Posted 8/31/2006
Issue 8, Volume V
BEND VENTURE CATALYST PILOT PROGRAM ANNOUNCED
On August 18th, EDCO was proud to join Sen. Ron Wyden (D, OR) in announcing the Bend Venture Catalyst, a new program for Central Oregon designed to better connect promising high technology start ups and other early stage companies with expertise, capital and a network of assistance to make these ventures more successful. For several years EDCO has longed for a more consistent and comprehensive support network for the region's small but vibrant entrepreneurial community. EDCO has produced monthly Pub Talks and co-hosted the Bend Venture Conference for the past two years, however focused assistance for new business ventures in the tri-county area has been hit and miss. Thanks to an idea shared with the Senator Wyden by local angel investors Nori Juba and Dan Hobin (co-founders of Bend Capital Partners) the proposed pilot program is in the cue for federal appropriations funding, which should be finalized by the end of September or mid-October. Working from this timeline, EDCO and Catalyst organizers hope to launch the program in November or December of this year. For more information about the Bend Venture Catalyst, read the press release at www.edcoinfo.com and Concept Paper by clicking here.
WALL STREET JOURNAL RECOGNIZES BEND AS TOP EMERGING INVENTIVE TOWNS
The timing of a July 22, 2006 article in the Wall Street Journal Online could not have been more fortuitous with the recent announcement of the Bend Venture Catalyst pilot program. The article, "The Most Inventive Towns in America," features research on "small-town" patent hubs in the U.S. ranked by number of new patents issued last year to companies residing there. No surprise that San Jose, CA was #1 on the Top 20 listing, or that California dominated the study with 12 "towns" on the list. Texas also made a strong showing with Austin (#3), Houston (#11), and Plano (#17). Boise, ID made the top 10, and Portland came in at #13, surprisingly just above Seattle. What is interesting to note is that all of these "inventive areas" have been and continue to be areas from which Central Oregon sees significant in-migration of new residents. In addition to the Top 20, the Journal also listed 20 "Up & Comers" where a high percentage of patents were given to individuals and small companies. Bend made this list with 29 patents - ahead of places like Tigard, OR; Walnut, CA and only a few patents short of Annapolis, MD, all which also made the list. To read the entire article, click here.
INDUSTRY WEEK 2006
October is quickly approaching and with the beginning of fall comes EDCO¡¦s third annual Industry Week. Save the date for these regional events:
Industry Week October 16-20, 2006
| Monday, October 16 |
City of Bend Business Roundtable |
| Tuesday, October 17 |
Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Symposium
Seventh Mountain Resort
7:30 am - 12:00 noon |
Aerospace Industry Mini-Summit
Columbia Aircraft - Bend Airport
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
LaunchPad Innovation & Technology Expo
Columbia Aircraft - Bend Airport
3:00 pm - 7:00 pm |
| Wednesday, October 18 |
Best Practices- Understanding your Financial Statements |
| Prineville Business Roundtable |
| Redmond Business Roundtable |
| Thursday, October 19 |
EDCO Annual Awards Ceremony
Seventh Mountain Resort
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm |
| Madras Business Roundtable |
| Friday, October 20 |
Bend Venture Conference
Tower Theatre
8:00 am - 5:00 pm |
SEPTEMBER PUBTALK FEATURES KEN CHMIEL, FORMER V.P TYCO FIRE & SECURITY
“Tyco: From Scandal to Survival to Success”
Where: McMenamin's Old St. Francis School - Downtown Bend
When: Thursday, September 14th, 5:00 – 7:30 pm
Ken Chmiel was EVP of a company that was acquired by Tyco in late 2001. Within 9 months Tyco’s CEO, CFO and Chief Legal Counsel were indicted for various criminal offenses, the stock price dropped from $60 to $9, and a new management team was recruited to try and save the company. In his presentation, Ken will outline the lessons learned from the challenges and the steps taken to resuscitate Tyco both financially and ethically.
Prior to Tyco, Ken served in a number of executive management positions with Sensormatic, Morrison Knudsen, and Honeywell. He and his wife Maggie have recently moved to Oregon from Florida.
