eCon Update
– April 2004
Issue 2, Volume
IV
Economic
Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is pleased to
bring you eCon Update – a monthly
electronic newsletter exclusively for members and partners of
what is happening around the region and with our
organization.
2004 PROFILES
AVAILABLE
They’re hot off the press! Our most popular publication,
the Central Oregon Area Profile is now available both in
hard copy form (six-page foldout) or in a printable PDF format on
our website (/edco_publications/profile/profile.html)
This publication provides a comprehensive snapshot of the
region’s economy, employment, education, and resources for
businesses and individuals. For those of you that wanted to
but did not order in bulk, we’ve extended the deadline
through April 30.
Profiles are $7.50 for 25, $15 for 50, or $30 per 100. Contact
Meg Thompson
or
Patty Schild
at 388-3236 to order.
2004 CENTRAL OREGON
FACTBOOK
AVAILABLE APRIL 26
Freshly researched and updated, the latest edition of our
200-page compendium of business facts and figures will be
available Monday, April 26. Included are full-color
planning and zoning maps for all incorporated cities and counties
in the tri-county region. To get a copy, just stop by the
office, order online (/edco_publications/factbook/),
or give us a call.
EDCO LOOKING FOR
VOLUNTEERS
Want to get involved in EDCO? We currently have volunteer
openings to serve on the newly created Membership Development
Committee. The
Committee will be working to develop a plan and strategy to both
retain and attract new members. Approximately 40% of
EDCO’s current budget is from private memberships and the
goal of the committee will be to increase this to 50% (parity
with public sector members). If you feel passionate about
ensuring the continued success of EDCO, and enjoy working on a
successful team, please give Roger Lee or
Patty Schild
a call about serving on this important committee.
WORKFORCE TRAINING
FUNDS AVAILABLE
Governor Kulongoski has recently made available a new pool of
resources for primary employers (manufacturers, tech-based
companies) needing workforce/skills training that will lead to
new jobs. Locally, a
group of economic development and training leaders have formed a
Workforce Response Team to review applications and make awards to
qualifying companies. The region has approximately
$197,000 for training projects in the next four months. For more
information, contact Roger Lee or
Jennifer Houston at EDCO at 388-3236.
2004 ANNUAL
LUNCHEON A SUCCESS
We had an excellent turnout
for the March 19 Annual Luncheon at Sunriver Resort that featured
top speaker, Peter Schutz. Mr. Schutz gave a lively
account of lessons learned while President and CEO of Porsche AG,
in Stuttgart, Germany to a packed house at the
Great Hall. If you
did not get the chance to attend and hear Mr. Schutz, we have a
limited number of CDs with audio of his presentation. Contact us at 388-3236
or Bruce
Juhola 593-6096 with TEC for a
copy.
Again, we would like to
thank our Luncheon and Keynote Sponsors Bank of the
Cascades, TEC (The
Executive
Committee), Bend
Memorial Clinic, and Harrigan, Price,
Fronk & Co. CPAs for making the event
possible.
MAY 6th OEF ‘PUB TALK’ FEATURES FORMER
PRESIDENT OF GULFSTREAM
Following a great presentation by keynote speaker Bill Colson of
Holiday Retirement Corp. on April 8th, OEF and EDCO are pleased
to have Fred Breidenbach, former President and COO of Gulfstream
Aerospace Corporation as our keynote for the May Pub Talk. Prior to leading a
successful turnaround of Gulfstream and its public offering in
1996, Mr. Breidenbach spent 25 years at General Electric. For the past six years he
has operated FABreidenbach & Associates, LLC, a consulting
company based in
Bend
. In addition to
high level networking, two early stage companies looking for
investor capital and advice will be presenting as well. Plan to join us on May
6th,
5:30-7:30pm
at Widgi Creek on the western outskirts of
Bend
. Cost is $15 for OEF members and $20 for non-members. For more info, visit
OEF’s
Central Oregon
’s website page at http://www.oef.org/.docs/_sid/11360694a5937974e1324c6fb2081d8e/rid/134/pg/10018
call
Jennifer Houston
at 388-3236.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
 The Mandala Agency
has been an active patron member of EDCO for the past eight
years, donating time and expertise in designing publications such
as the Central Oregon Area Profile, Manufacturing
& Technology Directory, and EDCO Strategic
Plan. Over those years, the company has been a key
contributor to the organization’s Marketing
Committee, which plans both external
(marketing and recruitment) and internal (public and community
relations) strategies. In 2003, Chairman Brian Bowler was elected to
the EDCO
Board as
a Patron Member Representative. “Helping EDCO bring high
quality employers and jobs to Central Oregon is particularly
pleasing. Economic growth is not optional for this region
it’s essential, as the only real alternative is slow
decline, notes Bowler.”
