Issue 11, Volume IV

NEW POPULATION ESTIMATES RELEASED
It comes as no surprise to anyone living in Central Oregon to learn that the region's population continues to expand, however the latest estimates released by Portland State University's Center for Population Research are, relatively speaking, remarkable.  Consider, that Bend added more new residents than any city of any size last year.  Portland, with an estimated 555,648 residents (roughly 8 times that of Bend), added fewer people despite a rebounding economy in the metro area.   At its current rate relative to other cities, Bend will easily pass Medford's population next year, and is on track to pass Hillsboro and Beaverton within the next five years to become Oregon's fifth largest incorporated city.  Within ten years, Bend could even pass Gresham to move into the fourth position.  

Redmond again led the state with the highest growth rate of 10.55%, adding nearly 2,000 new residents - a figure exceeded only by four other cities in the state.  Prineville registered strong growth as well at 5.12% and Madras at nearly 3%.  Throughout the region, PSU estimated the tri-county area added 7,780 people over the past 12 months. 

For numbers for all the cities visit: http://www.pdx.edu/media/p/r/Prelim_Est_05.pdf or the EDCO website at /COFacts/population/ for the most current county numbers as well.

Skywest, provider of air service for Delta and United at the Redmond Airport, grew its third-quarter profits 41% to $56.9 million over last year for the company's entire network despite the significant financial difficulties experienced by their partner airlines.  Across the nation, regional airports and the airlines providing commercial services are outperforming the airline market as a whole and many major hubs.  The success is attributed to several factors including lower airport operation costs and a lack of options for travelers, who are willing to pay more for the convenience of leaving from their back door. 

NO PUB TALK IN DECEMBER, EVENT RESUMES JANUARY 12th
The Central Oregon Pub Talk, a casual forum to bring together early stage companies, entrepreneurs and investors will take a holiday in December due to several factors including the region's busy schedule of holiday parties.  January will usher in a new year of exciting Pub Talks. Look for more information in the December eCon Update, or register to get on the Pub Talk e-mailing list by clicking here. 

While SEMA proved very interesting (and a bit overwhelming) the general consensus was that the decision-makers were generally not manning booths.  We found a higher percentage of companies were represented by sales teams, which made discussions about relocation or expansion less than fruitful.  Several leads were generated, but for the time and cost, it is a show we will keep tabs on but will probably not attend in the next few years.  The region has a surprising number of companies associated with the automotive industry including Les Schwab, BMC Choppers, Aircraft Rubber, Smith Brothers Manufacturing, Powroll, Lynch Performance Products and Muzzy's. 

In late January, EDCO will again be on the road to attend the Medical Device Manufacturer's (MDM) Show in Anaheim, one we have been working for the past five years. 

SILVER LEVEL MEMBERS
CORE Sports, Wellness, Spinal Conditioning - Tom Sliney III
Central Oregon Resistant Education's primary goal is to utilize the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art, scientifically proven equipment to specifically target individual muscles, muscle groups and joints, to improve, strengthen or recondition the body for higher performance and a better quality of health.  Different than the standard gym, CORE schedules one-hour appointments with clients so they get the equipment and the trainer all to themselves. There is no initiation fee or monthly dues, just a flat rate for each one-hour session. For more information, contact CORE at 541-389-6595 or visit their web site at www.coreconditioning.info.

Shackelford, Hanson & Parr, LLP - Mike Hanson
Located in Bend, Shackelford, Hanson & Parr, LLP is one of the largest local accounting firms.  Specializing in helping small to medium sized companies in the tri-county area, the company is a  full service accounting and consulting firm with a combined 30+ years of CPA experience in a variety of different areas including tax planning and reporting, real estate, business valuations, construction, and business consulting among other areas of focus.  The company also specializes in accounting services for smaller to medium sized firms in To learn more, visit their web site at www.shpcpa.com or call them at 541-382-4664.

BRONZE LEVEL MEMBERS
Greenstone Solutions, LLC - Scott Greenstone
Recognizing that most small and midsized companies cannot always afford full time, high caliber financial leadership, Greenstone Solutions, LLC is a financial leadership firm that provides outsourced CFO and controller services to small and midsized companies. Their clients receive valuable financial leadership services for a fraction of the cost of obtaining like services from a full time employee.  Founder Scott Greenstone¡¦s background includes a combination of senior financial leadership roles in a variety of industries as well as Big 5 public accounting experience.  For more information, contact Greenstone Solutions at 541-385-0888 or visit their web site at www.greenstonesolutions.com.

Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. - Travis Warthen, Justin Harries, Brad Fraley
Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. produces precision avionics for general aviation aircraft as well as Robinson R22 and R44 helicopters from its Bend Airport facility. Leading Edge Avionics was started over 15 years ago by William Dolf, but on July 15, 2005 ownership of the company passed to four new individuals who recognized the opportunity to take an already successful company and expand its capabilities. Renamed Leading Edge Aviation, Inc., it has gone from four to eleven employees in and has increased revenues by 200%. To learn more, contact Leading Edge Aviation, Inc. at 541-383-8825 or visit their new web site (soon to go live) at www.leadingedgeavn.com. 

