Mid Columbia Economic Development District strives to promote the creation of family-wage jobs, the diversification of the economic base, and the growth, development and retention of business and industry in Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania Counties
MCEDD is organized as a government non-profit in Oregon as an ORS-190 and in Washington through RCW 39.34.010.
March 28, 2016 – In July 2010, the Maupin Market opened in the former Graves Market building after Allison and Randy Bechtol purchased and completely remodeled the building, including new windows, roof, floors, interior layout and exterior facelift. Located at 507 Deschutes Avenue in downtown Maupin, the Maupin Market is open 8am to 8pm (8am to 7pm during the winter months), seven days a week. The Maupin Market offers groceries, fresh produce and many other items and has an OLCC liquor store and full service deli on premise.
Allison and Randy obtained initial financing for this project with funding through CenterPointe Community Bank, Evergreen Business Capital (SBA 504 loan) and a $100,000loan from Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. Recently, the Maupin Market obtain a second loan in the amount of $30,000 through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to provide funds to upgrade to more energy efficient lighting in deli and display cases, and to provide working capital for more efficient operation of the business, especially during the slower winter months.
The Maupin Market has around thirteen employees, which greatly helps the local economy and provides a much needed resource to Maupin residents and visitors. You can contact the Maupin Market at (541)395-2888 orwww.maupinmarket.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.
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February 28, 2016 – CRG Freight provides daily pickups and deliveries in the Columbia River Gorge and Portland areas. As a local and worldwide shipping specialist, CRG Freight will deliver an envelope or a truck load on time and affordably. Since 2006, CRG Freight has grown substantially, now operating several trucks with daily routes. Randy focuses on providing outstanding and friendly customer service while making sure his customers shipping and logistics need are met. Recently, CRG Freight obtained a loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) to help operate its business more efficiently and take advantage of growth opportunities that its current cash flow would not allow. Randy also received small business counseling assistance from Rick Liebowitz at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbia Gorge Community College. Randy states that the help he received from MCEDD and SBDC really helped him understand his business better and allowed CRG Freight to better controls its cash flow and expand business. Randy looks forward to more business training and classes through the SBDC.
More information about CRG Freight is available at www.crgfreight.com and Randy can be contacted at 541-393-9770.
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November 28, 2015 – In early 2015, Dee Dee and Thomas Vallier opened A Home Sweet Home Elder Care, an adult foster care business that specializes in senior memory care, including Alzheimers’s and other dementia. This newly constructed facility has capacity for five clients and a live-in care giver. There is a shortage of rooms for persons needing adult foster care throughout the Gorge, especially in facilities that provide the specialized care required for dementia patients. Dee Dee saw this need and has worked hard to provide a warm, safe and comfortable living environment with highly qualified staff to care for its residents.
Dee Dee, well known in the assisted living sector in the Mid-Columbia and beyond, has also been a patient safety advocate for more than 10 years. She is a former governor appointed member of the Oregon Patient Safety Commission and is currently serving on the Oregon Health Care Acquired Infection Advisory Committee. Dee Dee also collaborates with Consumers Union (Consumers Report) on healthcare issues.
The primary financing for the construction was provided through loans from Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) and the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board (OIB). This new business employs two full time and two part time employees. A Home Sweet Home Elder Care is located at 1680 3rd Street in Hood River, Oregon and is current accepting application for new clients. Dee Dee can be reached at (541) 387-5334 for more information.
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October 28, 2015 – Two coffee shops in Hood River received recent support through MCEDD financing. Operated by the same owner, Doppio Coffee and Ground Coffee, are serving high quality, fairtrade and organic coffee to residents and visitors to Hood River, Oregon.
Doppio Coffee: Doppio Coffee, located at 310 Oak Street, in downtown Hood River was purchased by Carin Agren in June 2015. Carin, already well known known in the coffee circles in Hood River as the owner of Ground Coffee, purchased Doppio because it is such a great business in an awesome location. The previous owner, Michael Barthmus, created and maintained an excellent gathering place that is more than a coffee shop. It is a breakfast and lunch restaurant and sandwich shop, too. Purchasing Doppio complements Carin’s existing business because the two businesses are in different locations on Oak Street and have mostly different clientele. Also Ground is a coffee roasting and wholesale business. Carin obtained a $125,200 loan to help with the purchase and ownership transition. Carin is very happy to have a great employees and super awesome customers at both Doppio Coffee and Ground Coffee.
Ground Coffee: In 2008, Carin Agren became interested in purchasing Ground Coffee in downtown Hood River. She came to MCEDD for a loan to help her do just that! MCEDD’s Intermediary Revolving Loan Fund program was able to provide needed capital to purchase the business from its previous owners and maintain the 30 year tradition of coffee shops in its location. After taking over, Carin has focused on roasting wonderful, fair trade and organic coffee beans she sells to customers throughout the Gorge in addition to serving in her shop. Ground also focuses on creating a welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike with freshly baked pastries, daily soup and sandwich specials, and local art displayed on the walls. Head over to their website groundhoodriver.com for more information.
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July 28, 2015 – Lorraine Lyons and Rod Steward obtained a $55,000 small business loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to help open a craft beer taphouse and growler fill station business. Their new business, 64oz. Taphouse and Growler Station opened in May 2015 and is located at 110 Third Street in downtown Hood River. 64oz. offers 30 taps of constantly rotating local, regional and international craft beers and ciders. You can enjoy a pint, a flight and stay a while or fill a growler to go.
