Columbia Gorge Economic Development Strategy Available for Public Comment
January 31, 2017 – The MCEDD Board of Directors released the 2017 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for public comment. The Board anticipates adopting the final strategy in June 2017. View the summary strategy: Summary Strategy View the Full Strategy MCEDD engaged a diverse workgroup of over 100 local representatives from private, public, and nonprofit sectors in developing the strategy. It includes actions plans on key goal areas including Housing, Entrepreneurial Environment, Workforce, Infrastructure, and Regulatory Environment. [Continue Reading]
Investment Board Finances Business Transition: Beachwood Eatery
January 28, 2017 – Ken Catlin obtained a Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to purchase the 9th Street Sugar Bowl restaurant building in The Dalles and transition his successful mobile restaurant business into a brick and mortar location. Ken has more than thirty years of professional cooking and kitchen management experience.In April 2016, Ken and his wife Nancy opened Beachwood Eatery in its new location at 504 W. 9th Street in The Dalles. They employ 17 -20 people, dependin g on the time of the year. Their restaurant offers a family dining experience with an extensive menu for lunch and dinner, including appetizers and desserts. Ken plans to add breakfast in the near future. You can enjoy your food and drink in their comfortable restaurant or get it to go or have it delivered. Beachwood Eatery also has a full bar and lottery and is open 6 am to 9 pm daily. Follow Beachwood Eatery on Facebook for more information. [Continue Reading]
Oregon Brineworks: Growing Local Business
September 28, 2016 – Oregon Brineworks is a growing business owned by Brian and Connie Shaw. This maker of naturally fermented foods, including pickles, garlic dills, beets, beans, kvass, kraut, slaws received an $110,000 loan from MCEDD to start up its business in 2012. Now two years later, Oregon Brineworks obtained a second loan of $38,000 to finance equipment need to support its growth. MCEDD loan funds were needed to purchase equipment, such as a barrel washer, cabbage shredder with accoutrements, mixing machine and a delivery vehicle. This additional equipment allows them to increase production efficiencies needed because they need to process a full years worth of pickles and other products during a short window of time during July, August and September of each year. In addition to creating local jobs, Oregon Brineworks sources its produce from family owned organic farms in Oregon and Washington whenever possible. They obtain over 90% of their ingredients for their high quality, organic, raw, no vinegar, pro-biotic, lacto-fermented vegetable products, from within a 100 mile radius. Oregon Brineworks is located at 3875 Heron Drive #400, Hood River, Oregon and their products can be found in variety of markets in the Hood River, Portland and beyond, or at their website. For more information on Oregon Brineworks, contact Brian and Connie at 541-354-1357. MCEDD manages the Oregon Investment Board, providing loans and grants in the National Scenic Area. Contact us at 541-296-2266 for more information. [Continue Reading]
Cloud Cap Cycle and Board Shop Receives Microloan
August 28, 2016 – Cloud Cap Cycle & Board Shop, LLC obtained a $20,000 MCEDD loan in August 2016 to open a bicycle and board retail and repair business. Jason Barnes had been operating a part-time cycle repair and bike building business out of his barn. Cloud Cap Cycle & Board Shop’s new location at 4955 baseline Drive in Parkdale will sell bikes, snowboards, wakeboards, kiteboards, and paddleboards; service bikes at all price points; and tune snowboards. Jason and his wife, Kara, as Parkdale residents feel that Parkdale is the perfect place for a local bike shop. Cloud Cap Cycle & Board Shop is open year round, Wednesday through Sunday, from 10 am – 6 pm. You can learn more about Cloud Cap Cycle & Board Shop at www.cloudcapcycle.com. [Continue Reading]
Montira’s Asian Market Opens in The Dalles with MCEDD Financing
June 28, 2016 – Montira’s Asian Market opened for business in February 2016 at 623 E. 2nd Street in The Dalles. Owned by Montira Spitzer and Ken Sommerfelt, the market sells a wide variety of products from Asia. Montira’s Asian Market is also an Asian deli and a regional wholesale food distribution company for specialty food products, including Thai herbs, spices and produce native to Asian countries. The market specializes in dry, fresh and frozen Thai and other Asian groceries and the deli offers fresh to-go foods fixed daily, including soups, curries, salads and fruits and vegetables. This husband and wife team also operate Montira’s Thai Cuisine restaurant located at 302 W. 2nd in The Dalles. Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s business assistance program provided financing to help start up Montira’s Asian Market. The MCEDD Loan Program is available to entrepreneurs, start up business and existing businesses doing business in the five county (Sherman, Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania) Mid-Columbia area. This loan program is part of MCEDD’s efforts to strengthen and support the region’s economy. [Continue Reading]
Grocery Market in Maupin Established with MCEDD Funds
