Issue 6, Volume V

NEW COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO AND FROM CENTRAL OREGON

Getting to and from the Central Oregon region is getting easier as each month passes with new flights to Denver International and Los Angeles International starting June 1 and August 1 respectively.  According to booking reports for June, the new weekend service on United Airlines from Redmond to Denver has been well received by business and leisure travelers alike, with most flights running at or near capacity.  The service is set to sunset after the summer, however if load factors remain high, there is a possibility for more permanent service and possibly on weekdays as well. 

Meanwhile, COAST (Central Oregon Air Service Task Force) members are eagerly awaiting the first flight of new direct service to LAX provided by Horizon Airlines.  Tickets became available starting back in February and $99 specials (each way) will continue to run through November.  According to Horizon, bookings have been strong and the inaugural flight should be close to full.  An added benefit for the region, the two daily Horizon flights to LAX will also result in one daily round trip to Eugene, OR (EUG) as well.  As a result, the addition of United and Horizon flights increases Redmond’s total direct destinations from four (Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Salt Lake City) to seven and total daily departures from twenty-two to twenty-five. 

EDCO JOINS OREGON DELEGATION ON TRADE MISSION TO KOREA & JAPAN

A first for EDCO, Bud Prince and Roger Lee joined a team of more than 50 representatives from Oregon in a Governor’s Trade Mission to Asia this week.  Included among the Oregon contingent are the Governor, Directors of the Port of Portland, Dept. of Agriculture Director, Economic & Community Development, Northwest Food Processors Association, as well as other elected leaders and representatives from leading Oregon companies.  Branded as “Bridging the Pacific” the purpose of the visit is to strengthen economic ties between Oregon, Korea and Japan and to look for opportunities for direct investment.  EDCO specifically attended the mission to foster relationships with TYM (http://www.tymm.com/tym/eng/default.asp), a Korean manufacturer of light and medium duty tractors which recently constructed its first U.S. facility in Redmond – an 11-state distribution center.  Additionally, EDCO is working on building ties with several other businesses that have close ties to Korea including Tumalo-based Breedlove Guitars (www.breedloveguitars.com), the North American headquarters in Sisters of Seoul-based Nepes Corp. (http://www.nepes.co.kr/english/index.php),  and the considerable volume of product supplied from both Korea and Japan to Les Schwab Tire Centers distribution centers in Prineville. 

WORKFORCE TRAINING RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GROWING PRIMARY/TRADED SECTOR EMPLOYERS IN THE REGION

The Employer Workforce Training Fund is administered by a local board of both economic development and workforce development representatives. This regional fund provides training dollars to companies to support the retention and increase of living wage jobs, the development of a skilled workforce, and the growth of competitive businesses in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. The emphasis of the funds is to upgrade skills of the private sector workforce in order to increase productivity, to keep Central Oregon businesses viable and competitive, and to offer new skills and opportunities to Central Oregon workers. Qualifying applicants are private for-profit employers residing within Crook, Deschutes or Jefferson counties for at least 120 days, with 75% of their goods or services sold outside the tri-county area.  For more information contact Robin Cope, Workforce Response Team Coordinator, robinc@uci.net, 541-617-0972. 
 

PURSUING CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT, EDCO WANTS MEMBER FEEDBACK

EDCO mailed out its first member survey this week, included with the July membership invoices, which will reach about half of the membership.  The remaining members will be emailed the survey within the next week.  Completely confidential, this survey will provide invaluable feedback that will enable EDCO to assess and improve upon its events, programs and general services.  CLICK HERE if you would like to take the survey now and attach it to an email, mail or fax it back to us at 388-6705.  Please contact Dayna at 388-3236 or dayna@edcoinfo.com should you have any questions.

