Survey: Commuter bus service from Portland to the Columbia Gorge
January 31, 2018 – Gorge TransLink, an alliance of regional public transportation providers, is working with a private partner on a feasibility analysis for a Monday–Friday commuter bus service from Portland to the Columbia Gorge. If there is enough interest, service could begin this year with amenities like secure wifi, laptop trays, and bike storage. Take this quick survey and share the link with your colleagues and employees: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GorgeCommuterBus MCEDD houses a regional mobility manager and seeks to support solutions to regional transportation needs, in partnership with Gorge TransLink. For more information contact Kathy Fitzpatrick at 541-296-2266 or mobility@mcedd.org. [Continue Reading]MCEDD Financing Supports Start-up Alpaca Clothing Company
January 26, 2018 – Woop!Wear is a small alpaca clothing company which started in 2007 with a desire to bring alpaca into the outdoor industry. Owner, Gina Eisele discovered that alpaca fiber unique qualities of silky softness coupled with its ability to provide lightweight warmth make it the perfect fiber for outdoor apparel. In the first year, she developed a base layer product, entirely not perfect and much more “sweater like” than what she wanted. After much experimenting and countless meetings with fabric producers, Woop!Wear now offers lightweight alpaca base layers, filed pants and coats outerwear, knit hat and socks. Woop!Wear purchases the alpaca fiber directly from Peru, designs the clothes, outsources the production and sells the outdoor apparel. Based in Trout Lake, Washington, Woop!Wear operates its business in an area that offers optimal field testing for its alpaca active wear products. MCEDD provided a $50,000 working capital loan and Gina used these funds to purchase fabric and manufacture products for inventory to sell. Woop!Wear sells its products through its own website, www.woopwear.com, Amazon.com and annually at the Portland Sportsman Show. 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 MCEDD’s Loan Fund Manager at 541-296-2266 or loanmanager@mcedd.org for more information on MCEDD’s Loan Program. [Continue Reading]“Hood River Port eyes paths to a new bridge”
January 24, 2018 – The Port of Hood River is taking a deep dive into options for replacing the Hood River White-Salmon Interstate Bridge. The Bridge was the #1 regional strategy priority in 2017/8 to secure the resources for permitting, environmental review and feasibility analysis. Read more from the Hood River News on the status of the January 2018 meeting here. [Continue Reading]Apply for the Corwin Hardham Scholarship (deadline March 19, 2018)
January 24, 2018 – The Corwin Hardham Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to Gorge high school seniors pursuing post-secondary degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM), is now accepting applications. Click here for the application. Seniors in the five-county area pursuing degrees in STEM should apply by March 19, 2018 for consideration. One $2,000 scholarship will be awarded to a qualified graduating high school senior in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Skamania, or Klickitat County. The student must be graduating from high school or home school or receiving a GED in the spring/summer of 2018. [Continue Reading]Supplemental Budget Changes for FY 2018 Adopted
January 22, 2018 – In January, the MCEDD Board of Directors adopted revisions to the Fiscal Year 2018 MCEDD budget. See the: notice of supplemental budget changes. total revised budget, including the supplemental change. [Continue Reading]Transportation Solutions Research Underway for Eastern Klickitat County
December 28, 2017 – MCEDD is partnering with the National Association of Development Organization (NADO) Research Foundation and Klickitat County Economic Development to identify potential solutions to transportation needs of employers in eastern Klickitat County. Klickitat County’s economic development partnership was a primary factor driving this study. “MCEDD’s established relationship with Klickitat County Economic Development has been fruitful for both organizations, leading to the successful implementation of projects that have had a strong positive impact on Klickitat County’s economic development. This new collaborative effort will create further benefits for the communities within our region,” stated Richard Foster. “MCEDD’s growing involvement in transit issues is a real plus for our workforce, many of whom are commuting long distances in personal vehicles. The NADO study will help identify the transit market and will lead to lower cost options for worker commutes,” noted Dana Peck, Goldendale Chamber and MCEDD Board member. Contact Kathy Fitzpatrick at kathy@mcedd.org or 541-296-2266 to participate or learn more. [Continue Reading]Gorge Teams Excel at FLL Robotics Tournaments; Annual Tech Awards Announced
December 28, 2017 – In December, teams from throughout the Gorge competed in robotics tournaments in The Dalles and Hood River. The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) robotics tournaments for students ages 9 to 14 were hosted by the Gorge Tech Alliance. Out of 50 teams from around the five-county area, 15 were chosen over the three day-long events to advance to the state competition in January. These events interest students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and tie in well with the goals of the GTA to support STEM education. MCEDD staff was well represented this year! Jessica Metta serves as Tournament Director with Carrie Pipinich volunteering as Head Referee for the events in The Dalles and Jacque Schei volunteering as a Core Values Judge. The Annual Gorge Tech Awards recognized Ryan Hartman as the 2017 GTA Technology Leader of the Year and Insitu Commercial Division as the 2017 Gorge Technology Organization of the Year. Ryan Hartman,President and CEO of Insitu, was honored as the 2017 GTA Technology Leader of the Year for his leadership of Insitu since 2014 which has grown significantly since then, for the corporate culture he has fostered, the work he’s done in acknowledgment of Insitu’s many ties to the Gorge community as a whole, his support of nonprofits and STEM education in the region. One outstanding finalist was also honored: Tom Furey, Chief Operating Officer of Sagetech Corporation, for his technical and company achievements, community outreach and leadership since joining Sagetech in 2015. Insitu Commercial Division was honored as the 2017 Gorge Tech Organization of the Year for their work on emergency response related to the September 2017 Eagle Creek Fire, the Fall 2017 California wildfires and the Hurricane Harvey response. Their work to pioneer the use of drones in the national airspace is keeping communities and first responders safer while improving the efficiency of emergency response efforts. [Continue Reading]Financing Helps Pita Pit Establish in Hood River