Lorraine and Rod compliment their customers, saying “Community support has been fantastic”. 64oz. Taphouse and Growler Station’s loan from MCEDD helped finance the purchase of equipment, renovations to their new location and cover other start up costs. Rod and Lorraine are appreciative of this regional resource, saying “We can’t thank MCEDD enough for their monetary support. Without MCEDD this start up wouldn’t have been possible. We’re looking forward to opening a second location with their support in the future.”
As a new business, 64oz. is creating jobs that support the area’s economy and just hired their fifth employee earlier this month. You can learn more about 64oz. Taphouse and Growler Station at their Facebook page.
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March 28, 2015 – NuCulture Foods is a innovative company focused on creating nutritious, plant based food products in The Dalles. Jennifer and Chip Hogan are leveraging Jenny’s extensive experience in the food industry with Chip’s business and production background to grow NuCulture. The company is currently focused on development and distribution of its cashew based, vegan cultured cheese spreads. They are committed to producing their products here in the Gorge in a way that supports sustainable Look out for three tasty flavors in stores around the Gorge and beyond! NuCulture came to MCEDD in search of gap financing as they built out their production space and purchased equipment to help them scale up. MCEDD was able to provide financing using its USDA Intermediary Relending program. Find more information on their website.
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January 30, 2015 – January 2015 Loan Client Profile: Artistic Excavation, LLC, is a construction company in White Salmon, WA. The company specializes in excavation, rock wall landscaping, road building, and foundation excavation. They work with all types of clients, from municipalities to individuals.
Aaron Kreps, owner, and his crew are staying busy with projects throughout the Gorge. Larger projects include work on the State Street updates in Hood River and waterline projects in White Salmon, along with main line gas improvements for NW Natural Gas. Since the company received a loan from MCEDD a little over two years ago to purchase additional equipment, Artistic Excavation has grown from two employees to six! To get in touch with Aaron about Artistic Excavation’s services visit their website at artisticx.com.
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December 30, 2014 – Fun Country Powersports is a family owned and operated business in The Dalles that focuses on powersports sales, service, and parts. Their products are diversified to include off- and on-road vehicles for recreation in all seasons as well as agricultural clients looking for the latest tools to support their own businesses.
In 2009, the business was 40 years old, and in need of an upgrade to their facility to support the strong growth in their sales and services. In order to get the project done quickly so that they could continue to provide the positive experience their customers had become accustomed to they approached Mid-Columbia Economic Development and the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board about a loan to finance construction for their expansion. After the project, they more than doubled the space available for product and their service center and have continued to grow their business.
Visit Fun Country’s website, or their storefront in The Dalles on West 2nd Street, to learn more about their business!
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October 28, 2014 – Distilleries in the Gorge are starting with the assistance from MCEDD financing.
August 2014: Chris Taylor and Roy Slayton came together around the idea that they could produce quality spirits, using locally sourced ingredients in the Columbia Gorge. Working together to start Camp 1805 Distillery down on the Hood River Waterfront they are sharing the process from grain to glass with their customers. Currently, Camp 1805 is producing white whiskey, rum, and vodka. They are barrel aging whiskey and rum and working on gin as well as other spirits for the future. Roy and Chris came to MCEDD and the Oregon Investment Board as they were looking at financing the start up costs for a micro-distillery. The two entities provided loans to Chris and Roy that have enabled them to purchase the equipment they needed, improve their tasting room space, and have working capital to start up the tasting room and move their business forward. If you would like to learn more, visit their website or their tasting room at the Hood River Waterfront.
October 2014: Skunk Brothers Spirits was developed by two brothers with a passion for hand-crafted spirits and an idea to get back to their roots and make something uniquely Northwestern. This small batch craft distillery, set to open in Stevenson, is focused on high quality Moonshine, hand-crafted spirits, and liqueurs. They are looking to utilize local ingredients to make unique products and their hand-crafted corn whiskey and other spirits. In addition, the Donoho family is looking to create a tasting room Gorge visitors and residents alike can relax and enjoy while experiencing their products. To put together financing, Skunk Brothers came to MCEDD and the Skamania EDC, who worked in partnership to enable them to purchase additional necessary equipment, and provide working capital to get through renovation of their tasting room and beginning batches of their products. For more info on Skunk Brothers, visit their Facebook page!
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July 28, 2014 – Oregon Growers & Shippers comes from a vision to create products using the finest quality, locally sourced ingredients from right here in Oregon and Washington. They specialize in product development, sales, marketing and distribution of value added agricultural specialty food products with primary ingredients sourced from Pacific Northwest growers. Their products include Oregon Growers brand jams, preserves, fruit spreads, fruit butters, condiments and honey. They currently focus on the metropolitan grocery markets of the Pacific Northwest and Northern California but recently approached Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) when they were looking to expand their business into its next phase of growth. With traditional MCEDD loan funds and funds from the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board fund managed by MCEDD, Oregon Growers & Shippers received working capital to help with this transition. For more information on the company, and their northwest products, visit their website at www.oregongrowers.com.
As a service to the regional business community and as a strong part of our economic development strategy for the region, MCEDD manages several business loan programs that provide an accessible, affordable source of capital for projects that create and/or retain jobs.
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