SAVE THE DATE FOR THE WORKFORCE FORECAST BREAKFAST

Ten years from now, who will be the leaders in your company?  Who will be at the helm?  What are you doing now to ensure that your organization has not only developed leaders, but also a skilled workforce in 2015?  Join the Central Oregon Workforce Investment Board Thursday, September 14 from 7:30-9:30 at St. Charles Medical Center as they discuss the forces which are reshaping the workforce with nationally acclaimed author, performance architect and researcher, Maryann Billington.  Learn what corporations should be doing today to be employers of choice in 2010 and into the future.  Watch for registration information in late August and in the September 6th issue of the Cascade Business News.  Sponsorship opportunities are available.  For more information contact Robin Cope, 541-617-0972 or email: robinc@uci.net

BEND 2030 VISION ENDORSED, NOW ENTERING NEXT STAGE

On June 21, the Bend City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Bend 2030 Community Vision.  The endorsement paves the way for phase two of the project which starts in July.  Phase two will develop an Action Plan to implement the Bend 2030 Vision over the next five years and identify top priorities.  Six Vision Action Teams will develop a draft Action Plan.  Each team has up to 16 members, including 1-2 former Vision Task Force (VTF) members, up to five Stakeholder Action Committee (SAC) members, and at least one City representative per team.  Up to eight additional members would be drawn from Forum participants.  Implementation of the Action Plan (phase three), planned to begin in February 2007, will involve City of Bend and other key community stakeholders, including local government, businesses, civic organizations and community groups.  According to Bend 2030 planners, 5,700 people participated in 110 presentations, providing 2,500 comments that generated 50 news articles, radio and TV spots.  For more information, visit www.bend2030.org.

OREGON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION HOLDS SPRING WORKSHOP IN BEND                          

OEDA July Training on Workforce Development in Bend: The Oregon Economic Development Association (OEDA) is focusing their Summer Training Event on Workforce Development. The Event represents OEDA’s effort to broaden their focus in this area.  For many years OEDA concentrated on business recruitment but recent site selector polls indicating that workforce is a leading concern has moved the organization towards workforce development as an issue.  The line-up for the event includes some strong players in workforce development.  The Event will take place on July 10, 2006 from 8:30 am – 3:00 PM at the Riverhouse in Bend.  Register on-line at: www.oeda.biz.

SAVE THE DATE, THIS YEAR’S LAUNCHPAD EVENT TO BE BIGGER & BETTER

Cascade Business News, UNICOM and Access Knowledge have partnered to create the second annual LaunchPad Innovation & Technology Expo, which will provide powerful networking opportunities and a high quality program. The event will be held on October 17th from 3:00-7:00 pm at Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing’s facility at the Bend Airport.  LaunchPad will kick off EDCO’s well-established Industry Week and feature a trade fair, a variety of insightful speakers and an award ceremony to honor the Innovator of the Year (named the Catalyst Award). Attendees will have the chance to meet some of the region’s high-tech trailblazers and ways in which they are enriching Central Oregon’s economy. In particular, the expo will feature advancements in the automotive, aviation, computer software and hardware production, biotechnology and telecommunications fields and how these advancements are changing the face of the high desert. In addition to the trade fair, LaunchPad will host speakers in different technology fields, all focusing on the increasing presence and potency of technology in business. Lastly, participants will have the opportunity to network with innovators, state and regional business leaders, educators, legislators and fellow attendees. Limited booth space and sponsorships are available.  Visit www.launchpadbend.com or Cascade Business News’ website at www.cascadebusnews.com to sign up online or call Cascade Business News at 388-5665 or email sondra@cascadebusnews.com. 

PUBTALK TAKES SUMMER HOLIDAY, NEXT EVENT SEPTEMBER 14th

Another PubTalk season has come to an end and EDCO would like to thank all participants who helped make them a great success.  Events will not take place during July or August, but will resume on September 14th, at McMenamins and will feature keynote speaker Ken Chmiel of TYCO.  We are looking forward to a dynamic line-up of speakers and early stage presenters next season.  Mark your calendars to join us September 14th, 5:00-7:30pm.

THANK YOU TO RENEWING EDCO MEMBERS!