Early Stage Presentation:
Brian Kurth, VocationVacations®
(www.vocationvacations.com)
Click here for more information about the September PubTalk.
BEND VENTURE CONFERENCE (BVC) TO AWARD $100,000 GRAND PRIZE
The 2006 Bend Venture Conference will host selected regional companies on October 20th that are eager to present their ideas to a panel of angel investors. The business that provides the most compelling pitch stands to win a $100,000 grand prize. This is the first ever grand prize of its kind to be offered by BVC. Companies seeking funding and partnerships will gain direct exposure and feedback from an expert panel of seed and early stage venture investors willing to share their insight into key elements that lead to successful funding. Now in its third year, this outstanding event continues to provide investors and business leaders a unique forum to learn about emerging investment opportunities.
For more information and to register to attend, visit the Bend Venture Conference website at www.bendvc.com. Early registration fees are only $149 through September 15th. Companies and entrepreneurs interested in applying to present may reference the website or send email to presenters@bendvc.com. The application deadline for presenting companies is September 15th.
WORKFORCE FORECAST BREAKFAST SOLD OUT
Due to the tremendous response and limited space, The Workforce Forecast Breakfast on September 14, 2006 at St. Charles Medical Center has been SOLD OUT! EDCO is no longer accepting reservations for the breakfast, but if you would like to be added to a waiting list, please contact Dayna at 541-388-3236 or email to dayna@edcoinfo.com. The breakfast will feature nationally known author, performance architect and researcher, Maryann Billington as the keynote speaker. Her presentation, "The Emerging Workforce - Implications for Leaders, Managers and Policy Architects" will include valuable information about demographic forces shaping the workforce, how to develop leaders, best practices to recruit and retain employees. The event is presented by Central Oregon Workforce Investment Board and sponsored by Columbia River Bank, EDCO, the Bend Chamber of Commerce, Express Personnel and the Prineville Chamber of Commerce.
NEW CENTRAL OREGON CAREER FAIR SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER 23rd
Some of the region's larger employers are launching an effort to make people inside and outside the Central Oregon area aware of the broad spectrum and sheer numbers of jobs that are currently available within the region. A "Career Shopping Day" is being presented by the Human Resource Association of Central Oregon (HRACO) on Saturday, September 23rd from 10:00am to 3:00pm at the Riverhouse in Bend. The event is being marketed in all print media within the region and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Cost for exhibitors is $250 and the event will be free to job seekers. For more information about how to join more than 50 employers who have already signed up, contact Barb at Brooks Resources at 541-382-1662 or via email at barb@brooksresources.com. For more information about HRACO, visit www.hrcentraloregon.org.
EXPORT STRATEGIES SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 26th IN BEND
Are you an established company seeking overseas markets? Have you been considering exporting but don't know where to start? The US Department of Commerce, US Export Assistance Center, US Small Business Administration, Small Business International Trade Center and EDCO will be hosting Export Strategies, Tools and Techniques on September 26th in Bend. This is a full-day, four-part seminar with emphasis on: Developing an Export Plan, Identifying and Selecting International Markets & Partners, Pricing & Payment Options and Export Shipping and Export Compliance. This seminar will give you the tools, resources and reference material to grow into new markets!
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Time: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Where: AmeriTel Inn, Bend
|
COST |
1st Attendee |
Additional Attendees |
|
EDCO Members |
$60 |
$40 each |
|
Non- Members |
$70 |
$50 each |
Breakfast & lunch are included, with a wine reception to follow the seminar. For more information or to register for this seminar, contact Dayna at EDCO 541-388-3236 or email dayna@edcoinfo.com. Registration deadline is September 19, 2006 and seating is limited!
