October 2011 eCon Update

Improving child care in Redmond: The Redmond Child Care Alliance, a steering committee for the Redmond Child Care Network, has realized funding to sustain operations through fiscal year 2011-12. The Network provides immediate access to 12 Redmond child care facilities, which are committed to improving operational excellence and meeting the changing workforce demands for child care. "Thanks to several local and foundation grants and donations," REDI manager Jon Stark shared, "we are able to continue improving the quality child care delivery system in the Redmond community." For more information on the Redmond Child Care Network, contact Denise Hudson at Neighbor Impact at 541-548-2380 x 118.

From heating pellets to BBQ products: Pacific Pellet, a Redmond manufacturer of premium wood pellets used for heating homes, has diversified their product line by developing a new line of BBQ Pellets. Available in County Cherry, Mountain Maple, Northwest Apple, Pacific Alder, Rancher's Mesquite and Smoked Hickory, the new pellets add flavors to grilled items such as fish, chicken, pork and beef and are carried in many Central Oregon feed stores in Central Oregon.

Facebook is expanding: With its first building nearly complete, facebook will begin construction this fall on another 300,000sf data center building. That means hundreds of construction jobs will stay in Prineville for another 12-15 months. Facebook currently has 54 full-time employees, and expects to add another 10 employees with the second building.

Highway improvements coming: Local leaders will vote in the next several months on a proposed long-term plan to deal with congestion and safety on highway 126 in Crook County. Local residents, business owners, and EDCO representatives have been working on plans to fix congested intersections - including Tom McCall Road, which serves as the main entrance for much of Prineville's industrial properties.

Basalt company clears hurdles: Central Oregon Basalt Products (COPB) intends to mine deposits of high quality basalt to supply rail ballast and jetty rock (potentially for the rehabilitation project at the mouth of the Columbia River).  Also, basalt rock can be used to manufacture high-tech basalt fiber, similar in application to carbon fiber for many industrial uses. COPB will create 100 to 250 jobs, depending on which of its business components first gain traction. The company hopes to be operational this fall once a half-mile of BLM roadway is graveled. Jefferson County Commissioners, Congressman Walden, Senators Wyden and Merkley were instrumental in clearing hurdles to help make this business a reality.

Several Warm Springs Confederated Tribes projects progress:

• A 30 Mw gasification plant is being vetted that will create more green energy and approximately 50 jobs.
• The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) project, which would provide a testing area for aerial vehicle manufacturers, is being pursued aggressively, but the business arm of the Tribes must first overcome regulatory challenges, namely being granted status by the FAA as a public government entity.  While their initial request was denied, the Confederated Tribes intends to continue to pursue the designation based on other Tribes' experience. The UAS project has significant potential for job and revenue creation.
• A green, bio-mass project is continuing to make progress by the developer with the goal of formalizing an announcement in the near future.

State funds improve Madras Airport: Madras Airport Connect Oregon III improvements are in their final phase of completion.  All weather navigation, runway lighting, ramp lighting and ramp paving will greatly enhance the usability of the airport.  

Sat, Oct 1, Collaborate! Sharepoint Saturday
SharePoint Saturday Bend is an educational, informative, and lively day filled with sessions from respected SharePoint professionals and MVPs, covering a wide variety of SharePoint- oriented topics from beginning to advanced knowledge levels. There are four tracks: SharePoint 101, IT Pro/Admin, End User, and Developer. SharePoint Saturday Bend is FREE, open to the public and is your local chance to immerse yourself in SharePoint. More details and registration information.  

Tues, Oct 4, Production & Inventory Management Certification  
The Portland Chapter of the Association for Operation Management is bringing its quality Certified Production and Inventory Management program to Central Oregon. The program is essential for those involved in production and inventory management, operations, supply chain management, procurement, materials management and purchasing. Classes start October 4 at COCC. You'll find more information and registration details here.    

Wed, Oct 5, It's in The Bag: Bamboo Capitalism
China is a dynamic emerging market, forecasted to surpass the US economy in size by 2016. In OSU-Cascades' first "It's in the Bag" series of the academic year, international business professor Julie Ann Elston will address China's economic prowess in a presentation titled "Bamboo Capitalism: The Economic Rise of China in the 21st Century".

In 2008, Dr. Elston was selected as a Fulbright Scholar to study the impact of science on policy formation in the European Union. As a regular contributor to the field of entrepreneurship, Elston serves as an associate editor of the Small Business Economics Journal. This brown bag event is noon to 1:00 p.m. at Cascades Hall, Room 118, College Way, in Bend.  

Fri, Oct 14, The Bend Venture Conference (BVC)
Now in its eight year, the BVC showcases the most investment-ready entrepreneurs in Central Oregon and the State of Oregon. New this year is the Concept Stage grant of $10K, which supplements the $200K Launch Stage prize, and creates two categories of competition.  Business professionals, investors, and those who want to boost entrepreneurial strength in Central Oregon are encouraged to attend the full day event at the historic Tower Theatre. Cost is $199 and includes value-added events on Thursday.  See top of the newsletter for more details or go to www.bendvc.com.   

Fri, Oct 28, Unleash the Creative Potential Dormant Inside Each Worker
The High Desert Enterprise Consortium  (HiDEC) will feature Norman Bodeck at its October 27 Executive Forum. Called "Mr. Productivity" by Industry Week Magazine and "Mr. Lean" by Quality Progress Magazine, both are tributes to Bodeck's 30 year history of studying quality improvement and productivity growth. His most powerful discovery, he maintains, is the way Toyota and other Japanese companies opened the infinite creative potential often lying dormant inside every single worker. This will be his subject on October 28 from 9:00 am to noon.