December 28, 2017 – Cheramy Rovianek received a loan from MCEDD to open the Pita Pit in Hood River. After having raised and sent their last child off to college, Cheramy was looking for a way to stay connected to the community and the young people that had filled her life. Her husband Doug, a local builder, had often commented on the lack of fast food options in the Heights. One day, while on a shopping trip in Portland, she stopped for a quick lunch at a Pita Pit and after her first bite she was hooked. This was a perfect “Gorge Lifestyle” fit. Great tasting food that is healthy, fresh, and still served fast is Pita Pit’s alternative to standard fast food. Pita Pit makes the perfect spot to grab a meal in a fun, casual atmosphere where customers can create their perfect pita with endless flavor combinations of lean meats, toppings and spreads. Guests and employees appreciate the promotion of healthy eating. Operating and running a small business in a small town has had incredible challenges, especially this year. “I don’t know how we would have made it without the support of Eric and MCEDD. You name it; we in the gorge have had it: snow, rain, wind, fires, closed freeways!” Cheramy stated. Although, she still says, “Having amazing employees, meeting wonderful people and having the privilege of donating to great organizations make being a business owner very rewarding. Opening the Pita Pit was one of the best things I have ever done!” Pita Pit is open from 9 am to 9 pm on weekdays, 10 am – 9 pm Saturday and 11 am – 8 pm Sunday. 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 morere information on MCEDD’s Loan Program. [Continue Reading]Growth of the Craft Brewery Industry Through MCEDD Financing
December 28, 2017 – Growth of the local craft beer industry has been spurred with investments through MCEDD’s loan program. Funding for business start ups and expansions have supported a number of start-ups and expansions in the past few years, including Solera Brewery, Pfriem (named the top mid-sized brewery in the nation in 2018), Freebridge and Defiance Brewery Solera Brewery- Parkdale, OR In November 2011, MCEDD made a $130,000 loan to Baseline Brewing, Inc dba Solera Brewery to purchase the Elliot Glacier Public House building and start up a brew pub in Parkdale, Oregon. Business partners Jason Kahler and John Hitt have since successfully remodeled and retrofitted this building for their business. They have established a well-regarded brewery and continued to invest into the business, including establishing a barrel aging and bottling program.Solera Brewery is located at 4945 Baseline Drive in Parkdale, Oregon. Learn more about Solera Brewery at www.solerabrewery.com. FreeBridge Brewery- The Dalles, OR With the help of a $200,000 loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Steve and Laurie have opened Freebridge Brewing in The Dalles, Oregon. Freebridge Brewing, located in the historic Mint Building located at 710 E. 2nd Street, had its grand opening January 9th. It is the first brewery in The Dalles since 1916, when Columbia Brewery closed their doors due to prohibition. “The Dalles has waited long enough and MCEDD played a significant part in the raising of this brewery”, said Steve. Learn more at www.freebridgebrewing.com. Sedition Brewering Company- The Dalles, OR The Sedition Brewing Company is a craft brewery and public house located at 208 Laughlin Street in ThDe Dalles, Oregon. The century-old Contributed photo. Credit: Christi Thayer Photography structure the brewery is housed in was once used for ice production and storage serving all of Eastern Oregon. Sedition Brewing Company obtained an Oregon Investment Board capital loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District for the purchase a seven barrel brewhouse and related brewing equipment. Learn more about Sedition Brewing Company at www.seditionbrewing.com [Continue Reading]Financing Helps Renewal Workshop Expand Operations
December 12, 2017 – Nicole Bassett and Jeff Denby, co-founders of The Renewal Workshop, received a $200,000 MCEDD loan in October 2017 to expand their operations in Cascade Locks, OR. The Renewal Workshop is a new kind of apparel company that makes discarded clothing and textiles into something new. They partner with apparel brands and retailers to recover value from their unsellable returns and excess inventory. Their Renewal System takes discarded apparel and textiles and turns them into Renewed Apparel, upcycling materials or feedstock for recycling. Data is collected on everything that flows through the system and is shared with their brand partners to help them improve the production and design of future products. Renewed apparel is available for sale at the company’s website www.renewalworkshop.com. They are the certified renewal partner of their brand partners. The Renewal Workshop operates a zero waste circular system that recovers the full value out of what has already been created as a way of serving customers, partners and planet. 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 MCEDD’s Loan Fund Manager at 541-296-2266 or loanmanager@mcedd.org for more information on MCEDD’s Loan Program. [Continue Reading]- « Previous Page
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