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.
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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