A new section to the eCon Update, we are now recognizing renewing members to EDCO, many of which have been longstanding supporters of the organization. Our success is very much dependent on your ongoing investment in our efforts to build a strong, vibrant and diversified regional economy!

SILVER
TransCanada GTN System – member since 2000

WELCOME NEW EDCO MEMBERS!

BRONZE LEVEL MEMBERS

Alterra Investments, based in Bend, focuses on creating sustainable real estate developments and neighborhoods in Bend and Redmond.  Looking to provide a niche to small or mid size residential builders in the area, Alterra acquires bare land and develops lots for resale.  They currently have six projects in the works, four in Bend and two in Redmond. Alterra is working to integrate smart growth principals with new urban design and is learning to develop sustainability and dedicate space to green building.  

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

An EDCO member since 1998 with representation on the Board of Directors, Central Oregon Community College, the oldest community college in Oregon, provides comprehensive college services to the residents of its 10,000 square-mile district.  COCC offers two-year associate degrees, transfer/lower division programs, professional technical degrees and certificates, developmental courses, continuing and community education classes and business management assistance.  Courses are delivered through the traditional classroom setting, online or through a mix of the two (hybrid courses). 

COCC tailors to non-credit seeking local residents as well, with about 9,000 enrolled in their Continuing Education Program.  In addition, several hundred business professionals have taken advantage of business counseling services through the Business Development Center. 

COCC is committed to increased outreach with current and potential partners in the region, and with communities throughout the District. Partnerships include those with K-12 school districts to help high school students be more “college ready”, additional collegiate level courses (both in high schools and on the COCC campus); and programming to make college more attainable in terms of individual ambition, appropriate high school-level course work and information and resources to make college more affordable.  The College is dedicated to partnering with business and industry to strengthen current instruction and to develop and fund expanded and new programs.

PENDING RECRUITMENT PROJECTS

Without breaching constraints of confidentiality, we want to make you aware of a few of our pending projects for the region.  They include but are not limited to:

• A custom recreational vehicle manufacturer from Southern California is looking to set up shop in Madras.  It is still early in the process, but financing options and potential investors are being researched.  The business will require a 30,000 sf building and create 20-30 new jobs.
• Financing options are being reviewed by a natural food processing industry that is seriously looking at establishing a manufacturing facility in Central Oregon. The company is looking at both options of leasing an existing building or new construction.  The project would create 10-15 new jobs. 
• A new alternative fuel, specialty auto company is looking at Central Oregon for a new assembly and distribution facility. 
• ODS Companies, which announced plans earlier this year to establish a new claims processing center and dental hygiene school in downtown Redmond has hit a snag in planning for adequate parking.  The project would employ more than 120 people at family-wage levels, so Redmond Economic Development, the City of Redmond and property owners in and around City Hall are working toward a solution.
• A company specializing in building products for hospitals and other applications is considering relocating to the region from the Midwest.   The project would create 20-40 new jobs.

PENDING RETENTION/EXPANSION PROJECTS

• Kawak Aviation, producers of auxiliary hydraulic systems, propulsion installations and modifications for the aircraft industry recently moved to a new larger location on American Loop in Bend.  
• Structus Building Technologies, Inc has gained fast track permitting status from the City of Bend, paving the way for their move to a new build-to-suit 40,000 sf building in the Basalt Business Park.  Structus manufactures construction related products for the drywall industry (plastic/paper corners for finishing sheetrock). Their products are sold through distribution throughout the U.S and Canada.
• Nashelle Jewelry, a Bend-based local startup business that creates fine jewelry, is experiencing major interest nationwide for their product line.  Nashelle distributes to 150 locations in the US as well as four offshore accounts and on the internet at www.nashelle.com.  They will be moving into a 1,500 sf building on American Loop in August.         

FEEDBACK

We would love to hear your thoughts and comments about this electronic newsletter and ways to improve it. Just fire back a response.  Once again, thank you for your support and interest – we are working hard to make the most of your contributions to help strengthen and diversify the regional economy!