Ninety-one days and counting!
It won’t be news to you that time flies by but for me it seems like the last nine months as OEDA’s President have gone by in a flash. In ninety-one days I will officially turn over the President’s gavel to Erik Andersson, Pacific Power, as our Association’s new President! Erik has been a tremendous contributor as well as a corporate sponsor for OEDA and I am confident he will serve our Association admirably during 2010.
Among my last duties as your Association President will be to preside over our annual conference in McMinnville on October 11th, 12th and 13th at the exciting Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. I have to confess a bias as I have been a member of the conference planning committee but I think our conference at Evergreen is going to be one of our best – a strong and compelling agenda focused on important and leading edge issues for our Association’s future – but also because the decision to hold our conference at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is very special!
Evergreen Museum – a private sector of investment of huge proportions will be one of Oregon’s leading regional tourist attractions. If you care at all about the technologically achievements of US aviation you won’t be able to avoid visiting the Evergreen Museum. The “Spruce Goose” as the largest and probably the last major all-wood airplane is itself a “got to see” attraction at the Museum. Rumor has it that the Museum will add a USA space shuttle in spring 2010 – anchoring the Space Museum portion of the Evergreen complex. If you haven’t registered yet for the Association’s conference in McMinnville – do it now! I know you will be pleased with the program developed by the Association’s conference planning committee – especially through the leadership provided by Jody Christensen!
Ron Fox, President
OEDA Annual Membership Meeting
Sandwiched among the program presentations planned for the annual conference in McMinnville at Tuesday morning’s breakfast session will be our Association’s Annual Membership Meeting. In addition to a summary report on the Association’s accomplishments over the last twelve months we will also elect a new vice president along with new members of our Association’s Board of Directors. If you are an OEDA member please consider contributing your leadership and raise your hand when we ask for nominations for the vice president position or as a board member. It’s your Association and the Association needs your commitment and leadership!
OEDA Annual Conference
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
October 11th - 13th
If you are an active economic or community development professional in Oregon you must attend the OEDA fall conference – it’s the best place to learn about the “best practices” available in your field. If you are associated with a community or a business that believes in enhancing Oregon’s economic future – you must attend! For all the details you need to know about OEDA’s fall conference: program agenda, conference registration, special events, hotel/motel options and more, please visit this link!
[click here for more information]
Oregon Prospector
OEDA + Oregon Business Partnership Continues
Oregon Economic Development Association and Oregon Business Development Department recently signed a new contract assuring the continued availability for Oregon Prospector – our award winning industrial and commercial land and building online listing service. Oregon Prospector was the first state-wide online building and property listing service when begun in 2001 and continues to serve the needs of our state’s economic and development communities. As a result of the special financial support from our corporate utility partners – Pacific Power, Portland General Electric, Avista Utilities and Northwest Natural Gas – along with the support provided by Oregon Business Department – OEDA is able to continue to offer the internet access to hundreds of ready to occupy buildings and ready to develop sites across Oregon!
Visit Oregon Prospector at: http://oregonprospector.com/
Team Oregon Trade Show Committee
The Association has stepped up once again to provide for the statewide leadership to support business recruitment efforts through the formation of the Association’s Team Oregon Trade Show committee. Colin Sears, Portland Development Commission and a former Association president has agreed to serve as the Team Oregon Trade Show committee chair. OEDA has offered up its accounting and administrative services to efforts among state, regional and local economic development organizations working on the planning and executing business outreach and recruitment efforts targeting industry specific trade show events. If you’d like to know more about the OEDA Team Oregon Trade Show efforts please contact Colin Sears at 502 823-3320 or [email].
Oregon Business Development Department
A New Name and a New Strategy Plan Approved
New Website @ www.businessoregon.net
In addition to a new name approved by the Oregon Legislature for the State’s economic development department, Oregon Business Development has issued a new Strategic Plan that outlines the Department’s goals and strategies. The new Strategic Plan contains four goals as listed below:
- Goal 1: Help existing businesses retain jobs while growing and attracting sustainable businesses
- Goal 2: Enhance Oregon’s position in the global economy by assisting Oregon businesses in accessing global markets and by recruiting international companies to Oregon.
- Goal 3: Advocate on behalf of Oregon businesses to capitalize on those areas where Oregon has a demonstrated a competitive advantage by making strategic investments.
- Goal 4: Assist communities to build infrastructure capacity to address public health and compliance issues as well as support their ability to attract, retain and expand businesses.
[click here] for more details on Oregon Business Development Departments Strategic Plan
Seeking individuals for the CEcD Exam Study Group
Are you interested in pursuing a certification as a CEcD professional? Efforts are underway to identify individuals in the Portland and Salem areas interested in studying for the CEcD exam within the next twelve months. Several individuals are interested in forming a study group and are seeking others that might be interested in joining the study group. Study sessions will last about two and meet at least twice a month during evening hours or for weekend sessions if there is interest. If you’d like to learn more about becoming part of the CEcD study group or about certification as a CEcD professional please contact:
Tim Morgan, Clackamas County Economic Development at 503-742-4301 or [email]