The Mandala Agency has
clients across Oregon and the nation including: Lancair
International, Edge Wireless, Bend Broadband, Adair Homes,
Columbia River Bank, Central Oregon Community College, The
Canyons Ranch, Roseburg Forest Products, Coffee Bean
International, Linfield College; Teledyne Continental Motors,
Mountain Hardwear, H.S. Trask – Phoenix Footwear Group, and
Relion Fuel Cells. For more information about the company call
541-389-6344 or visit their website at www.mandala-agency.com .
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 San
Francisco based technology company with clients
nationwide is seriously considering consolidation of their
operations in Bend. The company would
initially employ six people, and could grow to a team of
50. Wages for
these jobs are nearly twice the per captia rate for
Deschutes County. A decision is expected in
May.
-
A
Pennsylvania-based manufacturer, with seven east
coast facilities, is considering Central Oregon for its
first west coast operation. The company, which manufactures
hardwood components for the furniture and kitchen industry,
is currently focusing on Prineville for a new manufacturing
and distribution facility. Initial employment would
be approximately 100 people and would grow to 250 at full
build-out, and would occupy a space of 80,000 –
120,000 square feet. The company is on a
timeline to make a decision in May of this year.
-
A small recreational
equipment manufacturer from
California is near a decision to relocate to Bend. The company employs
a dozen people, and is a national leader in their specialty
sector of the industry – bicycle trailers and baby
walkers. We
are optimistic that this firm will be moving forward on
purchase of a Greenfield light industrial site in Bend to
build their headquarters, R & D and distribution
operations.
-
A
metal fabrication company based in Orange County, CA
is again seriously considering relocation to Central
Oregon. The
firm produces a number of proprietary products including
high-end steel cabinets for shops and garages. This project would create
approximately 18 new jobs for the region.
NEW EXPANSION
PROJECTS
Some of EDCO’s most
exciting projects are with existing manufacturers and technology
companies in the region. Here’s a sampling of the past
month:
-
Bend Tarp &
Liner will be breaking ground
on a new building in Basalt Business park shortly, and expects
to add up to five new employees this year as a result of its
continued growth. The company experienced an unprecedented
expedited permitting process for its new facility as a direct
result of EDCO’s efforts to implement a fast-track
permitting process with the City of Bend (for eligible primary
employers creating new jobs and making significant capital
investment).
-
Of The Earth
will be
celebrating the grand opening of its new company store on
Arizona Avenue in Bend on April 22nd. A recent OEF PubTalk
presenter, the company continues to expand its operations in
China as well as its markets nationally and
abroad.
-
Beaver Motor Coach (Monaco
Corporation)
recently announced that it could add up to 75 new employees as
a result of a capital expansion at its Bend facility. As a
member of the
Business Resource Network
, and in partnership with Beaver’s HR Department, EDCO is
currently involved with the company’s ongoing recruitment
and retention efforts.
-
A local manufacturer is currently seeking a 5-7 acre
parcel for future expansion of its operations. The expansion
would create up to 65 new jobs in the next 2-3
years.
-
Accent
Optical
Technologies has filed preliminary documents with the
SEC for an initial public offering and continues to expand its
new R&D facility Bend. As a result, Accent is poised to
become the third publicly-held company with headquarters in the
region (in addition to Advanced Power Technology and Bank of
the Cascades).
-
Millstone
Industries
will be moving its operations to Redmond. The company recently
purchased Morelock Wood Products and is rapidly moving forward
with plans to improve efficiencies and expand existing business
lines. This will result in the creation of new jobs over the
next year.
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! |
