Hello friends,

All across Lane County there are bright spots of successful economic development work and prosperity. I'm excited to share Collaborative EDO’s November newsletter, which shines the light on just a few of those, along with ways to get involved and stay connected.

Here's a snapshot of this issues highlights:

Welcome: Beautiful Lane County stretches from the Cascades to Oregon’s Coast, which was at the center of a recent $446,786 Department of Labor Grant.

Innovate: Lane County based tech startup ‘The Offer Haus’, made the big stage at the 2024 Bend Venture Conference. There is a chance to meet them in Eugene next week.

Thrive: HECCC spot lit the Workforce Benefits Navigator programs, boosting the signal of community-based organizations and resource Navigators, in support of underserved communities. Learn what Lane County community is planned for the next boost.

In partnership,

Matt

Beautiful Lane County stretches from the Cascades to Oregon’s Coast, which was at the center of this month’s People's Coast Summit at the Florence Events Center.

CEDO, alongside partners from Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board, Northwest Oregon Works, Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, Lane Workforce Partnership and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, were honored to join the keynote panel and workshop on the Oregon Coast Hospitality Industry Sector Partnership.

The discussion anchored on the recent $446,786 Department of Labor Grant, the first-ever grant of its kind awarded to the Oregon Coast hospitality sector! The project's aim? Driving at the question of how might we collectively build a stronger, more resilient hospitality sector - which is already projected to generate nearly 40,000 jobs by 2031. Speaking of coastal hospitality… the Homegrown Public House and Brewery was just listed for sale, a Florence tourist favorite.

Lanbin Ren, Founder of The Offer Haus

Local startup The Offer Haus was created to streamline real estate for today’s buyer. “The Offer Haus was born from a desire to simplify real estate transactions for buyers by offering a self-directed approach to purchasing property,” shares founder Lanbin Ren. By combining tech and real estate expertise, Ren and her team recognized a gap in the market: “We saw the growing demand for a platform that lets users write and negotiate their own offers without a realtor, making real estate more accessible and affordable—especially for tech-savvy buyers.”

Last month Ren pitched The Offer Haus at the Bend Venture Conference, marking a milestone for the company. “Presenting on a theater stage to innovators and investors sharpened our focus on scaling and refining our product-market fit,” she says. "Pitching at BVC was a pivotal experience. The guidance and mentorship they provided was game-changing.”

As a startup based in this region, The Offer Haus finds value in its local network. “Lane County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has been invaluable. The close-knit community here fuels our drive to bring The Offer Haus to buyers nationwide,” Ren reflects.

Catch Ren and learn more about The Offer Haus at CEDO’s PubTalk on November 14.

Tickets are limited, register today! 

CEDO is proud to support a statewide initiative expanding access to workforce program benefits and services. Funded through Future Ready Oregon, the Workforce Benefit Navigator (WBN) program helps underserved communities connect to career training, education, and holistic support services. The program was recently highlighted in a bulletin from Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), underscoring its impact across Oregon.

Lane Workforce Partnership, in collaboration with Collaborative Economic Development Oregon, established the Lane County Navigator Consortium, inspired by LWP’s successful Industry Sector Partnerships. This consortium builds a network of in-community resource Navigators and invests in rural-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) to enhance local outreach. Through WBN funding, the consortium also hosts Bridge Lane events, bringing essential resources directly to Lane County communities and strengthening referral systems.

The most recent Bridge Lane event took place on October 30th at the Cottage Grove Armory, hosting 40 resource, training, education and hiring organizations. One attendee shared, “I learned about resources for myself, ones I’ll share with my neighbor, and some I’ll tell my daughter about.”

Upcoming Bridge Lane events are being planned for Winter 2025 in Junction City and Spring 2025 in Florence. Visit our website to learn more about Bridge Lane and get involved!

Thursday, November 14, 2024 - Heritage Distilling Co. Whitaker - 5pm - 7pm

Wednesday, December 4th - Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art - 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Local Food Marketplace is hiring for a full-time Marketing Coordinator!

LFM believes that eating locally is fundamental in building a more sustainable world. They aim to increase the amount of food purchased and eaten locally by providing technology and services for farms and food hubs to sell and distribute local food to consumers, restaurants, grocery stores, and institutions. They believe that empowering local businesses, cooperatives, and non-profits with the right technology will help make strong and diverse local food systems where food hubs, producers, buyers, and eaters all benefit. 

To apply for this position, send your cover letter and resume to info@localfoodmarketplace.com with the subject line “ATTN: Amy McCann, Marketing Coordinator Application”.

Jerry's Home Improvement Center is hiring for Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Merchandise!

Jerry’s Home Improvement Center is a 100% Employee Owned, previously family-owned business. From the time Jerry’s was founded in 1961, they have been committed to delighting their customers with World Class Service, in a productive and supportive work environment. They are a business where people can make a significant difference in providing value to their customers. Jerry’s employs over 500 Team Members, including 250 Employee Owners who share in the growth and success of Jerry’s. The company currently operates from two 300,000 square-foot retailer centers and a distribution warehouse in the Eugene/Springfield area. In a recent survey of 1,000+ homeowners in the Eugene/Springfield area, 84% said Jerry’s is their favorite Home Improvement retail store and that they would recommend Jerry’s over national chains.

To apply for this position, contact Mark F. Johnson, mjohnson@jerryshome.com.

Interested in getting involved? Become a sponsor! Learn more HERE.