Summer Training

I would first like to remind you that our upcoming Summer Training will be held at LaSells Stewart Center (OSU) in Corvalis on July 23 and will focus on Business Recruitment (including upcoming Oregon Prospector website improvements). Check back for full details and online registration in a few weeks.

Updated Website

Secondly, our new and improved website is now online at www.oeda.biz. I would like to acknowledge Susan Appleby for her efforts in making the site more user friendly. Please note that the site currently lists several economic development job openings [more].

Pacific Northwest Economic Development Council's

(PNEDC) Annual Meeting in Helena, Montana is less than two months away. All speakers are confirmed and very excited at the opportunity to share their best practice in economic development gardening, land development and marketing, economic development marketing, workforce recruitment, Native America leadership, etc. Please visit www.pnedc.org to learn more about the organization and the annual meeting in Helena, MT. If you are planning on attending the PNEDC meeting July, 15-18 you should consider booking your hotel room now. You can find info about hotel rooms for the conference on the PNEDC website.

Back to Business III

After the upcoming June 23rd event, the Back to Business III Annual Conference, will be held at the Hilton Portland & Executive Tower this coming October 8th & 9th.

I welcome your comments and involvement on suggested topics and speakers for our upcoming conference.

Earned Media Campaign

Our Earned Media Campaign is in full swing. If you have economic development success stories you would like to have broadcast inside or outside of Oregon, contact Krista Hildebrand of the Frause Company at khildebrand@frause.com or (503) 467-4686.

SBIR/STTR Grant Deadlines Approaching

The June 1st deadline for the Small Business Matching Grant Program is quickly approaching. The program was created to increase Oregon's competitiveness in capturing federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants. These two federal grant programs provide funding to small businesses for research and development of new technologies.

Matching grants are available to help defer the costs of proposal preparation for Oregon small businesses. Businesses are encouraged to apply for this program, which provides matching funds on a one-to-one basis for proposal preparation expenses. Program inquiries should be addressed to Brian Evans, 503-229-5224, brian.evans@state.or.us For more information and to download an application visit:

http://www.bizcenter.org/Services/7530/6198/7572

Thanks again your continued support of our organization. In the meantime, if you have any questions about our organization or activities feel free to call or email.

Sincerely,

Colin Sears, President
Oregon Economic Development Association
(Economic Development Manager/Portland Development Commission)
searsc@pdc.us
503.823.3320