CENTRAL OREGON IN THE NEWS
Bend's PV Powered Teams with Boeing to Make Solar Power Cost-Competitive with Other Renewable Energy Forms
 On May 7th, 2007, PV Powered, Inc. announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected an industry team, headed by Boeing Phantom Works and including PV Powered, Inc., to receive more than $13 million in funding over the next three years under the auspices of the DOE's Solar America Initiative (SAI). The SAI will accelerate the development of advanced solar electric technologies with the goal of making solar power cost-competitive with other forms of renewable electricity by 2015.
Over the course of the program PV Powered will develop and contribute enhanced solar power inverter technology to the Boeing team, improving the reliability, efficiency and operating life of solar power generation systems. Improvements in inverters from PV Powered and in technologies from other partners will be integrated with Boeing's advanced solar cell technology to produce high-efficiency systems. Bend-based PV Powered was founded in 2003 and is privately funded. The company designs, manufactures and markets the solar industry's most efficient photovoltaic solar inverter solutions. For more information, click here.
HGTVPro.com, February 2007 
HGTVPro.com selected Structus' Building Technologies' NO COAT Drywall as one of the 5 Hottest Products to See at the 2007 International Builders' Show (IBS). HGTVPRO.com covers the latest news, best practices and products for building professionals. More than 100,000 housing professionals attend the show which features the most cutting-edge designs, technologies, products and services for the home building industry, spanning more than 300 building industry categories. Click here for the press release and here for announcement on Structus' residential sales organization.
The Economist, January 2007
Bend’s real estate market and the area’s many attractions get rave reviews in the current January 25th weekly issue of The Economist. Prompted by Bend’s dubious honor of having experienced the largest percent increase in home prices of any U.S. metro in a single year, the reporter cite s reasons for continued growth including the area’s dry climate, small-town feeling, recreational opportunities, growing economy, and its relative affordability compared to other West Coast metros. The reporter quickly points out that unlike similar retirement magnets, Bend escapes the “aging but well-off geezer” trend of some small western metros, mentioning bulging school enrollments and expansion of maternity hospital resources. Jim Diegel, President and CEO of Cascade Healthcare Community, is quoted and EDCO provided reporter Doug Gantenbein with background on the region’s economy. Truly a global publication with four-fifths of its 1.1 million circulation outside the U.K., The Economist reaches business decision makers and opinion leaders throughout the world. ‘Booming Bend’ will reach nearly 550,000 subscribers in the U.S. Click here to read the full story (in PDF format).
SkyWest Magazine, "Living Right in Central Oregon", November/December 2006
Editor-in-Chief Colleen Birch Maile writes "natural attributes and an environmentally sensitive attitude combine in this juniper-scented region to create communities where the good life is meant to last....Bend, Oregon is a delightful anomaly. Among the West's fastest growing communities, it has experienced a 50% surge in population since the millennium's dawn....Yet it retains an outdoorsy ambience where bicycling and walking are prefered ways to get around and mountains of year-round recreation are mere minutes from most doors." To read the entire article, click here.
 Wall Street Journal, "The Most Inventive Towns in America", July 2006 The article, "The Most Inventive Towns in America," features research on "small-town" patent hubs in the U.S. ranked by number of new patents issued last year to companies residing there. San Jose, CA was #1 on the Top 20 listing; California dominated the study with 12 "towns" on the list. Texas also made a strong showing with Austin (#3), Houston (#11), and Plano (#17). Boise, ID made the top 10, and Portland came in at #13, surprisingly just above Seattle. In addition to the Top 20, the Journal also listed 20 "Up & Comers" where a high percentage of patents were given to individuals and small companies. Bend made this list with 29 patents - ahead of places like Tigard, OR; Walnut, CA and only a few patents short of Annapolis, MD, all which also made the list. To read the entire article, click here.
Inc Magazine "The Best Cities for Doing Business", May 2006
Bend was ranked #17 for the Best Overall Cities and #14 for the Best Small Cities. The article noted that "Bend's population has more than tripled, to about 70,000, over the past 15 years, with refugees from Portland and California drawn by a scenic location and low cost of living. The influx has transformed a timber-based economy, bringing in manufacturing, aerospace, and semiconductor firms." Click here to view the article on the Inc.com website.
Newsweek "Demographics: Saying Goodbye to the Burbs", March 2006
Deschutes County was highlighted as one of the fastest growing counties in the country saying "Urbanites flocked to the quiet life in Deschutes County, Ore; populations up 22.5%. Click here to view the full article.
The New York Times "Can a City Grow Quickly and Stay Simple?", November 2005
The NY Times article focuses on Bend's growth and people relocating for quality of life reasons stating people "... aren't alone in their enthusiasm for Bend, a city of 65,000 three hours east of Portland by the Cascade Mountains. The high desert city is the sixth-fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States". The article also addresses some of the hurdles associated with a fast growing community. Click here to view the full article.
 MSN/CitySearch "Nation's Top 10 Ski Resorts", November 2005
Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort was rated 5th in the nation by MSN and CitySearch in their annual U.S. Ski and Snowboard Guide. "Oregon's largest winter resort features downhill, telemark and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing and more.... Bachelor is located in Central Oregon, this snow is generally drier and lighter than Mount Hood's".
