The State of Oregon is in the process of implementing it’s 10-Year Innovation Plan. The anticipated goals of the successful implementation of the State’s 10-year Innovation Plan include:
- Good, high-paying jobs
- Improved quality of life
- Global competitiveness
- Economic Resilience
- Educational attainment
- Access and opportunity
The Plan aims to orient the economy around better paying jobs with higher growth potential, help the state weather future economic challenges, and encourage participation among populations presently underserved in the innovation economy.
As a component of this plan, Business Oregon has awarded 11 Regional Innovation Hub designations. Hubs will facilitate networking, serving to connect a network of service providers and their collaborators throughout the designated region in order to assist Oregon’s innovation-based companies in achieving growth. Hubs will partner and collaborate with a variety of innovation-related stakeholders in the region, especially including underserved entrepreneurs in their partnerships.
MCEDD is excited and pleased to use this award to help address innovation-based entrepreneurial needs throughout the Mid-Columbia Region. The state funding will be used to encourage collaboration and community partnerships, create and expand existing innovation-based entrepreneurial services, and keep the Gorge moving forward toward a larger vision for our innovation ecosystem.