EDCO Receives $50,000 Meta Grant to Strengthen Rural Entrepreneurship in Crook and Jefferson Counties

Bend, Ore. – March 17, 2026 – Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) has received a $50,000 grant from the Meta Data Center Community Action Grants Program – Prineville Data Center to support Crook & Jefferson Innovate, a project to strengthen rural entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunities in Central Oregon.

EDCO’s Crook & Jefferson Innovate project will assess the entrepreneurial ecosystem in both counties by identifying active and emerging entrepreneurs, evaluating barriers related to digital access and business support, and mapping existing resources. The effort will highlight gaps and recommend targeted solutions to strengthen the region’s entrepreneurial infrastructure.

The project will directly engage entrepreneurs and partners to gather input on challenges and support needs. Advisory committees will guide outreach and validate findings, resulting in county reports with actionable recommendations.

“Crook and Jefferson Counties have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, but many founders operate informally or without access to the digital tools and support networks needed to grow,” said Kelsey Haskett, EDCO’s Prineville/Crook County Director. “This grant from Meta allows us to better understand where entrepreneurs are and what resources they need so we can build stronger pathways for business growth and job creation in our region.”

Rural communities often face unique challenges, including limited broadband infrastructure, fragmented business support services and barriers for historically underrepresented founders. By identifying gaps and opportunities in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, EDCO aims to create a roadmap to strengthen entrepreneurship and expand economic opportunity for the region’s approximately 51,000 residents across both counties.

The initiative also aligns with EDCO’s broader efforts to support innovation and entrepreneurship across the region, including through the Central Oregon Innovation Hub, a regional effort to expand resources, mentorship and capital access for innovative and high-growth, traded-sector startups.

“This work directly complements the mission of the Central Oregon Innovation Hub by helping ensure entrepreneurs in Crook and Jefferson Counties can connect to the region’s growing innovation ecosystem,” said Rita Hansen, EDCO’s Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. “By identifying ecosystem gaps and expanding digital access and mentorship opportunities, we can help more founders move from ideation to scalable businesses while strengthening the overall economic resilience of Central Oregon.”

EDCO was one of several organizations selected to receive funding through the 2026 Meta Data Center Community Action Grants Program – Prineville Data Center. Through the program, Meta funds projects that put technology to use for community benefit by addressing critical needs, helping people build strong and sustainable communities, and improving local STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) education.

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