 Forbes "Cheap Places to Live Rich", November 2005
Bend was rated as a "telecommuting heaven" where people can do their best thinking, but not become so isolated that they would go crazy. "Think you can't keep your high paying job and live in a rural getaway such as Bend, Oregon? Think again", says Forbes.com's Rich Karlgaard.
U.S. News & World Report "Good Riddance to the Rat Race", June 2006
U.S. News & World Report's article regarding today's retirees looking for the good life in all the small places highlighted Prineville, OR's "low cost of living ... and median price of a single-family home in the county at just $129,240 in 2005, compared with $321,100 in Seattle and $172,800 in Tampa."
 Men’s Journal “50 Best Places to Live”, April 2005
Men’s Journal rated the healthiest, sexiest, most fun, and most affordable 50 best places to live. Bend was rated the “Best Adventure Town” and stated that “Bend has more drool-worthy contour lines than any other town in the land. Plus, the job market, once confined to sawmills, is now a dynamic mix of high-tech, hospitality, and light manufacturing.”
 SkyWest “Celebrating the Good Life in Bend”, April 2005
SkyWest Magazine celebrates Bend’s centennial and describes the city as a prime leisure destination and full-bodied mini-metropolis “teaming with the fresh-faced and fit”.
 BizJournals/American City Business Journal , "Where to go for America's hottest small biz market", January 2005
BizJournals rated local climates for small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) by a number of factors. Bend was rated No. 1 medium sized markets which covers metropolitan and micropolitan areas with populations between 100,000 and 500,000. "Bend ranked among the nation's four best medium-sized markets in two categories -- concentration (3,914 small businesses per 100,000 residents) and two-year growth (10.2 percent increase in the number of small businesses)."
NY Times “36 Hours in Bend, OR”, October 2004 – Author Matthew Preusch provides 36 hours of things to do in Bend highlighting local breweries, restaurants and outdoor activities, and outlines Bend as going from a sawmill town to a budding cultural scene.
 Life 2.0: How People Across America Are Transforming Their Lives By Finding the Where of Their Happiness, August 2004
Author and Forbes Magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard profiles 10 cities across America that he considers "Telecommuting Havens." Along with cities like Moab, Utah, and Durango, Colo., Bend ranks in the top 10.
Where to Retire “Bend”, March/April 2004
Article profiled Bend as a premier place for retirees to consider through the experience of two retired couples who chose to relocate to Bend.
Outside Magazine “The Thrill of Skill”, April 2004
Outside’s guide to America’s best sports camps that propel you toward a bigger, richer life mentioned Sisters and rafting in Central Oregon.
TransWorld’s ’04 Snowboard Resort Guide “A Guaranteed Good Ride- The 2004 TransWorld Resort Poll”
Ranked by readers as 4th for Overall Resorts along with 3rd for Best Food, 7th for Best Park, 9th for Best Terrain and 6th for Best Snow
MSN.com “Top 10 Ski Resorts”
Mt. Bachelor is listed as one of the top 10 ski resorts by Citysearch Editors
Gold Magazine “Around the Bend”, October 2003
Highlighted golf at Sunriver Resort, Crosswater Club, Widgi Creek, Lost Tracks, Eagle Crest, Aspen Lakes, Black Butte Ranch, Quail Run and Pronghorn.
Ski “2004 Resort Reader Survey”, October 2003
Mt. Bachelor ranked 28th in Ski’s 16th Annual Resort Survey by their subscribers, Mt. Bachelor also ranked 22nd in value, 29th in service and 30th in family.
Links “The Best of Golf”, March 2003
Black Butte Ranch ranks in the top 100 North American Golf Resorts.
Golf Digest “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses 2003-2004”, May 2003
Crosswater, Broken Top and Aspen Lakes all made it on the top 15 of this nationally recognized list.
Outside Traveler “Best Places to Ski 365 Days a Year”, May Annual 2003
Mt. Bachelor was included in this article about skiing all over the world 365 days a year.
Northwest Travel “The Center of Attention”, January/February 2003
Highlights all of the winter outdoor activities available in Central Oregon.
Ski Magazine “18 Best Ski Towns”, February 2003
Bend ranked high on the list of best ski towns.
Golf World “Great Escapes”, February 2003
Sunriver is mentioned as the Heart & Soul of the Great Northwest.
Links Magazine “Premier Properties 2002”, October 2002
Awbrey Glen, Crosswater, Broken Top and Eagle Crest Resort all listed in premier golf properties for 2002
 Ski Magazine “Top 60 Resort Guide”, October 2, 2002
Mt. Bachelor came in 8th in the 10 most popular Pacific resorts.
Golf for Women “50 Best Courses for Women”, July/August 2002
Sunriver Resort Meadows Ranked 12th out of 50 golf courses across the U.S.
Golf Digest “50 Greatest Destinations”, September 2000
Central Oregon/Bend ranked 23rd
 Money “The Best Places to Retire”, July 2000
Bend ranked in the top 5 places in the nation to retire
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