SOU to expand solar power, move toward energy independence

Southern Oregon University has been awarded a $1 million grant from the Oregon Department of Energy to expand solar power production on campus, in the next step toward its ambitious goal of becoming the first college or university in the U.S. to generate 100 percent of the electricity used on campus. The award from ODE’s…

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Knowing Your Breakeven Point

In line with recent articles regarding various aspects of surviving inflationary and recessionary times, I’d like to discuss how a business can figure out how to react in these situations. Gaining intelligence and insights through reading articles or watching videos and acting on the advice, or initiating changes to your business operations based on ‘gut…

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Skouting Out a New Taphouse Model

Interview with Tom and Lisa Beam, restaurateurs, wine producers, Skout Taphouse and Provisions owners It’s been almost 20 years since Tom and Lisa Beam started their restaurant enterprise in Ashland, Ore., a college and tourist town in the mountains of Southern Oregon. Their latest endeavor is called Skout Taphouse and Provisions. It’s located at the intersection of Lithia…

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Working from Home since COVID — the New Work Experiment

By Lynn WallisOregon Employment Department Workforce AnalystClackamas County The nation’s total nonfarm employment has now returned to pre-pandemic levels, even though not all industries have recovered all of the jobs lost during the COVID recession in spring 2020. During the recession, the nation lost 20.7 million jobs from February to April 2020. Similar to the…

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The Bloom in the Driveway 

The world is falling apart and there is no saving it. That’s what I’m hearing on all the news outlets. And from seemingly every candidate for political office, challenger, and incumbent. And their followers. Cheer up people and try to be nicer.  Let’s not forget the dandelion.  There’s no shortage of bad news, which is…

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Finding the best model: could it be a CoOp?

By Daniel Scotton, Equus Workforce Solutions As snow begins to kiss the peaks around Ashland, and the residents begin to turn the dials on their thermostats, the air of change is inescapable. I had the opportunity to sit in a small, characteristically Ashland coffee shop with Annie Hoy, our Cooperative Development Specialist for Southern Oregon,…

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Southern Oregon Makes a First Impression

By Marta Tarantsey Roslyn Donald, Jackson County Library Services Business Librarian, reminded me yet again that the library card is the smartest card in my wallet, when we sat down for a chat about her role and work in Southern Oregon.  Month Four on the job sounded like a good time to check in with…

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