LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS ANNOUNCES GRANT FOR PRINEVILLE/CROOK COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORT
PRINEVILLE, OR – The Les Schwab Tire Centers Board of Directors announced today
that the company will provide a grant of $50,000 to help support the continued economic
health and prosperity of the Prineville and Crook County community. The funds will be
earmarked for multi-year support of a new, local economic development program being
developed by a private-public partnership that includes the Prineville/Crook County
Chamber of Commerce, area businesses, Crook County, the City of Prineville and
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO).
“Les Schwab Tire Centers has been headquartered in Prineville since the company was
founded by Les Schwab in 1952,” said Phil Wick, Chairman. “Yesterday we announced
plans to relocate to a new headquarters office in Bend, Oregon by fall, 2008. We
understand that this relocation will have an impact on Prineville and this grant will be
used to help strengthen economic development efforts for the local community.”
Les Schwab selected this initiative because the grant will effectively leverage private and
public sector expertise to create business development and employment opportunities.
Tuesday’s announcement by the company to shift 350 professional and administrative
staff to a new headquarters outside the community also included retention of 800
employees within the company’s extensive distribution facilities in Prineville.
“We remain committed to Central Oregon and even with the corporate relocation to
Bend, Prineville remains a large and important center for our operations,” said Dick
Borgman, Les Schwab Chief Executive Officer.
Plans for the new Prineville/Crook County program were outlined by EDCO to business
and public leaders on December 1st in a meeting organized by the Prineville-Crook
County Chamber of Commerce and again at last night’s City Council meeting. Modeled
after a successful partnership launched three and a half years ago in Redmond, a full-time
economic development professional in the community will be responsible for fostering
business activity and helping to diversify the local economy.
“In keeping with the Les Schwab credo of outstanding customer service, the new
program will focus on producing tangible results as well as exceptional service and
support for both new and existing employers,” noted EDCO Executive Director Roger
Lee.
ABOUT LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS
Les Schwab Tire Centers is one of the leading independent tire dealers in the United
States with more than 7,700 employees in 410 locations throughout Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Alaska and Utah. In 2006, Les Schwab’s sales will
exceed $1.6 billion, making it one of Oregon’s largest private or public corporations.
ABOUT EDCO
Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) is a private non-profit corporation
founded 25 years ago and dedicated to building a vibrant and thriving regional economy
by attracting new investment and traded-sector jobs (manufacturing, professional,
headquarters and high technology businesses) through marketing, recruitment and
substantive assistance to existing companies.
To view the Prineville-Crook County Economic Development job description, memo of understanding, and required application questions, please click here. |