March 28, 2016 – In July 2010, the Maupin Market opened in the former Graves Market building after Allison and Randy Bechtol purchased and completely remodeled the building, including new windows, roof, floors, interior layout and exterior facelift. Located at 507 Deschutes Avenue in downtown Maupin, the Maupin Market is open 8am to 8pm (8am to 7pm during the winter months), seven days a week. The Maupin Market offers groceries, fresh produce and many other items and has an OLCC liquor store and full service deli on premise. Allison and Randy obtained initial financing for this project with funding through CenterPointe Community Bank, Evergreen Business Capital (SBA 504 loan) and a $100,000loan from Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. Recently, the Maupin Market obtain a second loan in the amount of $30,000 through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to provide funds to upgrade to more energy efficient lighting in deli and display cases, and to provide working capital for more efficient operation of the business, especially during the slower winter months. The Maupin Market has around thirteen employees, which greatly helps the local economy and provides a much needed resource to Maupin residents and visitors. You can contact the Maupin Market at (541)395-2888 orwww.maupinmarket.com. The MCEDD Loan Program is available to entrepreneurs, start up businesses and existing businesses doing business in the five county (Sherman, Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania) Mid-Columbia area. This loan program is part of MCEDD’s efforts to strengthen and support the region’s economy. [Continue Reading]
CRG Freight Moves Forward with MCEDD Loan
February 28, 2016 – CRG Freight provides daily pickups and deliveries in the Columbia River Gorge and Portland areas. As a local and worldwide shipping specialist, CRG Freight will deliver an envelope or a truck load on time and affordably. Since 2006, CRG Freight has grown substantially, now operating several trucks with daily routes. Randy focuses on providing outstanding and friendly customer service while making sure his customers shipping and logistics need are met. Recently, CRG Freight obtained a loan through Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) to help operate its business more efficiently and take advantage of growth opportunities that its current cash flow would not allow. Randy also received small business counseling assistance from Rick Liebowitz at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Columbia Gorge Community College. Randy states that the help he received from MCEDD and SBDC really helped him understand his business better and allowed CRG Freight to better controls its cash flow and expand business. Randy looks forward to more business training and classes through the SBDC. More information about CRG Freight is available at www.crgfreight.com and Randy can be contacted at 541-393-9770. [Continue Reading]MCEDD Funds Construction of Elder Care Facility
November 28, 2015 – In early 2015, Dee Dee and Thomas Vallier opened A Home Sweet Home Elder Care, an adult foster care business that specializes in senior memory care, including Alzheimers’s and other dementia. This newly constructed facility has capacity for five clients and a live-in care giver. There is a shortage of rooms for persons needing adult foster care throughout the Gorge, especially in facilities that provide the specialized care required for dementia patients. Dee Dee saw this need and has worked hard to provide a warm, safe and comfortable living environment with highly qualified staff to care for its residents. Dee Dee, well known in the assisted living sector in the Mid-Columbia and beyond, has also been a patient safety advocate for more than 10 years. She is a former governor appointed member of the Oregon Patient Safety Commission and is currently serving on the Oregon Health Care Acquired Infection Advisory Committee. Dee Dee also collaborates with Consumers Union (Consumers Report) on healthcare issues. The primary financing for the construction was provided through loans from Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) and the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board (OIB). This new business employs two full time and two part time employees. A Home Sweet Home Elder Care is located at 1680 3rd Street in Hood River, Oregon and is current accepting application for new clients. Dee Dee can be reached at (541) 387-5334 for more information. [Continue Reading]The Tale of Two Coffee Houses
October 28, 2015 – Two coffee shops in Hood River received recent support through MCEDD financing. Operated by the same owner, Doppio Coffee and Ground Coffee, are serving high quality, fairtrade and organic coffee to residents and visitors to Hood River, Oregon. Doppio Coffee: Doppio Coffee, located at 310 Oak Street, in downtown Hood River was purchased by Carin Agren in June 2015. Carin, already well known known in the coffee circles in Hood River as the owner of Ground Coffee, purchased Doppio because it is such a great business in an awesome location. The previous owner, Michael Barthmus, created and maintained an excellent gathering place that is more than a coffee shop. It is a breakfast and lunch restaurant and sandwich shop, too. Purchasing Doppio complements Carin’s existing business because the two businesses are in different locations on Oak Street and have mostly different clientele. Also Ground is a coffee roasting and wholesale business. Carin obtained a $125,200 loan to help with the purchase and ownership transition. Carin is very happy to have a great employees and super awesome customers at both Doppio Coffee and Ground Coffee. Ground Coffee: In 2008, Carin Agren became interested in purchasing Ground Coffee in downtown Hood River. She came to MCEDD for a loan to help her do just that! MCEDD’s Intermediary Revolving Loan Fund program was able to provide needed capital to purchase the business from its previous owners and maintain the 30 year tradition of coffee shops in its location. After taking over, Carin has focused on roasting wonderful, fair trade and organic coffee beans she sells to customers throughout the Gorge in addition to serving in her shop. Ground also focuses on creating a welcoming environment for locals and visitors alike with freshly baked pastries, daily soup and sandwich specials, and local art displayed on the walls. Head over to their website groundhoodriver.com for more information. [Continue Reading]