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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MCEDD Projects Win 2021 AliceAnn Wohlbruck Impact Awards!

October 25, 2021 –   OIB Videography Project- coordinated by Ami Beaver The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) has developed a series of videos to highlight local businesses that received support and funding from the the Oregon Investment Board (OIB).  MCEDD contracted with a videographer, connected with existing clients, and developed a marketing plan to disseminate the videos once they were complete. The project increased visibility of the OIB in the local community, as demonstrated by increased traffic to the website and social channels. Additionally, the videos brought more attention to the local businesses featured in the series and increased application inquiries for the program. This project supports the MCEDD’s mission to create jobs and grow, develop, and retain business and industry within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area by raising awareness of support, services, and funding available for local businesses! Organization(s): Mid-Columbia Economic Development District; Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area; Oregon Investment Board   GOrgePass Project– coordinated by Kathy Fitzgerald The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) is the lead agency for the Gorge TransLink Alliance, the bi-state partnership of the five rural public transportation providers in the Columbia Gorge established in 2010 to promote coordinated regional transportation and a seamless system of travel for residents and visitors. The GOrge Pass is an integrated fare system that gives users unlimited rides for a calendar year on all fixed route transit services within the Mid-Columbia Gorge region. It is designed to enhance access to essential services, higher education, jobs, affordable housing, outdoor recreation, and shopping in a low-cost, efficient, and environmentally sustainable way. The GOrge Pass can be purchased online and accessed through the rider’s smartphone and the providers have also partnered with human service organizations to provide free passes to individuals who qualify for their programs. Employers in the MCEDD region can offer the GOrge Pass to employees, especially those with long commutes or downtown parking challenges. Organization(s): Mid-Columbia Economic Development District; The Link Public Transportation in Wasco County (MCEDD); Hood River Transportation District-Columbia Area Transit; Skamania County Transit; Mt. Adams Transportation Service (Klickitat County); Oregon Department of Transportation; Washington Department of Transportation; SW WA Regional Transportation Council   [Continue Reading]

Participate in Updating the Region’s Economic Development Strategy!

March 25, 2021 – You’re invited to participate in updating the region’s economic development strategy! Click here to register for the full series. The community is invited to participate as partners begin the regular updating of the Regional Economic Development Strategy for the Columbia River Gorge. Led by Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD), the strategy will outline a five-year plan for the regional economic development covering Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties in Oregon and Skamania and Klickitat counties in Washington. This strategy is updated every five years and serves as a guide to understand the local economy, strengthen partnerships, and improve overall quality of life. Monthly meetings will be held starting in March to bring together participants from around the region to identify economic development strategies based on current trends and areas best suited for growth to sustain and diversify the region’s economy, reduce unemployment and create family wage jobs. Information gathered at the monthly events will be pulled together with data and research to develop the final plan, the Mid-Columbia Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for 2022-2027. MCEDD coordinates implementation of the regional strategy in partnership with local stakeholders. The first of the monthly events will be Wednesday, March 31st, 8:30am to 10:30am using Zoom. This session will be focused on COVID-19 impacts and what resilience looks like for the region going forward. In total, there will be seven sessions to develop a draft plan, with a specific focus on equitable economic outcomes and resilience. These sessions will be public, and attendance is encouraged across the five-county region. The schedule is as follows, with sessions beginning promptly at 8:30 AM: March 31, 2021: Economic Impacts of COVID-19, Resiliency: Present assessment of economic impacts of COVID-19 and set resiliency tone. April 28, 2021: Demographics and Data: More overarching economic data looking at longer-term trends to help us plan for the future. May 26, 2021: Sector Focus Areas, including more in-depth industry cluster analysis and discussion of sector resilience. June 30, 2021: Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats July 28, 2021: Vision and Goals September 1, 2021: Strategies October 6, 2021: Measuring Success, and Implementation November 5, 2021: Annual Gorge Economic Symposium, with draft presented.   Everyone is invited to participate in one or all of the sessions. To register for the sessions, please click here: https://forms.gle/wVNQGsheMurgV4xc7 MCEDD has been developing and implementing a regional economic development strategy since its formation in 1969 in order to meet its 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. To learn more about MCEDD or this planning process, visit https://www.mcedd.org/strategy/our-region/ or contact Jane Allen at jane@mcedd.org.   [Continue Reading]

MCEDD

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

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