Pharaoh’s Family Farm Brings New Product to Market
February 10, 2022 – Pharaoh’s Family Farm received its first MCEDD loan in 2020 to introduce its organic washed dairy compost, DairyGrow, to the retail market. Since then, the Farm has branched out and developed a line of Worm Casting products that use the nutrient-rich wastewater from the dairy washing process, filtered through worm beds. The castings are then dried and concentrated into a powerful fertilizer. EdenPure WormTEA is a small, 2-ounce packet that is brewed with water to create the tea that can be poured onto any type of planting or crops. EdenPure WormTEA has a low production cost and a corresponding low price point, and the small packaging is easily shipped and handled. MCEDD financing has provided additional support for the Farm’s operating and distribution costs to bring EdenPure WormTEA to market with a recently approved business loan! [Continue Reading]GOrgePass Program Offers a Great Transportation Alternative!
January 28, 2022 – Designed to provide access to all sections of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area on both sides of the river, a rider can visit all of the towns and recreation sites along I84 and SR14 beginning from Portland and Vancouver in the west and extending all the way to Goldendale in the east. Purchasing this pass also supports Gorge communities and the environment. MCEDD’s Deputy Director of Transportation Kate Drennan is spreading the message! Read the article here. [Continue Reading]Local Prize-Fighter Carson Frei Opens Mixed Martial Arts Studio
January 19, 2022 – GRIT (an acronym that stands for Grueling Resolve and Innovative Techniques) is planned to be a mixed martial arts studio for MMA competitors and fitness enthusiasts at all levels. Located in Milwaukie, Oregon, this business was envisioned to be more than just a gym offering workout space. The gym’s private ownership will allow Carson and Haili Frei to share their passion for martial arts with the community. Guided by Carson’s 14 years of coaching and professional fighting experience, GRIT will develop athletes with goals that range from fitness fulfillment to fight competitions. Carson plans to offer group martial arts classes as well as one on one mentoring, and Haili will round out the gym’s programming with cardio kickboxing classes. See the company’s website for more information and the full schedule of classes. GRIT MMA recently received financing from Mount Hood Economic Alliance (MHEA) to cover the purchase cost of the gym’s equipment. MHEA is one of the many small business lending programs administered by MCEDD. Resources are available to help your business today! Learn more here. [Continue Reading]Congratulations to Our “Life in the Gorge” Photo Contest Winners!
January 19, 2022 – Photo Category winners are: Life in the Gorge – Mt. Hood Farm by Kaitlyn Conrath Nature & Landscape – Lost Lake by Stacey Taylor Downtowns in the Gorge – Downtown Hood River by Judy Bair People & Community – The CGCC Litter Crew by Ryan Lawrence Gorge Business & Industry – Columbia Gorge Hotel by Kaitlyn Conrath Thank you to everyone who shared your beautiful photos and participated in the photo contest! [Continue Reading]Cafe Genevieve’s to Open in Goldendale in January 2022!
December 16, 2021 – Café Genevieve’s will be opening in Goldendale in January 2022 as a breakfast and lunch café with a coffee house atmosphere offering wifi and informal seating. Located at 114 S. Columbus Ave, Café Genevieve is convenient to downtown and the new County Services building. When owner Kristeen McGreal Loy moved to Goldendale with her husband, Nathan, and their two children in 2016, they noticed a need in the town and decided to make it happen! Named after Nathan’s Grandma Genevieve, Loy plans to continue her grandmother’s family tradition of providing a place to gather and connect over excellent coffee, delicious food and great service. Kristeen’s 13 years of experience in the restaurant and coffee industry guides the vision and management style of the business. Café Genevieve’s menu will offer delicious coffee, specialty espresso drinks and non-coffee beverages. To complement the coffee and hot drinks, there will be a variety of fresh-baked pastries including the Café’s signature homemade cinnamon rolls, made daily. The lunch menu at opening will offer soup and made- to-order sandwiches with Grab-and-Go options as well. The Café plans to roll out a full breakfast and lunch menu in the spring. Loy’s hard work and persistence to realize her business dream was made possible with the financing of a MCEDD small business loan that was used to purchase all of the equipment, cover the start-up costs, and provide the working capital to hire employees. [Continue Reading]Hood River County Energy Council Is Seeking Public Input for 2022-2025 Work Plan!