Precise Flight - Scott Philiben
Precise Flight, Inc., headquartered in Bend, was founded in 1980 by three aviation consultants concerned about the increasing speed of general aviation aircraft when coupled with the inability to slow the aircraft down without shock cooling the engines, and in some instances, the inability to maintain cabin pressure. With twenty-eight employees and a worldwide sales network, Precise Flight, Inc. currently markets aviation safety and performance products for experimental, general aviation, corporate, commercial and transport category aircraft.  For more information, contact Precise Flight at 541-322-2868 or visit their web site at www.preciseflight.com.

Community West Bank - Cathie Hendrix
Community West Bank, a subsidiary of California-based Community West Bancshares, was founded in 1989 with a focus on three core competencies: Relationship Banking, Mortgage Lending and SBA Lending. Keeping credit and other banking decisions local is the key to Community West Bank's success.  Cathie Hendrix is the first representative in the state of Oregon and Washington as the company expands to new markets.  For more information, contact Cathie at 541-382-2701 or visit their web site: www.communitywestbank.com. 

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
One of the original founding members of EDCO nearly 25 years ago, Pacific Power is one of the lowest-cost investor owned electricity producers in the United States - providing more than 63,000 Central Oregon customers with reliable, efficient energy. Pacific Power has more than 8,400 megawatts of generation capacity from coal, hydro, renewable wind power, gas-fired combustion turbines and geothermal facilities. As a PacifiCorp company, it operates as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington, Wyoming and California; and as Utah Power in Utah and Idaho. The company is working to meet growing energy demand of the region while protecting and enhancing the environment. 

The company's Blue Sky program is a national leader in building grassroots support for renewable power. This holiday season, Pacific Power provided Blue Sky to offset the energy used at the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Rademacher Square, as well as the holiday lights and decorations in downtown Bend.

The company also contributes its resources to the community: the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning recently it provided a grant to the Oregon State Parks Trust for its Model Sustainable Park Practices project, which seeks to create two demonstration and education sites in Central Oregon at Pilot Butte State Scenic Viewpoint and Tumalo State Park. For more information about PacifiCorp, its projects and community involvement visit www.pacificorp.com.

• A major national food retailer is looking at the region for a new store.  EDCO is assisting this retail project (with which we only get involved on rare occasions) with demographic, statistical, and trend information.  The company would look to occupy approximately 12,000 sf with a new store.  
• A recreational equipment manufacturer and retailer from the Puget Sound area is looking at Redmond for relocation of its headquarters and distribution facilities.  The company could employ up to 40 people and would occupy 30,000 to 40,000 square feet. 
• ODS Companies, a longtime Oregon-based employer, is seriously considering expanding its operations to Redmond.  The company recently opened a new, class A office building and dental hygiene school in LaGrande, OR, and is looking for its next location for expansion.  Redmond is competing with another Oregon community for the project, which will include a minimum of 20,000 sf of office space for claims processing and would create more than 100 new family-wage jobs.
• A product design, sales and distribution company for the marine supply business is looking at property in Bend for a phased relocation from Orange County, CA.  The company currently has 19 employees and is growing by 20% annually.  The project entails headquarters, design center, customer service and assembly. 
• A manufacturer supplying the recreational vehicle industry is looking at possible relocation from Texas to somewhere in the tri-county area.  We had the chance to meet with this company at the SEMA show noted above to further discuss their interest in the Madras area.   The company is looking for a space that would allow a mix of retail/commercial use with light manufacturing and assembly. 

• EDCO is working with a Bend secondary wood products manufacturer regarding workforce recruitment issues.  The company is experiencing significant sales growth (40% this year) and is looking to hire skilled and semi-skilled production workers. 
• EDCO is working with Bend Tarp & Liner for Prineville Enterprise Zone approval for a new 70,000 sf facility.  The company recently announced that it will be relocating its corporate headquarters from Bend to the new Tom McCall Industrial Park near the Prineville Airport.  The company is hoping to start construction in Spring 2006 and occupy the building by the first quarter of 2007.  
• Redmond-based True Line Steel is expanding into a new facility on a lot purchased on E. Hemlock.  The company had formerly occupied space in the former Crown Pacific mill site.

• EDCO is working on the possibility of expanding Redmond's Enterprise Zone to include two new light industrial parks being developed in Sisters.  City leaders from both communities have been weighing the issue for some time, and there may be benefits for both.  For Sisters, the program could be a useful incentive to attract primary employers to balance their retail/commercial employment.  For Redmond, inclusion of Sisters could have positive implications for re-authorization of the zone in 2008. 
• EDCO is also working with leaders in Jefferson County and Madras regarding application for a new enterprise zone that would include bringing in industrial land in Metolius.  Discussions are also occurring as to the possibility of having EDCO manage the zone if designated.