Nicole Lundin and her husband, Rick. Nicole and Rick have decades of experience as entrepreneurs in product development, the patent process, national distribution, marketing and sales. After months of planning and filing patents in the US, Canada and the European Union, the company was ready to move forward to marketing the product nationwide and approached the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) for financing to bring Paint Plates to market. “We’re all pretty upbeat. We laugh a lot even at our early morning meetings, and between all four of us, we’ve got the skill sets to make this company a success,” said Nicole. “MCEDD and the Small Business Development Center in The Dalles have been great to work with,” she said. MCEDD funded Toss Products LLC in early April of 2019. Paint Plates are now available at www.paintplates.com, Amazon, Yakima Bindery in Yakima, WA, and the General Store in Goldendale, WA. The company welcomes wholesale inquiries. Contact sales@tossproducts.com, or call 509.314.3040 Ext. 2 for more information. 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]Goldendale Observatory Receives Innovative Tourism Funding
April 15, 2019 – The Port of Seattle’s innovative tourism marketing support program is providing direct benefits to the City of Goldendale and Goldendale Observatory State Park. A recently awarded $10,000 contract to the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce by the Port will be used to support astronomy and science tourism awareness of the area’s unique facilities. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has a $5.4 million renovation under way at the Goldendale Observatory, the nation’s only publicly accessible observatory in a park. The telescope has been upgraded, and the current project includes a 140-seat auditorium, systems to support the building and a major parking expansion, anticipated for completion in the Fall. Planned coordination with Maryhill Museum, the Nobel Prize winning LIGO research center, and Hanford’s B Reactor will create an unmatched astronomy, science, and eco-tourism opportunity. [Continue Reading]Regional Priorities Updated
April 6, 2019 – In March 2019 the MCEDD Board of Directors analyzed and adopted regional priorities for infrastructure needed throughout the five county region. Priorities were adopted as follows: WashingtonRankProject1Goldendale Pumped Storage Hydro2Stevenson Wastewater System3North Bonneville Substation4Buck Creek Water System5Broadband- Klickitat and Skamania6Columbia Gorge Regional Airport Business Park7 Cascades Business Park (North Bonneville) 8Dallesport Industrial Park Improvement Projects9 Bingen Point Industrial Park Projects 10City of North Bonneville Lift Station Oregon RankProject1Hood River Interstate Bridge2Workforce Housing Projects3Treatment of Wastewater4Broadband: Cascadia East Interconnection and Sherman Fiber5Dog River Pipeline Upgrade6Cascade Locks Substation7Biggs Water System8 Bridge of the Gods Maintenance and Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements 9Undergrounding Utilities (The Dalles)10Backup Power/Emergency Generator Purchase and Integration for Primary Municipal Well For more information on the projects visit: https://www.mcedd.org/strategy/priorities/ [Continue Reading]- « Previous Page
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