Archive for November 2024
Oregon’s Hazelnut Harvest
By Pat O’Connor Oregon Regional Economist Orchards are not very difficult to find in Oregon. In the Columbia Gorge, one can hardly miss the cherry, pear, and apple orchards. In southern Oregon, pear orchards fill Jackson County’s countryside. The Willamette Valley has a variety of fruit and nut orchards, but more acres in the valley are planted in hazelnuts than any…
Read MorePacific Northwest semiconductor and mass timber industries each receive $500,000 awards from White House
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University-led efforts focused on microfluidic technology for semiconductors and mass timber design and manufacturing each have received $500,000 awards from the White House. In Oct. 2023, the White House, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, announced the designation of 31 Tech Hubs(Link is external), including the two led by…
Read MoreOregon State University receives $5.5 million to help grow market for hemp-based products
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center will receive $5.5 million during the next five years to research new food, beverage and biobased industrial product uses of industrial hemp. With the funding, researchers from Oregon State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service will develop customized hemp genetics that meet the…
Read MoreSOU computer scientist receives Sloan grant for “tacit knowledge” research
(Ashland, Ore.) — Bernadette Boscoe, an assistant professor in the Computer Science Department at Southern Oregon University, recognizes a shared need in fields as dissimilar as astronomy, environmental science and violin acoustics, and a new grant will pay for research that may benefit those and other academic disciplines. Boscoe has received a $250,000 grant from…
Read MoreSustainability conference at SOU builds regional collaboration
(Ashland, Ore.) — The initial conference of Southern Oregon University’s Institute for Applied Sustainability attracted about 85 sustainability professionals from southern Oregon and northern California this month for two days of hands-on learning, actionable insights and connection-building in Ashland and nearby venues. The invitation-only conference on Oct. 3 and 4 was open to those in…
Read MoreSOU alumni receive awards for their work and service
(Ashland, Ore.) — A Colorado State University professor who is helping develop the Periodic Table of Food; the founder and executive director of a nonprofit that protects Siskiyou backcountry trails; a former La Clinica CFO and current equity policy strategist with the Oregon Health Authority; and the CEO of a Beaverton-based computer software company and…
Read MoreOregon’s Measure 118: A business tax proposal that failed
Oregon’s Measure 118, also known as the “Oregon Rebate,” was a highly debated proposal that aimed to increase corporate taxes and distribute the proceeds to all Oregon residents. The measure proposed a 3% tax on businesses with annual sales over $25 million, with the revenue being divided among residents, regardless of age or situation. The…
Read MoreZiply Fiber’s Bold Leap: Acquired by BCE for $3.6 Billion USD
In a landmark deal, Canadian broadband giant Bell Canada Enterprises (BCE) announced its acquisition of Ziply Fiber, a leading fiber internet provider in the Pacific Northwest, for a staggering $3.6 billion. This acquisition, expected to close in the latter half of 2025, marks a significant milestone for both companies. Company Sizes: In a significant move…
Read MoreLeading With Your Best Efforts
This article is a divergence from what an individual business might need or an area to develop, rather it focuses on us – who we are, where we may be going, and why we should consider going there. From an economic development perspective, countless people in all kinds of different climates, economic conditions and resource…
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