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Rentec Direct Named One of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses
Rentec Direct, an Oregon-based property management software company, honored as one of America’s top 100 small businesses by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Grants Pass, September 5, 2024 – Rentec Direct, an award-winning property management software company, has been named to the prestigious CO—100 list for 2024, an honor bestowed by the U.S.…
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Oregon lawmakers share $38 billion budget framework amid federal uncertainty
Proposed federal cuts could blow a multi-billion-dollar hole in the state’s budget Oregon is in a better financial position than other states but could see its budget devastated by federal spending cuts, a framework released Wednesday by the Legislature’s top budget writers shows. The framework, an early step toward adopting…
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Oregon needs to build 29,500 more homes each year, chief economist says
Oregon needs to build about 29,500 more homes each year, mostly in the Portland region and Willamette Valley, to emerge from a housing shortage years in the making, the state’s chief economist told lawmakers Monday. The state’s Office of Economic Analysis recently released its first annual housing needs analysis report, with homebuilding…
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Oregon’s Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.4% in January
Oregon’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in January and 4.3%, as revised, in December, after rising gradually over the past year from 4.1% in January 2024. Oregon’s 4.4% unemployment rate was the highest since September 2021, when the rate was also 4.4%. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1% in December 2024…
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SOREDI Foundation Issues Matching Grant to Josephine County StartUps
SOREDI Foundation is proud to announce a matching gift to catalyze childcare businesses through a new pilot small business mentoring partnership between the Southern Oregon Early Learning Hub (SOELS) and Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center (RCC SBDC). The foundation gift, totaling $10,000, will be directed towards the Josephine…
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The SOREDI 2025 State of the Rogue Valley Breakfast brought together entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders to celebrate
The 2025 State of the Rogue Valley Breakfast Brought Local Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs, Award Recipients, and Community Sponsors Together to Innovate! Medford, Ore. – February 27, 2025 – The Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development, Inc’s (SOREDI) 2025 State of the Rogue Valley Breakfast took place on February 27, 2025,…
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New Study Provides Insight to Guide Oregon Business Development Strategies
The study was done in partnership between Business Oregon, Oregon Business & Industry, and the University of Oregon to analyze factors impacting business expansion decisions. Business Oregon, in partnership with Oregon Business & Industry, contracted with the University of Oregon to conduct a study and analysis to get answers that…
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Bill Thorndike’s Legacy
William “Bill” Thorndike Jr., a prominent Southern Oregon business leader and dedicated community servant, passed away unexpectedly on February 15, 2025, at the age of 71. He suffered a heart attack while vacationing with his wife, Angela, at their family cabin on Whidbey Island in Washington’s Puget Sound. Born in…
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Bridging the Maintenance Gap: Oregon’s Path to Safe, Reliable Travel
Oregon’s aging bridge inventory is a growing concern for ODOT’s Bridge Program, in particular the Interstate Era bridges. ODOT’s 2024 Bridge Conditions Report spotlights Interstate Era bridges built between 1958 and 1973. During this 16-year span, ODOT built on average 63 bridges a year, thanks to funding provided by the…
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“Setting the Table”
What does the phrase ‘Setting the Table’ mean to you? I have used this phrase for years as a metaphor for how I approach the development of organizations. This view defines the phrase as a proactive, positive development tool or concept to use to fit the elements that make a…
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Why the Analytics/Informatics Solution Can Halt Health Plan Cost Drains
By Samantha Bradley Health plan costs continue their upward march, a source of continuing financial pain for employers (and individuals) who find managing rising medical and drug costs a constant – and seemingly futile – effort. And the pressure will continue in 2025. Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation approved median premium…
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Welcome to the New Year!
It’s not like 2024 anymore…. In December 2024, one assessment of what to expect for 2025 stated that 2025 would likely resemble 2024, should the U.S. economy not crater and nukes don’t fly. With January not quite complete it is safe to say that the initial assessments of 2025 were…
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