Bend
As for work-life balance, Bend serves up big city amenities with small town advantages. The city has the cultural opportunities and the medical facilities of a larger metropolitan area and the short commutes of a smaller community. Bend is a place where you can happily raise families and get to know your neighbors. And the city is famous for its easy access to rivers, mountains, trails, and lakes.
Don Myll
About the area
The Lifestyle City Cultivating Tomorrow’s Economy
Community & Business Assets
Why Move Here?
Bend’s economic diversity allows for a healthy work-life balance. Professional satisfaction is encouraged by a wide range of industries. Bioscience, aviation, specialty food products, brewing, technology, outdoor products, and advanced manufacturing are some of the leading clusters. In addition, the rapid growth of postsecondary education, driven by Oregon State University-Cascades, Central Oregon Community College, Leading Edge Aviation Flight School, and various internship programs, is fueling a robust talent pipeline for area businesses. Year-over-year job and wage growth continues to significantly outpace other communities in Oregon as well as the state as a whole.
An expanding regional airport brings daily air service to 12 airports and a converging state highway system makes for enjoyable driving distances to the Willamette Valley, the Oregon Coast, Portland, and Seattle, providing accessible rural and metropolitan alternatives. The City of Bend is making transportation a priority, investing millions in capital improvement projects and connected bicycle and pedestrian routes to ensure Bend has the infrastructure for continued growth without growing commute times.
Central Oregon is home to breweries and cideries, both big and small, with Deschutes Brewery and Avid Cider Co. topping the list with national distribution. According to the state of Oregon, employment in the Central Oregon Brewing Industry is expected to grow by 27.4% by 2030. Bend ranks as one of the best cities in the country for beer drinkers and third in the country for breweries per capita. Local residents and visitors from around the world participate in an array of annual beer and cider festivals highlighting local producers. Beer and cider fans can also participate in the Bend Ale Trail, where connoisseurs gather passport stamps and earn souvenirs for sipping their way across the region’s finest breweries and cideries.
Industry Composition
Bend MSA Industry Composition, 2022
Local Resources
Support for Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Connecting the local business community.
High Desert ESD CTE and STEM
Central Oregon SHRM
East Cascades Works
City of Bend
Deschutes County
Unlocking Opportunities for Central Oregon Businesses
Discover the success stories of local businesses we've transformed.
"The support available to entrepreneurs and business owners here in Central Oregon is unparalleled. The access to the continually growing stable of experts who call our region home is invaluable. I can't think of a better place to live and build a business."
Tyrone Hazen
Founder, Puffin Drinkwear
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