MCEDD Recent News Items

Mountain Home Biological Expands in Bingen

September 25, 2013 – To support the expansion of their business through the purchase of land and the construction of a new facility  Mountain Home Biological,  based in Bingen Washington, received a loan in 2005 from MCEDD. Having been in business since 1995, this local company continues to grow through expanding their product lines and markets.   They started out wholesaling owl pellets for classroom dissection and have since diversified to include the selling of educational laboratory equipment and supplies. While they continue to mainly work with K-12 schools throughout the US their online presence has grown allowing them to reach international markets for these supplies as well. Their MCEDD loan provided them with the financing that enabled Mountain Home Biological to scale up to meet the rising demand for their products. For more information, visit their website.   [Continue Reading]

Wildland Firefighting Capacity Expands with MCEDD Financing

August 30, 2013 – August 2013– Alejandro Rodriguez has been in the wild land firefighting field since 2000. After working for other companies based around the state, Alejandro saw a need for a local wild land firefighting company in The Dalles, and started Steelhead Enterprises, LLC. He brings this experience to his four year old company. Alejandro and his crew of professionals perform wild land firefighting, fire fuel reduction, and forest land maintenance throughout the region to public and private land owners. Steelhead Enterprises has grown because of its commitment to professionalism, developing its workforce, and creating a smart business plan. Over the last year, Steelhead gained certifications that increase their access to new contracts and allowed them to diversify the services they are able to offer. These changes created a need for additional financing for working capital and equipment purchases. Steelhead found this through MCEDD’s loan programs.  They were one of many crews who successfully fought the Government Flats Complex Fire in Wasco and Hood River counties in 2013.   [Continue Reading]

Sweet Lila’s Coffee Cup Receives Small Business Loan

August 1, 2013 – Heidi Hall received a Mid-Columbia Economic Development District (MCEDD) loan to open a coffee drive thru business. Sweet Lila’s Coffee Cup is a coffee drive thru business inspired by Heidi and Blake Hall’s, daughter Lila May. She loved cooking and making “kids’ coffee” and that is what Sweet Lila’s Coffee Cup will be doing for their customers. Heidi is excited to be serving espresso drinks, blended drinks and tea, along with breakfast and lunch grab and go items in the near future. Heidi states, “When I started this process I found out that banks do not typically finance new start ups because they require a history of the business that can show potential. I then contacted Eric at MCEDD, who helped guide me thru the process. With the support of my MCEDD business loan, we have recently broken ground with the building process and hope to be up and running in late April.” Sweet Lila’s Coffee Cup will soon be offering high quality products with fast and friendly service at its drive thru located at 1540 Osprey Drive, Hood River, Oregon. You can call Heidi at 541-261-6507 or check this business out on Facebook for more information.     [Continue Reading]

MCEDD Loan Supports Minor’s International Wood Design

June 23, 2013 – Danny Minor of Minor’s International Wood Design has been an  independent business for the last nine years, but Danny has over 40 years of experience with wood working. The company focuses on customized, high quality woodworking and engraving for clients of all types.  Minor’s International does custom furniture, cabinetry, wine boxes, and wooden cremation urns. In 2009, after working with Columbia Gorge Community College’s Small Business Development Center, Danny came to MCEDD for a loan to purchase a laser engraver so that he could expand the business to increase its focus on engraving.  With this tool almost any photo, drawing, or custom lettering can be replicated on wood, metal, plastic, stone, or other surfaces. Minor’s client base is varied, including local specialty shops, funeral homes, custom work, and more. Through the MCEDD loan, Minor’s International Design has been able to continue to diversify its business.   [Continue Reading]

Draper Girls Country Farm Value Added Processing Expands with MCEDD Support

June 2, 2013 – Draper Girls Country Farm has been in the family since 1962.  Theresa Draper bought it from her father in 1981 and has been running it ever since.  She expanded from running the orchard to also include attending farmers’ markets in the Portland area, building a farm stand, and increasing her u-pick presence.  Value added agriculture products are another focus for the Draper Girls Country Farm . They include jams, dried fruit, and many varieties of cider available fresh pressed or frozen.  In addition, Theresa is raising grass fed lambs and goats and has eggs available. They also have a vacation rental that supports the growing agri-tourism market.  Draper Girl’s received a loan from MCEDD to support these changes to her business.  This year, Draper Girl’s is looking forward to a strong harvest, so stop in and try the cider made fresh every week throughout the year or to pick up some apples!  http://drapergirlscountryfarm.com   [Continue Reading]

Winery Grows with MCEDD Financing

May 30, 2013 – May 2013 Loan Client Profile: Alexis and Juliet Pouillon opened Domaine Pouillon Winery in 2005 near Lyle, Washington. Their enterprise started small with just a few barrels of wine, and now has grown to about 3,850 cases of wine produced a year with 200 members in their wine club. Domaine Pouillon is currently building a new tasting room will have permanent restrooms, food service and comfortable seating areas. It is scheduled to open this summer! In anticipation of growth in business and an increasing number of weekend visitors resulting from their new tasting room, the owners of Domaine Pouillon decided to seek additional funding through MCEDD’s loan program. MCEDD approved the additional loan in March of 2013. The project will provide 2-3 new tasting room staff. For more information about Domaine Pouillon visit their website at www.domainepouillon.com   [Continue Reading]

Value Added Food Processing Business Grows at the Port with MCEDD Funds

April 22, 2013 – April 2013- Columbia PhytoTechnology, a MCEDD loan client since 2011, specializes in powder production, particularly of fruits and vegetables, for the food, beverage, nutritional, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Columbia PhytoTechnology dehydrates fruits and vegetables into specialized products using its patented Radiant Zone Drying (RZD) technology.  This process allows the company to preserve the high nutritional value of such substances as vitamin C in its RZD acerola powder and is considered far superior to standard freeze-dried products. Owners Mark Savarese, Kerry Ringer, and Andres Sena have guided the company through research and development and into commercial production over the last decade.  With no signs of slowing, Columbia PhytoTechnology now employs over 50 people in its new 70,000 square foot production facility located on Steelhead Way in The Dalles.   [Continue Reading]

Boda’s Kitchen: Expanding Local Culinary Business

June 28, 2012 – Having been passionate about all things food for as long as she can remember, Sirota Johnston dreamed about starting her own culinary business. Sirota Johnston, and her husband and business partner Matt, came to MCEDD as they were putting together financing to purchase the former South Bank Kitchen space to move their fledgling catering company into a storefront where they could expand the services they offer their customers.  Boda’s Kitchen is now a gourmet delicatessen, market and full service catering company that is passionate about providing “comfort gourmet” food using high quality, seasonal ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. Their loan from MCEDD helped them purchase the new space and grow their business.  For more information on what you can find at Boda’s this time of year, check out their website.   [Continue Reading]