Serving the Mid-Columbia region of Oregon and Washington, providing regional economic development and business assistance.Mid–Columbia Economic Development District

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.

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World-Class Restaurant Opens in Hood River

February 13, 2023 – Votum Restaurant is Hood River’s newest fine dining experience! Owners Chef Sarah Doyle and Nathan Ricks both have an impressive and extensive background in fine dining, originally meeting at Manresa Restaurant, a three Michelin Star establishment. Chef Doyle directs the kitchen and Mr. Ricks the front of house. Votum Restaurant offers a seafood forward cuisine, featuring the best of local and international fish and shellfish, accompanied by the bounteous produce of the surrounding small farms. The wine selections draw from a cellar of vintage Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the wines of Germany.  Special attention is also made to select the best and most interesting Columbia Gorge wines. The new location at 210 2nd Street in Hood River is a street level unit in the Historic Masonic Lodge building, built in an intentionally minimalistic style, with spotlights on the tables drawing the diners’ attention to the seven different courses of the chef’s tasting menu. The partners came to the OIB last summer for assistance with funding their restaurant concept because their new location required extensive kitchen and storefront build-out.  Electrical and plumbing upgrades, equipment purchase such as a new kitchen hood, dining room furniture and refrigerators, as well as working capital while the business becomes established were all completed over the summer, fall and early winter.   Check out Votum’s website to learn more about the restaurant’s concept, view the full menu, and make reservations.   [Continue Reading]

Huggins Family Farms Boosts Production of Monkey Brittle

February 3, 2023 – Monkey Brittle is a healthy snack made locally in Hood River from a combination of three simple ingredients: organic bananas, organic nuts, and raisins!  Monkey Brittle tastes just like banana nut bread, but it is dried to achieve the crispy crunch that snackers love. The simplicity of Monkey Brittle’s ingredients puts this snack into the gluten free, vegan, paleo, non-GMO, raw, and no added sugars dietary guidelines, so it can be enjoyed by everyone! It is sold in both a 2-ounce and 4-ounce bag and can be purchased online and locally with wholesale and retail pricing. The trademark Monkey Brittle was filed by Huggins Family Farms, LLC, in 2015. For a few years the family experimented with recipes, trademarked, made tiny batches, and sold just locally. By January of 2021 Huggins Family Farms officially launched into production, and you can now find Monkey Brittle at all New Seasons and Market of Choice locations across Oregon, as well as at quality independent grocers across the gorge and Portland areas. With funding assistance from MCEDD, the Farm has purchased a second dehydrator and upgraded the electrical wiring and connections to accommodate the new equipment.  The funding has also supplied working capital for the labor, inventory and marketing needed to increase Monkey Brittle sales and production.   [Continue Reading]

MCEDD

802 Chenowith Loop Rd,
The Dalles, OR 97058
Phone: (541) 296-2266

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