ECONOMIC SHIFT FELT BY REGIONS EMPLOYERS
A remarkable shift in the region's economy has quietly happened over the past three years, namely that job growth has actually outpaced Central Oregon's phenomenal population growth. Historically, these two indicators were always reversed, causing chronically higher unemployment. This past month, unemployment rates in the region hit a 45-year low. EDCO expects to see the monthly unemployment rates for August or September in Deschutes County to dip below 4%. Meanwhile, the relatively small tri-county area created more jobs between 2000-2005 than all of Oregon's metropolitan areas combined. With the economy of Portland and other metros west of the Cascades now rebounding, we don't expect this trend to continue the next five years, however Central Oregon has entered a new era where we will continue to see strong jobs, lower unemployment rates than Oregon as a whole and greater competition for labor and talent. EDCO is working with other private and public organizations to provide best practices for area traded-sector (manufacturing, tech-based) employers. For more information about keeping competitive in attracting the workforce your company needs call Eric Strobel at 541-388-3236 or email him at eric@edcoinfo.com.
CASCADE EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION OFFERS WORKFORCE ASSISTANCE
Established in 1947, Cascade Employers Association is Oregon's largest and oldest diverse private industry association dedicated to providing HR business solutions. Based in Salem, CEA is a partner for employment knowledge and support in virtually all areas of human resource management, including: Human Resource Support; Employment Law Compliance; Leadership and Safety Training; Pay Data and Pay Plan Design; Employee Benefits (health and retirement); and, Safety and Workers' Compensation Risk Management. A paid membership (ranging from $395.00 - $1,495.00 based on size) gives access to a wealth of HR business solutions, including: a helpline for employment-related questions, forms, policies, and tools; pay and benefit data through participation in industry surveys; an assessment of human resource practices; a video library of over 100 videos on various leadership and safety topics; publications to keep current on those issues; employee benefit options for qualifying employers; and reduced rates on training, consultation, and projects services. Four training classes will be offered in October on establishing safety committees, lead person effectiveness, interviewing and performance management. Currently, CEA has 12 members in the Central Oregon region with plans to increase membership. Visit http://www.cascadeemployers.com/index.cfm for more information.
INNOVATORS NETWORK, ASSOCIATION FOR COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY, EDCO AND BEND CHAMBER TO HOST SEMINAR IN BEND FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER
As a resource for small, innovative technology companies, two national organizations, the Innovators Network and Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) are teaming up with EDCO and the Bend Chamber to bring a free seminar to Bend on October 4th or 5th (date, time and venue still pending). The 1.5 hour seminar will feature speakers Andre Carter, President of Irimi Corporation (consulting firm for start-up tech companies); Mike Sax of Sax.net (leading provider of communication tools for Fortune 1000 companies) and a legal expert from the Central Oregon area on intellectual property. Look for more details about the event in the weeks ahead. For more information, contact Patrick Capper with Northwest Grass Roots & Communication at 503-956-2976, Patrick@ngrc.com.
VENTURE NW SLATED FOR OCTOBER 25th IN PORTLAND
Venture Northwest (formerly Venture Oregon) is touting an expanded geographic area this year in drawing together venture investors and companies from Oregon, Washington and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Companies that have presented at Venture Oregon in the past have raised over $580 million in venture capital since 1996. Last year, more than 50 investors from 30 venture capital firms attended the day-long event including Battery Ventures, Blueprint Ventures, Adams Harkness, Shasta Ventures, Sierra Ventures, and Trinity Ventures from Silicon Valley; Fluke Venture Partners, Frazier Technology Ventures, Madrona Venture Group, and Voyager Capital from Seattle; and corporate investors such as Intel, IBM, Siemens, and Micron. Keynote speaker for Venture NW 2006 is John Connors, a partner with Ignition Partners in Seattle and former CFO/CIO with Microsoft.
Like the Bend Venture Conference, VNW is still seeking companies interested in presenting. To find out more about applying to or attending the event, visit https://www.oef.org/events/vnw or call the Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum at 503-222-2270.
CREDIT SUISSE HOSTS OREGON INVESTMENT FUND BREAKFAST NEXT IN MEDFORD
Last month Credit Suisse, a world-leading financial services company that advises clients in all aspects of finance worldwide, hosted a breakfast in Bend to provide entrepreneurs with some best practices in the industry to help on the path to success. In case you missed this event, the next in quarterly breakfast lecture series takes place in Medford on November 8th. The workshop covers:
- The best business plans - the dos and don'ts
- Establishing and pitching your story to VCs
- The right combination of funds to grow your business
(venture, personal, banks)
- Building value through various stages of growth
- What you need to reach Angel investors
- Growing a successful business in Oregon
For more information, contact Melanie at 503-225-0725 or by e-mail melaniea@mackenzie-marketing.com
THANK YOU TO RENEWING EDCO MEMBERS!