December 9, 2021 – The Energy Council will begin creating it’s new 2022-2025 Work Plan this January! The Council invites your input to ensure that the plan will reflect our communities’ priorities. The 2022-2025 work plan will guide the Energy Council and staff efforts in supporting implementation of the Hood River County Energy Plan. For more information on the Energy Council and the Energy Plan, please visit the Energy Council website for a short summary of the plan’s goals and objectives or to view the plan. Public Input can be entered on our survey, which is open until January 12, 2022. ¡El Consejo de Energía del Condado de Hood River está creando un nuevo plan de trabajo de 4 años y quiere su opinión! El plan de trabajo 2022-2025 guiará los esfuerzos del Consejo de Energía y del personal para apoyar la implementación del Plan de Energía del Condado de Hood River. Visite nuestro sitio web (https://www.mcedd.org/industry-development/special-projects/) para obtener un breve resumen de las metas y objetivos del plan o para ver el plan. El Consejo de Energía del Condado de Hood River (Consejo de Energía) es un organismo asesor liderado por la comunidad que apoya la implementación del Plan de Energía del Condado de Hood River (Plan de Energía) en colaboración con los cuerpos gobernantes que adoptaron el plan: Condado de Hood River, la Ciudad de Hood River, el Puerto de Hood River y el Puerto de Cascade Locks. Ayuda a la comunidad a cumplir los objetivos del plan mediante el asesoramiento, la planificación estratégica y la recaudación de fondos para su implementación. El plan de trabajo reflejará las prioridades clave que el Consejo de Energía busca apoyar entre 2022 y 2025. La implementación del Plan de Energía solo es posible a través de la colaboración. El Energy Council busca asociarse con organizaciones, miembros de la comunidad y expertos técnicos para identificar oportunidades, aprovechar recursos y ejecutar proyectos. Si desea obtener más información, comuníquese con Marla en marla@mcedd.org. Complete la encuesta aquí antes del 12 de enero de 2022 . [Continue Reading]Regional Economic Development Strategy Draft Is Now Available for Public Comment
December 6, 2021 – The public is invited to review and comment on the draft 2022-2027 Columbia Gorge Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) covering Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties in Oregon and Klickitat and Skamania Counties in Washington. The draft strategy was developed over seven monthly meetings in 2021 with more than 100 participants throughout the series, including local and tribal governments, regional partners, ports, chambers, legislators, state and federal partners, businesses and individuals. Comments on any of the content in the plan are invited from the community. The draft plan can be found at www.mcedd.org/strategy/ and hardcopies are available upon request. Contact Tasha Blaircobb with questions or request a hardcopy from Tasha at 541-296-2266 x1013 or natasha@mcedd.org. [Continue Reading]Hood View Services Auto Glass Repair Adds Towing Service
November 24, 2021 – Hood View Services, LLC is a mobile windshield repair service serving Hood River and the surrounding area. The company was established in 2019 and is owned and operated by Alexander and Danielle Stevens. Alexander and Danielle are both long-time residents of the Gorge area. Alexander is the glass and repair technician and has over 15 years of experience in the automotive industry, and Danielle runs all of the financial and administrative aspects of the business. At this time, Alexander and Danielle are the only employees. With financing from MCEDD, Hood View Services, LLC plans to expand by adding a towing business to their existing mobile windshield repair service. They will provide services within a 60 mile radius of Hood River. The funding will be used to purchase two towing vehicles, as well as leasing additional space at their current location. Hood View Services’ new space will be modified with two lifts to accommodate repairs and specialty work. The business expects to add five full-time employees and one part-time employee within the next few months, with the new services operational as soon as January 1, 2022. Learn more about how MCEDD’s business loan program can support your business here. [Continue Reading]Life in the Gorge Photo Contest Open Now Through December 20th , 2021!
November 8, 2021 – Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) is excited to announce our Life in the Gorge Photo Contest! The Columbia Gorge has a deeply rooted connection with visual storytelling, celebrating scenic beauty, and amplifying local experiences. Now MCEDD would like to see your visual stories! Show us what you love most about the Gorge by submitting up to five high-resolution photos. Winning entries will be featured in MCEDD marketing pieces – online and in print. Participants have five photo categories to choose from. Photo entry categories: Life in the Gorge Nature/Landscape Downtowns in the Gorge People/Community Gorge Business/ Industry One winner will be chosen in each of the five categories and will receive a $50 gift card to the locally owned business of their choice! Participants must be 18+ to participate, limit 5 entries per person, and photos must be taken by the participant between 2019-Present, and taken in the Columbia Gorge region (Hood River, Wasco, Sherman Counties in Oregon, Skamania and Klickitat Counties in Washington). Photo and model release forms must be attached to photo entries and can be found below. Entries must be received by December 20th, 2021, at midnight. Submit all entries to Natasha@mcedd.org. Official Photo Contest Entry form MCEDD Photo Contest Flyer For more information or questions regarding photo entries contact Natasha Blaircobb at Natasha@mcedd.org Disclaimer: You retain your rights to your photograph; however, by entering the contest, you grant Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (and those authorized by MCEDD) a royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion on the website, newsletter and commercial products, including but not limited to MCEDD publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. MCEDD will not be required to pay any additional fees or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses. [Continue Reading]MCEDD Offers Small Businesses Free Web Development Support
October 29, 2021 – A website and social media presence will help build your customer base, establish your business’ reputation, and make your product and location easy to find. MCEDD is offering a unique opportunity for a limited number of local businesses: free support from professional web developers to create your business website. Sites can be basic or have a shopping cart to sell goods and/or services. The website will be built on a platform that will allow business owners to manage the content once completed. For more details and to participate in this program, click here. Questions? Contact Cheryl Eniero at cheryl@mcedd.org. [Continue Reading]- « Previous Page
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