Bend in the Road Rehabilitates Hood River Heights Building
March 21, 2018 – Bend in the Road, LLC obtained a MCEDD loan in December 2017 to start up an antiques and collectibles cooperative. This unique collaboration of local collectors, up-cyclers and refinishers are located in a newly remodel building located at 1120 Tucker Road in Hood River Oregon. These vendors offer antiques, furniture, jewelry, home décor, colle ctibles, vintage clothing, artwork and lots of other unique vintage and homemade items. With the help of this MCEDD loan, Keely Stawicki (owner) purchased and completely remodeled this building, which was originally a gas station and convenience store. This 1940’s building was home to many different businesses throughout the years. “Most people remember it as ‘Booth’s Corner’ and then it was a Good Karma Thrift Store,” says Keely. “Everyone thought we were going to tear the building down. The historic old building located on the corner on the Hood River heights has finally gotten a much-needed facelift after decades of being in disrepair”. Bend in the Road facility rehabilitation in progress After completely gutting the building, the remodel included leveling floor and doorways so everything is on the same level, replacing flooring, lighting, electrical wiring and the installation of wall boards and ceiling boards and paving the parking lot. Recently the building facade was completed for a whole new look and landscaping will soon be completed. Bend in the Road exterior completion “We had gotten the project as far as we could, as with any remodel it always takes more than you think its going to. We were able to tackle the most important projects in order to get the apartment rented and get the store open for business. But we ran out of funding and needed a little help in finishing the most important part of the project. We knew we couldn’t stop now,” Keely noted. Mid-Columbia Economic and Development District loaned the much-needed funding to finish the front of the building. The project included a post and beam timber porch with board and batten siding. Keely supported Dee Ranch Company, another small business that she is connected with saying “A special shout out The Dee Ranch Company for supplying all of the custom timbers, lumber and siding. The real wood gives it that classic timeless look that we wanted!” Keely manages the day to day operations of this retail cooperative, Bend in the Road Vintage Boutique and Antiques and wants everyone to know that “we are working towards making it a destination. A fun shopping atmosphere mixed with a variety of fun hard to find items for purchase.” Keely is also one of the retail vendors and offers do-it-yourself classes on furniture refinishing and other useful topics. With a focus on refinishing furniture, Bend in the Road carries Dixie Belle Paint and Howard Products. Bend in the Road, LLC is open from 11 am to 5 pm daily. You can learn more about Bend in the Road, LLC at its Facebook page or at www.bendintheroadhr.com. 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. Contact the MCEDD Loan Fund Manager at 541-296-2266 or loanmanager@mcedd.org for more information on MCEDD’s Loan Program. [Continue Reading]Google Dedicates New Building in The Dalles
March 16, 2018 – “THE DALLES, Ore., March 15, 2018 — Google officially opened its Taylor Lake data center in The Dalles today with an afternoon celebration attended by employees with their families and local community members. The celebration marked the completion of the first phase of the construction, just as the second phase of building gets underway. The completion of the $600 million expansion will bring Google’s total investment in The Dalles to $1.8 billion.” Read more from the Gorge Newscenter here. [Continue Reading]Historic Hotel Ownership Dream Realized
March 16, 2018 – Josiah Dean and Claire Sierra arrived in June 2015 to take over operations of the Balch hotel in Dufur, Oregon under lease agreement. Through a partnership between a local community bank and Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s loan program, they obtained a MCEDD loan and a commercial loan to purchase the hotel property and business in June 2016. Josiah stated at the time: “We’re thrilled to have this opportunity. To own this charming hotel, in this beautiful Gorge location is beyond our wildest dreams. We’re so grateful to [MCEDD and our bank], for helping to make this happen.” The Balch Hotel was built in 1907 by Charles Balch. The hotel has 18 guest rooms with a spa, parlor, dining room, staff quarters, and commercial kitchen. The hotel originally was excited to offer “hot and cold water in every room, electric lights and steam heat.” The 18-inch thick walls, made with locally made bricks, keep the building cool during the hot Dufur summers. It operated as a hotel into the 1940’s and then was used as apartments, rooming house and private residence until 1988, when it was restored as a hotel. The restoration continued with two different owners from 1998 into 2015, bringing the Balch Hotel back to its historic grandeur. It currently operates as a boutique hotel that is a wedding, retreat and event location. For more information on the Balch Hotel, please contact Josiah and Claire at 541-467-2277 or visit the hotel website. The MCEDD Loan Program is available to entrepreneurs, start up business 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]Business Impact Study