A new section to the eCon Update, we are now recognizing renewing members to EDCO, many of which have been longstanding supporters of the organization. Our success is very much dependent on your ongoing investment in our efforts to build a strong, vibrant and diversified regional economy!
|
Level |
Company |
Member Since |
| Silver |
Jack Robinson & Sons / 4R Equipment |
1996 |
| US Allegiance |
2004 |
| Financial |
Umpqua Bank |
2004 |
| Bronze |
Ball Janik |
2001 |
| Bend Tarp and Liner |
2004 |
| Cascade Business News |
1994 |
| Fincham Financial |
1998 |
| Jones & Roth, P.C. |
1996 |
| Newland Communities |
2003 |
| Redmond Spokesman |
1987 |
| Robberson Ford Mazda |
1997 |
| Smith CFI |
2004 |
| Steele Associates Architecture |
1999 |
| T-Mobile |
2004 |
WELCOME NEW EDCO MEMBERS!
Silver Level Members
Contact Lumber Company
Contact Lumber Company is a privately held company located in Prineville Oregon and employs about 600 people in the production of engineered wood components for the door, window, furniture and general housing industries. The operation has been in Prineville since 1954 and has grown to over 525,000 square feet of manufacturing space. Contact unites advanced wood technology with adhesive technology to produce components with tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch. By implementing new strategies and searching the world for materials, processing equipment, and customers, the business has transformed itself from a base of commodity products to a base of specialty products. The company is ISO compliant and has recently earned environmental awards for products that use very thin veneer from valuable wood resources. Corporate headquarters are in Clackamas, Oregon.
Bronze Level Members
Investment Property Development, LLC-
Investment Property Development, llc (IPD) was established in 2004 by Jordy Skovborg and Chuck Mohill and focuses primarily on the development of office buildings and medical facilities in Central Oregon. Jordy Skovborg began his real estate career with the Arcand Company in Portland, Oregon as a financial analyst and asset manager, overseeing a portfolio of development projects nationwide. A Bend native, Mr. Skovborg returned to Central Oregon in 1998 to focus on commercial real estate brokerage, construction and development. Mr. Skovborg is also a partner in CS Construction, which creates a close association between the two entities. Chuck Mohill is a former partner and Senior Vice President of Forum Properties, Inc. in Portland, Oregon. In the five year period before moving to Bend, Forum Properties and Mr. Mohill managed over 2.75 million square feet and developed over 500,000 square feet of office facilities within the Portland market. The latest addition to the IPD team is Angie Goodstein who was brought on in June of 2006 as Development Manager. Prior to joining IPD, Ms. Goodstein worked as an Account Executive for local advertising agency, Ralston360.
IPD's past projects include the Bend Memorial Westside Primary Care Clinic which opened its doors in April of 2006. Among other projects, which are in the early planning stages, IPD is currently coordinating the development of 3 office buildings ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 square feet and a 30,000 square foot medical facility.
A.P. CO. Swiss
A.P. CO. Swiss is a high precision CNC machine shop. Ted & Mary George relocated the business from Southern California in December of 2004 and are enjoying the Central Oregon lifestyle and business environment. The company was founded 35 years ago by Ted’s father and business partners. A.P. CO. Swiss now serves a variety of industries including aerospace, medical, electronics, computers, and sporting goods. They currently employ 10 people.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MIDSTATE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
An EDCO member since 1995, Midstate Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MEC) located in La Pine, Oregon, is a private, non-profit cooperative electric utility owned by the members it serves. It was established to provide its members with the most reliable electric service at the lowest possible cost. MEC's service area covers a four-county, 5,600 square mile region.
