Cascade Business News has been accused, anonymously of course, of “being part of a contingent of people who want everyone to put blinders on and fooling us into a belief system that our situation is something that it is not. I can’t believe how naïve, misinformed or ridiculous…can’t seem to find the right adjective, but honestly, stupid first comes to mind.” You can see why it was sent to us without signature.
It was written in response to our continuous effort to find the good news among the challenges we’ve been facing in Central Oregon.
And today, we’ve found some really good news. For those who would like to dwell on the negative, please don’t read any further.
Consumer Cellular in Redmond
Oregon-based Consumer Cellular, the exclusive wireless provider for AARP members, has signed a Letter of Intent with T-Mobile USA to sub-lease the carrier’s facility in Redmond. Consumer Cellular plans to open the 77,000 square-foot call center facility on August 1.
Economic Development of Central Oregon Executive Director Roger Lee says, “we’re excited about the announcement … 650 jobs over the next three years should help the recovery… and we’re very impressed with Consumer Cellular’s culture and approach – they should be a great fit for Central Oregon.”
U. S. Housing Market
Mark Pinkowski of Wells Fargo Economics Group says it’s a relief to finally be getting some positive economic news from the U.S. housing market. And on that front, the April housing data did not disappoint. Existing home sales for April increased to a 4.62 million annual rate, a 3.4 percent increase over March. Condo and co-op sales advanced at a 6.0 percent pace on the month, while single-family sales increased 3.0 percent. Improvements in the labor market and record low mortgage rates are helping stabilize housing demand. Even so, months’ supply increased to 6.6 months from 6.2 in March as more sellers put their houses on the market. The number of existing homes on the market increased 9.5 percent in April. The median existing single-family sales price was 10.4 percent above year-ago levels in April, rising to $178,000.
Biomass
Speaking at a regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend, Bruce Daucsavage, president of Ochoco Lumber Company, the Prineville-based timber holding company, outlined how biomass initiatives were one of the ways of continuing economic viability in an industry with a dwindling number of operators left standing. He said the company is committed to sustainable management which improves forest health, protects wildlife and enhances our natural resources for future generations. They decided that instead of being advocates for forest health they would become activists for forest health and have looked to how they can bring different sides together to craft workable solutions.
One of Ochoco Lumber’s recent success stories in the arena has been the construction of a wood pellet fuel facility in John Day via their offshoot in that area, Malheur Lumber Company, with the help of a $4.9 million economic recovery grant from Business Oregon.
VentureBox
The VentureBox program recently graduated its first group of entrepreneurs with great success and an abundance of potential. VentureBox is an enterprise accelerator focused on supporting concept to early stage start-ups. They’re committed to Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial community and helping turn innovative products and service ideas into great companies.
When James Gentes and Rys Fairbrother entered the 12-week program, both were intent on using the format of the new business incubator to create their own technology-based ventures. But eight weeks into the lean-start-up curriculum, the two found that a commonality in their ideas could be combined, and The Social Business was created. They created The Good Peeple (goodpeeple.com) App, which will be available in June, and once launched locally, the partners plan to expand their service to other communities.
Cultural Byways Project
This summer Central Oregon Visitors Association (COVA) and Arts Central will launch Cultural Byways (of Central Oregon), a regional collaborative arts and culture marketing project.
According to Arts Central Executive Director Cate O’Hagan, a collaboration by several agencies and entities including Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook and Warm Springs Cultural Coalitions is unprecedented. For the first time a comprehensive regional cultural tourism project will capture and distribute information about arts organizations, art projects and events, public art, history museums, libraries, significant historic buildings and the like.
According to Alana Hughson, president & CEO of COVA, the Cultural Byways project allows her agency to partner with the region’s arts and culture organizations for mutual marketing reach.
Truly this is a brilliant concept long overdue that will connect visitors to our region’s fabulous arts and culture, building on our economic potential.
OSU-Cascades Four Year University
The potential to expand OSU-Cascades to a four-year university was aided recently when the Bend Chamber Board of Directors approved a decision to pledge $50,000 towards the project and the Rotary Club of Greater Bend followed suit with a pledge of $25,000.
The Chamber will hold a fundraising drive through its 50/50 Match Program to allow other businesses to contribute to the project.
BendBroadband already has donated $25,000 and has pledged another $5,000 a year for the next five years.
The community is getting behind the four-year program recognizing the positive impact it will have on the economy and the future of Central Oregon.
Dr. Edward Ray, president of Oregon State University (OSU), at a recent City Club of Central Oregon forum said that a study by ECONorthwest determined that OSU-Cascades has infused more than $29.6 million back into the Central Oregon economy through payroll, rents and leases, purchased goods, capital spending and student spending.
Based on current enrollment and trends, Ray said he believes OSU-Cascades will hit 1,000 students by fall 2012, including COCC students that have already committed to transferring. He believes that will grow to 3,000 to 5,000 students by 2025, justifying the need for a four-year university.
Legislative Success
In January this year Roger Lee wrote of EDCO’s intent to influence key pieces of legislation including 450 acres of new industrial-zoned land in Redmond, allow data centers to locate in Oregon without penalty of property taxes on intangibles (blue sky), create new water rights mitigation credits for municipal use in Prineville, and update Oregon’s industrial revenue bond statutes to allow for R & D and working capital expenditures. Success on these fronts will result in company decisions to invest and move jobs to our region.
The best news is that things are happening in Central Oregon and it appears that we’re doing a lot of things right! However, we duly note that the unemployment rate in the region remains at double digits (while Oregon’s unemployment rate in April was 8.5 percent and the nation’s 8.1 percent). We still have a ways to go but are optimistic that we will continue to see improvements in our job potential. pha
