NEWS RELEASE --July 10, 2007
GOVERNOR KULONGOSKI Announces Grant to THE ODS Companies
Oregon’s largest dental plan provider builds new Central Oregon facility, creating family wage jobs and professional education opportunities in the region
SALEM, OR - Governor Kulongoski announced the state of Oregon has granted a $135,000 flexible loan from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund (SRF) to The ODS Companies (ODS). ODS provides dental, medical, and professional liability insurance products to over 800,000 customers throughout the Pacific Northwest and employs more than 800 employees in Oregon.
ODS will expand its office operations as well as build a second dental hygiene school – the first in the region -- at a 3.6 acre site in Bend’s Old Mill District. The 78,314 SF multi-use building will be home to ODS employees working in, claims processing, customer service and sales. The ODS College of Dental Sciences is scheduled to open in 2009 for the first class of dental hygienists, completing ODS’s vision for its Central Oregon operations. In total, ODS will employ at least 60 people and provide professional education to train 52 dental hygiene students.
The bulk of the 60 jobs are associated with claims processing and customer service. In an organization which prides itself on superior customer service delivered in a friendly manner, ODS customer service representatives are highly trained and have access to helpful online tools to help meet them the needs of customers including providers, provider office staff and members. Wages for customer service and claims processing will be at or above the county average and include a significant benefits package.
The ODS College of Dental Sciences will open with 26 students in the first class in January 2009, followed by another 26 students in January 2010, to reach full enrollment at 52 students. ODS will offer an 18 month program leading to the Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Dental Hygiene, preparing licensed professionals to be both professional oral health educators and clinicians. Additionally, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene online through Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) or Pacific University, specializing in management, education, or public health. Consistent with the company’s philosophy and their practice at the La Grande school, ODS will offer clinical services to local underserved residents.
The ODS College of Dental Sciences will help close the gap of trained professionals in the dental hygiene field. Statewide, there are nearly 3,000 hygienists but only approximately 100 work in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. In the tri-county area, dental hygienists currently earn, on average, $68,425 in annual wages.
The multi-use site is located at the corner of Bond Street and Wilson Avenue and is projected to be available for occupancy in fall 2008. It is being constructed to qualify as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. The building will be co-owned, in a partnership arrangement, which include ODS, Western Title & Escrow, and Portland’s Gerding Edlen Development. Together, ODS and Western Title will occupy 71 percent of the rentable office space. The remaining office space will be marketed for lease during the course of construction.
Based on the creation of 60 new family wage jobs, the SRF loan will assist in the costs associated with employee training and moving into the newly constructed facility. SRF grants are made on a select basis by the Governor and administered by Oregon Economic & Community Development Department (OECDD). The grants are used to spur investment in Oregon, particularly to aid in the creation of jobs at or above average wage levels and recipients agree to pay back the loan amount if conditions associated with it are not met. Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), OECDD’s regional economic development partner, provided expertise in site selection and logistics, and streamlined permitting to structure the deal with ODS.
About The ODS Companies
Founded in 1955, The ODS Companies (ODS) is a multi-faceted organization that provides dental, medical, and professional liability insurance products, along with a variety of business services including dental practice management software and benefits administration. The company is headquartered in Portland and has offices in Medford, Milwaukie and La Grande, Oregon, where they operate a Dental Hygiene School. ODS also has offices in Anchorage, Alaska and Seattle Washington. The company serves over 800,000 members, and has more than 800 Oregon employees. ODS believes strongly in the importance of helping others, beyond the delivery of healthcare and business services. The company supports a wide variety of community organizations, and its employees contribute countless hours of volunteer assistance annually.
About Economic Development for Central Oregon
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. Learn more about EDCO at www.edcoinfo.com
About Oregon Economic and Community Development Department
The Oregon Economic and Community Development Department (OECDD) provides economic, community and cultural enhancement throughout the state. The Department administers programs that assist businesses, communities and people. Oregon's economic development system is designed to meet the state's changing economy, provide flexibility in funding statewide and regional needs, and focus on funding economic and community development services for rural and distressed communities. Visit for more information on doing business in Oregon.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
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Clark Jackson, OECDD Business Development, 541-388-6266
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Nathan Buehler, OECDD Communications, 503-986-0050
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Ruth Lindley, EDCO Marketing Manager, 541-388-3236
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Sarah Friend , Director, Corporate Communications, ODS, 503-243-5102
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