Archive for January 2023
A Few Words from Jim – January 2023
Happy New Year. It’s only the middle of January and so much sad business news has happened already this year, it is overwhelming. I’m wired to be a positive person. I like to see and report positive things. But as the deluge of negative press releases and sad news rolled in during the first week…
Read MoreOregon Shakespeare Festival Announces Leadership Departures, Staff Changes, And Revitalization Strategy Amid Post-Pandemic Recovery
Internal Shifts Focused on Building Solid Infrastructure for OSF’s Future to Address Structural Deficits, Aligning Budget to Post-Pandemic Industry Realities, and Supporting a Future-Focused Vision for the Theatre Field ASHLAND, Ore. (January 11, 2023) – As part of a restructuring strategy aimed at aligning its business model with its vision and realities of the post-pandemic…
Read MoreHelp us DESIGN the Southern Oregon Innovation Hub
Key area partners are exploring the concept of a regional Innovation Hub to enhance the business support ecosystem. Though often thought of as a physical space dedicated to supporting industry-changing products and services, a Southern Oregon Innovation Hub could take many forms, and provide a range of services. The ideation and design phase will run through early summer.…
Read MoreFinding the Best: Unique Perspectives
In continuing our conversation on finding the best, we now turn our attention to another historically under-employed group, those with neurodivergence. What is neurodivergence? Neurodivergent conditions include autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and dyspraxia, among other diagnoses. Between 10% and 20% of the adult population has some kind of neurodivergent diagnosis. Hiring managers cannot afford to ignore…
Read More8 Billion and Counting
Resolution for the United States and the World in 2023; better leadership. It’s time we all decided to fix the things we’ve broken in our occupation of this planet. And time we stopped leaving the responsibilities of our misdeeds to someone else. All of us are needed. All are responsible. Its time to leave our…
Read MoreInnovators and Creators
It can start with a stray thought or idea. Sometimes through observation it is realized that there must be a better way, or a faster way to accomplish an objective, or some other improvement becomes obvious. New technologies or materials may become available and through investigation, these may be used to come up with new…
Read MoreSOU receives solar support from Congress
Southern Oregon University will receive $2 million to support its transition to solar power and energy independence, a result of the federal appropriations bill hammered out through months of negotiations and approved by Congress last week. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon included the solar project in the spending bill at the…
Read MoreSOU alumnus and Foundation Board member inducted into inventors’ academy
Daniel A. Henderson, a 1984 graduate of Southern Oregon University and emeritus member of the SOU Foundation Board of Trustees, is among 169 innovators worldwide who have been inducted in this year’s class of fellows in the National Academy of Inventors. Henderson is best known for his patented invention of wireless picture and video messaging used in every…
Read MorePoverty and the Oregon Workforce
The poverty rate across the U.S. reached 12.8% in 2020 and 2021, up from 12.3% in 2019. Prior to the pandemic, poverty had been falling incrementally since 2012. Oregon’s poverty rate was 12.2% in 2021, up from 11.4% in 2019. Poverty rates in Oregon have tracked pretty smoothly with the national trend over the past…
Read MoreGrant Applications Open to Organizations Advancing Economic Equity
Business Oregon has opened a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for the Economic Equity Investment Program—a new program created to promote durable economic advancement among historically marginalized communities. The Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP) offers nearly $15 million in grant funding to culturally responsive organizations to provide outreach, support, and resources to eligible beneficiaries to…
Read MoreBusiness Oregon Awards Funding for Innovation Projects in Business and Industry
Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) is awarding nearly $1 million in a new round of funding to support innovation in Oregon. Eleven recipients will receive awards from two grant programs, the High Impact Opportunity Projects (HIOP) and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) matching grants. “Business Oregon, through Oregon InC, is pleased…
Read MoreRural Oregon Cities Receive Business Oregon Community Development Block Grants
Business Oregon is supporting eight city projects statewide through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The CDBG program supports the development of livable communities by expanding economic opportunities and providing suitable housing and living environments for persons of low and moderate income. These eight grants total $10,582,401 and assist rural communities with funding for…
Read More