March 14, 2018 – Businesses and the economy are benefiting from access to financing through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), according to a recent study conducted by the Oregon Consulting Group. The team completed an independent analysis of MCEDD’s revolving loan fund program, revealing that businesses in the program have overall significantly contributed to employment, wages, and community health. The program, which is available to entrepreneurs, start-up businesses and expanding businesses in Sherman, Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania counties, was created to provide access to capital and complement private sector lending. Metrics from the study measured the growth of businesses over time and provided a comparison pre- and post-financing of the change in number of employees, business revenue and area growth. Across each metric, businesses performed well. Highlights include: total wage growth of $40 million more than 50% of wage growth attributable to jobs paying higher than average wages for the region program had a significant impact on hiring employees, with 85% noting that the financing through MCEDD allowed them to increase employment in the local area. Significantly, that hiring trend continued post-financing, as well. businesses are reinvesting into community businesses had a a $450,000 median increase in sales 88% of businesses were stable or growing after concluding their financial relationship with MCEDD. The full final report is available here. Read the press release here. [Continue Reading]Comment on Opportunity Zones
March 13, 2018 – “The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 establishes a new federal tax incentive to encourage long-term investments in certain low-income communities newly designated as Opportunity Zones. Through Opportunity Funds, private investment within a designated Opportunity Zone may earn tax relief on both the capital gains invested in the funds and those generated through the investment by the fund.”– Business Oregon In the Mid-Columbia region there are two primary opportunities for comment: Oregon: Comments are open through 5 pm Pacific Time on March 14, 2018. More information is available here. Comment using this form: http://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/form/14786/0045:d-0001/0/-/-/-/-/index.htm. Washington. Skamania County Economic Development Council and the Klickitat County Economic Development Authority are prioritizing potentially eligible zones. Comments and support letters are requested by March 26, 2018. MCEDD’s Executive Committee authorized submission of comments for the region in relation to the Zone, in coordination with our City, County and Port economic development partners. Please contact us at 541-296-2266 or mcedd@mcedd.org with questions. [Continue Reading]John Day Pumped Storage (Goldendale Energy) Project Advances
March 12, 2018 – The regionally significant proposed John Day Pumped Storage project took another step forward. The Portland Business Journal reports: “A proposed $2 billion pumped-hydro energy storage project alongside the Columbia River has taken a “small but very important step” forward, as backers termed it, winning a permit from federal regulators to explore its feasibility. Other similar proposals at the site, 110 miles upriver from Portland, have made it to this point before, then faded away in the face of a tangle of financing, regulatory and energy market issues. But the project leader this time around, Rye Development, along with partner National Grid, believes the rising need for flexible generating capacity on a grid with evermore variable wind and solar provides a compelling rationale for what it calls the Goldendale Energy Storage Project. The preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission runs for three years and gives the Rye group dibs on applying for a license to actually build a facility.” Read more from the Portland Business Journal here. [Continue Reading]Economic Development + School Reutilization: Sagetech in Dallesport
March 1, 2018 – “Sagetech and the Lyle School District announced they have entered into a 10-year lease for the shuttered Dallesport Elementary School at the corner of Central Boulevard and 6th Avenue, in Dallesport.” Read more from the White Salmon Enterprise here. MCEDD Board member Tom Furey described Sagetech’s commitment to the community noting that “We are committing to contributing some money for [the school district] to help improve local sporting facilities, hosting internships and job shadowing students at Sagetech, and sponsoring two $2,500 scholarships for students pursuing further STEM education beyond high school.” [Continue Reading]Honald Building Apartment Renovation Project Seeks to Rejuvenate City