MEC was incorporated in 1948 and energized in 1952, at which point there were 153 member/owners, seven miles of energized line and six employees. Today, MEC has grown to over 17,500 member/owners, 2,220 miles of line and 53 employees. MEC is the second fastest growing coop in Oregon with a forecast for continued growth. Because of this growth, MEC built a larger headquarters facility last year, which was constructed with flexibility to adapt to changing space needs for the future. It achieved Gold Certification with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, a performance based certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council) to become the first building in Central Oregon and the first electric cooperative to do so.
MEC and its employees have a stake in the communities they serve. They work with a variety of community agencies to improve local environments, provide food and shelter for the underprivileged and enhance educational and recreational opportunities. Agencies and causes assisted by MEC and its employees include: Local food bank drives, Friends of the Library, SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) school program, Senior Centers, Community Action Teams, Habitat for Humanity, Parks and Recreation Districts, 4-H Programs, Soccer/Football/ Baseball Coaches and Economic Development. For more information about Midstate Electric, visit www.midstateelectric.coop.
PENDING RECRUITMENT PROJECTS
Without breaching constraints of confidentiality, we want to make you aware of a few of our pending projects for the region. They include but are not limited to:
- The large industrial project noted in last month's newsletter has narrowed its search to the Prineville area. The company has planned a site visit for Aug. 31st to further evaluate the region and community's ability to meet transportation and infrastructure needs for a new processing facility. The project which would result in approximately $150 million of new capital investment and a minimum of 60 permanent, well-paying jobs.
- EDCO responded to a new lead from the Oregon Economic & Community Development Department for a kit aircraft manufacturer that is looking for a new home in the Pacific Northwest. A proposal was prepared this month for sites at general aviation airports in Bend, Prineville and Madras for this project which would initially occupy a 10,000 sf building on an airport and bring 30 new assembly and manufacturing jobs.
- ODS Companies, which announced plans earlier this year to establish a new claims processing center and dental hygiene school in downtown Redmond, has hit a snag in planning for adequate parking. The project would employ more than 120 people at family-wage levels, so Redmond Economic Development, the City of Redmond and property owners in and around City Hall are working toward a solution. There is the possibility that the company may look at other communities in the region for the new center.
- EDCO is working with a manufacturer from Washington that is interested in relocating to the La Pine area. The company produces specialty cars for classic car enthusiasts across the country. We are working to provide a smooth construction and relocation process. The project is expected to initially create 8 full time positions within the first 24 months.
PENDING RETENTION/EXPANSION PROJECTS
- EDCO is working with a local specialty products manufacturer on expanding their existing facility. The company currently leases the bottom floor of the building and will move offices to the top floor, creating more manufacturing space. The company is anticipating considerable sales growth due to recently signed large contracts and expects to increase its employment over the next year by 10-20 employees. EDCO is working on an incentive package and training grants for new employees.
- HOST Industries, manufacturer of high-end campers and RVs recently moved into the former 55,000 square foot Beaver Coaches facility in Bend. Host Industries is undergoing its fourth facility expansion in six years and has plans to grow its 75-person staff to 200 in the next two to three years. Continued growth is expected with 2007 production projections of 400 campers and 150 motor coaches. For more information about the company visit http://www.hostcampers.com/index.html.
- EDCO is working with a local specialty products manufacturer on finding a new location. The company has outgrown its current space and is looking to construct a 15,000 - 18,000 sf combined fabrication shop, warehouse & distribution and corporate offices. The company is anticipating considerable sales growth and expects to expand its employment over the next two years. EDCO is working on an incentive package, site location assistance and fast track permitting.
- Two Central Oregon manufacturers are looking to locate adjacently in new, expanded facilities within a new light industrial development. The projects will allow for sustained growth of each company well into the future and enable them to vacate leased facilities in exchange for those owned by the principals. Look for more details about these exciting projects in future newsletters.
FEEDBACK
We would love to hear your thoughts and comments about this electronic newsletter and ways to improve it. Just fire back a response. Once again, thank you for your support and interest - we are working hard to make the most of your contributions to help strengthen and diversify the regional economy!
Archived issues of EDCO's monthly email newsletter are now available online. Click on the links below to view our past eCon Updates:
July 2006 | June 2006 | May 2006 | April 2006 | March 2006
