Providing regional economic development coordination, business assistance, and industry development in the

bi-state Columbia River Gorge region.

Gorges Beer Company Adds Outdoor Events Center in Cascade Locks

Gorges Brewing, LLC is a 3.5-year-old brewery headquartered in Cascade Locks. In 2022, Gorges secured MCEDD and OIB funding in partnership with Business Oregon to refinance debt and construct a permanent outdoor event center for larger catered events. Read more on our website, and visit Gorges Beer's website for a full gallery tour, menus, and event reservations.

MCEDD Program Updates

Grass Valley Market Secures Grant to Install

EV Chargers

With help from MCEDD staff, Grass Valley Country Market was recently awarded an electric mobility grant from Pacific Power to design and install a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station at their store. The Grass Valley Country Market is located along Sherman County's high-use corridor, Highway 97. This project brings opportunities to utilize the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) both by supporting more widespread adoption of EVs locally, and promoting Grass Valley's economy by drawing travelers to local businesses and attractions while their EV charges up at the market.



This project was made possible with support from Pacific Power and Oregon’s Clean Fuels Program. 

Google, through the Tides Foundation, has awarded The Link Public Transit $42,500 that will be used to match a federal grant for the purchase of two hybrid buses!

This award will kick-start the transition away from fossil fuels as followed in the Wasco County Transit Development Plan.

Our February event will be held in Skamania County with the Skamania EDC. Details: February 16, 5:30-7:30pm, Skamania Lodge

Networking, business presentations, information to support entreprenuers, appetizers and drinks! $5 at the door. RSVP to Wanda with Skamania EDC.

MCEDD is sponsoring these events across Skamania and Klickitat Counties through June 2023 thanks to funding provided by the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) thanks to a grant made by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

Volunteer / Contract Openings

Budget Committee Open Seat

MCEDD has an open seat its budget committee. The Committee usually meets once annually in May to review a draft budget prepared by staff and makes a recommendation to the MCEDD Board. Read the full description here.

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 24, 2023

for consideration of appointment.

Seeking Quotes: Legal/ CPA Assistance for WA Small Businesses

MCEDD is seeking consultants (both lawyers and Certified Public Accountants) interested in providing one-on-one legal and financial consulting with microbusinesses (5 or fewer employees) in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. This work is funded through the Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) with a grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce that will be administered by MCEDD. The grant requires that all work will take place between February 1 and June 1, 2023. All businesses would be referred to the legal or accounting consultant after first working with the Klickitat-Skamania Small Business Development Center.

Responses are due by February 6th at 9am to Jessica Metta. 

Partner News, Resources and Funding

Journey to Export Success:

Stories of Oregon Exporters

This Oregon District Export Council's free in-person networking event in Portland will highlight the experience of Oregon exporters and their keys to success.

The moderated business panel discussion and professional networking event will focus on global trade. The panelists will share their best practices, mistakes to avoid and colorful highlights of their paths to export success.

Panel Experts are:

• Stacy Moritz, Owner, Secret Aardvark Trading Co. – Sauces & Marinades
• Mark Zanmiller, Director of Business Development, Sightline Applications, Inc. – Onboard Video Processing for unmanned vehicles & other applications
• Steven White, Director of Special Channels Sales, Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods – Wholesome Whole Grains, Baking Flours and more
• Skylar Hall, VP Marketing, AIMCO - Global Assembly & Critical Bolting Tooling solutions

Enjoy light fare and No Host bar while you listen, learn and meet new people! This event is free; however, registration is required as space is limited. 

USDA Supports Food Sovereignty for Columbia River Tribes

Congrats to Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission on receiving a grant through the USDA's Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program! The grant will allow CRITFC and its four member tribes to purchase and distribute locally grown, produced, and processed food from underserved producers. This effort will include developing and structuring a food delivery system to provide healthier food to underserved tribal communities on their respective reservations along the Columbia River. Read more here.

Community Invited to CCA Strategic Planning Sessions

Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) invites everyone in the community to share their input on the future of CCA through in-person and virtual informational sessions in March. After the impact of pandemic-related shutdowns, CCA is working to engage the public in reinventing the organization and charting a path forward for full recovery. The Strategic Business Planning Project will use information gathered through a survey and informational sessions to develop a new, community-driven business and operating plan for the Center.

The survey launches on March 1. In-person sessions at CCA will be held on:

• March 9^th | 5:30-7:00pm
• March 10^th | 1:30-3:00pm
• March 11^th |10:00-11:30am

Virtual sessions over Zoom will also be held on:

• March 12^th |1:30-2:30pm
• March 13^th |4:00-5:00pm
• March 14^th |12:00-1:00pm

All six sessions will be the same and have been scheduled at a range of dates/ times to allow for full community participation.

Registration will open in February, and those interested can sign up to receive a notification through CCA’s website at http://www.columbiaarts.org/a-new-beginning. Visit the page to learn more, or follow CCA on Facebook and Instagram.  For more information, contact [email protected].

This process was funded by grants from Union Pacific Railroad and Oregon Cultural Trust.

Grants Available for Brownfields Revitalization in Oregon

Business Oregon’s Brownfields Properties Revitalization Fund is seeking applications for forgivable loans to reimburse private owners or operators for 50% of eligible costs, not to exceed $250,000 (whichever is less), incurred during brownfield remediation on eligible development projects. To learn more about this program, visit oregon.gov/biz.

ODOE'S Community Renewable Energy Grant Program Now Open for Applications

The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program is open to Oregon Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities for construction and planning of renewable and resilient projects.

Eligible projects include renewable energy generation systems like solar or wind as well as energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations, or microgrid technologies paired with new or existing renewable energy systems.



Applications are due by February 15, 2023.

Commerce Now Accepting Grant Applications for Solar Plus Storage for Resilient Communities

This program funds solar and battery back-up power planning and installation, so that community buildings such as schools, community centers, libraries and other buildings owned by local, state, tribal governments and non-profits in Washington, can provide essential services when the power goes out. Learn more here!

Applications are due by March 23, 2023 at 4 pm.

The Next Door, Inc. Announces 2023 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Workshops



Each workshop provides skills, resources, and tools you can implement in your professional or personal life right away. Workshops are in English via Zoom. Discounts are available or ask about private workshops and group rates.



Learn more here!

By the Numbers

Columbia Gorge Labor Market Data

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MCEDD Region

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