February 14, 2018 – Travis Dillard, a Gorge native, and his wife, Jen Dillard, purchased the Honald Building in September of 2016 with the intention of converting the second floor into nine high-end, loft-style apartments. They have secured the construction financing through MCEDD and Columbia Bank. “Without Columbia Bank and the gap financing Eric Nerdin and MCEDD provided, this project wouldn’t be possible,” said Travis. He continued, “This type of partnership is exactly what’s going to continue attracting investors into The Dalles. The result being a renovated downtown corridor and a rejuvenated City.” Travis and Jen, along with many others, believe that The Dalles is changing rapidly, for the better. “Take a walk downtown. You’ll see new breweries, coffee shops, restaurants, and other businesses popping up and thriving. The historic downtown charm, coupled with abundant outdoor amenities, makes The Dalles an exciting place to live, work, and invest. I believe higher-end downtown housing is crucial to The City and its next phase of progress,” stated Dillard. The building was constructed in 1910 by the Walther-Williams Hardware Company. It has been used as a hardware store, one of Oregon’s first automobile dealerships, a music store, and other retail uses. The second floor was the Walther-Williams Apartments which have been unoccupied since the 1930’s. The Historic Honald Building sits at the unofficial center of downtown on E 2nd and Federal Street. It’s 10,000 Square foot first floor is the current home to local businesses, including KODL, Lilo’s Barbeque, The Wedding Shop, and other retail shops. Up until now (demolition has been completed), the 10,000 square foot second floor housed the remains of the original apartments. The final project will consist of three studios, five one-bedroom, and one two-bedroom apartments. “We intend to reuse and restore as much of the original apartment materials as possible. This includes trim, flooring, slider doors, glass, and other materials,” says Dillard. The apartments will 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. “We’re very excited about this project. There’s simply nothing like this in The Dalles. We feel it will attract wonderful tenants whom will be happy to live downtown and benefit from everything The City has to offer, all in walking distance.”. Travis added. 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 programs. [Continue Reading]Impact of Federal Economic Development Programs
February 14, 2018 – Mid-Columbia Economic Development District is a regional economic development entity in Oregon and Washington with a mission to promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the diversification of the economic base, and the growth, development and retention of business and industry within the five-county district. In order to meet that mission and ensure the economic health of the region, we have adopted a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy to guide our regional economic development actions. Successful implementation of this plan rests, in part, on our ability to invest into infrastructure in our rural American region and create a supportive environment for business investment. Learn more about the local impact of the following federal programs: US Economic Development Administration US Department of Agriculture Rural Development [Continue Reading]Flex Buildings Nearing Completion in the Region
February 7, 2018 – New spaces for businesses will be available in Cascade Locks, OR and Dallesport, WA this year. Columbia Gorge Regional Airport Flex Space interior In Dallesport, the Columbia Gorge Regional Airport Flex Space is wrapping up the final completion. The project received funding from the US Economic Development Administration. Learn more about the property here: https://www.columbiagorgeairport.com/property.htm. Contact the Airport manager at (541) 993-1011 for more information. Flex 4 building, Cascade Locks, exterior In Cascade Locks, two flex spaces are underway. The Port of Cascade Locks reported in February: “Flex 2 is now fully erected with contractors working to complete the electrical, plumbing and fire suppression system. […] The building is expected to be ready for tenants to move in by mid-March. Contractors were able to pour the concrete slab of Flex Building 4 the last week of December thanks to our mild winter weather. After a curing period, they were able to complete erection of red iron and the installation of the sheeting. Finally, the roof is currently being installed. The Port intends for Flex Building 4 to be ready for tenants to move in by the end of May.” Contact the Port for information at (541) 374-8619. [Continue Reading]- « Previous Page
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