Archive for March 2023
Florence Chamber Announces 2023 Rhododendron Festival Parade Grand Marshal
After announcing the theme for the resurrected Florence Rhododendron Festival, “Rip Roarin’ Rhodies,” the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has selected local resident Mike Bones as the grand marshal for their annual floral parade. “Mike Bones personifies this year’s ‘Rip Roarin’ Rhodies’ theme, said Bettina Hannigan, Florence Chamber president and CEO. He is tremendously gregarious…
Read MoreA few words from Jim – March 2023
I just got back from nearly two weeks in the UK. It was an awesome trip and very enjoyable, and it was a work trip. Dena and I setup a basecamp in London and took trains daily to meet with business owners, dev partners and business associates, current and past. Dr. Martens has been a…
Read MoreUniversal Hydrogen Successfully Completes First Flight of Hydrogen Regional Airliner
LOS ANGELES & MOSES LAKE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Universal Hydrogen Co., this morning flew a 40-passenger regional airliner using hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. The airplane, nicknamed Lightning McClean, took off at 8:41am PST from Grant County International Airport (KMWH) and flew for 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of 3,500 MSL. The flight, conducted under an FAA Special Airworthiness…
Read MoreLawmakers want no new water rights permits issued until the state audits Oregon’s water resources
Oregon’s water basins are being overdrawn year after year, and a strategy to protect them for future generations is desperately overdue, according to two lawmakers. State Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens, R-Crane, say the Oregon Water Resources Department needs to stop issuing new water rights until it can provide data about the flow…
Read MoreSmaller Oregon companies looking for semiconductor funding
CORVALLIS— In a small laboratory on HP’s Corvallis campus, a group of Oregon State University graduates are producing a chemical that will make semiconductor chips smaller, lighter and more efficient to produce. The company, Inpria, was born out of an Oregon State University professor’s research group about 15 years ago. Now, it has 60 employees,…
Read MoreGovernor Kotek Approves $1 Million to Help Small, Mid-Sized Oregon Companies Compete for CHIPS Act Funding
Governor’s Recommended Budget also includes $200 million to help Oregon seize opportunities in advanced manufacturing Oregon is aggressively pursuing opportunities to bring home a portion of the $52 billion for semiconductor manufacturing and research made available under the federal CHIPS and Science Act. To that end, today Governor Tina Kotek announced a new, $1 million…
Read MoreJanuary 2023 Employment and Unemployment in Oregon’s Counties
In January, unemployment rates increased in 27 of Oregon’s counties over the month, remained constant in seven, and decreased in two. Seventeen counties had unemployment rates at or below the statewide unemployment rate of 4.8%, and one county had a rate at or below the U.S. rate of 3.4%. Grant County had Oregon’s highest seasonally…
Read MoreOregon Economic Update: Not out of the Woods Yet
The risk of a recession, at least in the near term, has lessened in recent months as inflation has slowed. Yet inflation is still well above the Federal Reserve’s target rate, and the nation remains in the midst of an inflationary economic boom. At this point in the economic cycle, it’s unclear whether the Fed…
Read MoreOregon Economic and Revenue Forecast – March 2023
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY March 2023 Either the economic storm clouds have parted, or we are in the eye of the hurricane. Any near-term recession fears are fading with each month of somewhat lower inflation and the continued economic boom. However, the Federal Reserve must still navigate the choppy waters of a tight labor market, fast wage…
Read MorePeople’s Bank Celebrates 25 Years In Oregon Banking
Medford, OR—March 2, 2023 marks the 25th anniversary for People’s Bank of Commerce, headquartered in Medford, Oregon. 25 years ago, two senior management bankers with diverse banking backgrounds seized an opportunity to offer a community bank in Southern Oregon. Ken Trautman and Mike Sickels recognized the possibilities of filling a need that was being lost…
Read MoreLithia & Driveway (LAD) Increases Revenue 11% and Reports Diluted EPS of $9.00
Announces Dividend of $0.42 per Share for Fourth Quarter MEDFORD, Ore., Feb. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Lithia & Driveway (NYSE: LAD) today reported the highest fourth quarter revenue in company history. Fourth quarter 2022 revenue increased 11% to $7.0 billion from $6.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021. Fourth quarter 2022 net income attributable to LAD per diluted share was $9.00, a 6%…
Read MoreDutch Bros Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022 Financial Results
Annual Revenues Increased Almost 50% Year-over-Year to $739.0 million Driven by 133 New Systemwide Shop Openings in 2022 Welcomes New President, Christine Barone Issues Additional Guidance for 2023 GRANTS PASS, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS; “Dutch Bros” or the “Company”) one of the fastest-growing brands in the food service and restaurant industry in…
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