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Fostering Growth and Stability: MEDP and Business Oregon’s Commitment to McMinnville’s Business Success

Jul 31, 2024

Fostering Growth and Stability: MEDP and Business Oregon’s Commitment to McMinnville’s Business Success

Business Oregon and The McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) are committed to the success and growth of local businesses, recognizing their vital role in fostering a prosperous community. With a strong focus on business retention and expansion (BR&E), MEDP connects the city’s diverse businesses with programs and resources tailored to their unique needs.

A significant emphasis is placed on helping businesses access programs offered by Business Oregon, alongside other federal and local resources. This coordinated effort aims to sustain and enhance the competitiveness and strength of McMinnville businesses, ensuring their long-term success and resilience.

"Retention and expansion of local businesses is essential for a strong and resilient economy. At Business Oregon, we are committed to providing the necessary resources and support to help McMinnville businesses succeed. Our partnership with the MEDP and other economic development organizations across the state ensures that companies can access the programs they need to innovate and grow. Together, we are supporting business growth to create prosperous communities,” Arthur Chaput, Regional Development Officer, Business Oregon.

BR&E is a critical component of economic development for several key reasons:

  1. Economic Stability: By retaining and expanding existing businesses, the local economy remains stable and less vulnerable to market fluctuations.
  2. Job Creation: Supporting business growth leads to new job opportunities, boosting local employment rates.
  3. Community Prosperity: Thriving businesses contribute to the overall prosperity of the community, improving the quality of life for residents.
  4. Innovation and Growth: Access to state and local resources encourages innovation, helping businesses to grow and compete effectively in the market.

We are proud to share success stories from businesses that have benefited from recent BR&E initiatives:

Applied Physics Technology (APT)

APT Tour with Congresswoman Bonamici, Business Oregon, OMEP and APT CEO, Marcus Straw

  • Expansion Project: 2,670 sq ft, ISO 7-rated clean room
  • Project Cost: $2.5 M (not including new cleanroom equipment)
  • Funding: Business Oregon Emerging Opportunity Grant: $1.2M, APT: $1.3M
  • Jobs Retained: 25
  • Jobs Added: 25 (by the end of 2024)
  • Completion Date:  November, 2023
  • Quote: Marcus Straw, PhD. PRESIDENT & CEO.

“The $1.2 million Emerging Opportunity Fund grant we received from Business Oregon was a crucial support pillar for this project. Their assistance was not just financial, but also a vote of confidence in APT’s mission and vision. It’s the kind of support that helps small businesses like ours turn bold ideas into reality.  The MEDP team has also been instrumental in fostering a business environment in which companies like ours can thrive. Their efforts help bring business and community together, ensuring McMinnville continues to be a place where innovation can flourish.  And finally, our appreciation extends to the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership as well. Their guidance has been invaluable, helping us to streamline our operations and enhance our competitiveness in a demanding marketplace. It's organizations like OMEP that ensure Oregon's manufacturing sector remains at the forefront of innovation and efficiency.”

Excel Tech

ExcelTech Tour with CEO Matt Redhead, representatives from SEDCOR, Business Oregon, and MEDP

  • Expansion: Equipment purchase and workforce development
  • Project Cost: $275,000
  • Funding: $275,000 Business Oregon Emerging Opportunity Fund
  • Jobs Retained: 12 FT, 2 PT
  • Jobs Added: 4 FT (projected)
  • Completion Date: December 2023
  • Quote: Matt Redhead, President and Owner

"Our expansion project, made possible by the Business Oregon Emerging Opportunity Fund, has allowed us to purchase updated equipment and replace aging machinery. This investment not only ensures we maintain our current standards and handle more advanced projects but also enables us to offer additional services to our customer base and introduce new offerings to Yamhill County. The support from Business Oregon and MEDP has been crucial in helping local small businesses like ours remain competitive in Oregon."

Blue Raeven Pies

Blue Raeven's Retail and Production facility on Alpine Avenue

  • Expansion: purchase and installation pie-making equipment to expand production
  • Funding: $75,000 Business Oregon, Small Business Sustainability Fund. Blue Raeven: cash match of $32,000 and an in-kind match of $3,000 toward a total project cost of $110,000
  • Jobs Retained: 12
  • Jobs Added: 3
  • Completion Date: 12/31/2023

New Energy Works

New Enegery Works NEW Beamery Italian Timber Cutting Line arrival

 

  • Expansion: New Building, 20,000 SF timber frame and glulam production shop
  • Funding: Self-funded
  • Jobs Retained: 170 crafts persons, 100% employee-owned and triple-bottom line company
  • Completion Date: Fourth Quarter 2024
  • Quote: Jonathan Orpin, New Energy Works CEO and Founder (from press release 05/2024)

“The NEW Beamery is a fascinating opportunity to not only expand our West Coast operations and be able to do new work in the area of glulams and more efficient timber framing; but a way to walk our talk of sustainable building practices. It’s been a place for us to work with biochar concrete, use a more innovative glulam truss system instead of steel, and incorporate wood fiber insulation,” says New Energy Works CEO and Founder, Jonathan Orpin.

“I’m excited to open this new facility in McMinnville, a town that has been so good to us over our last 20 years here. And to be able to have our McMinnville team crafting in a home that has more space, is more efficient, and makes them happy to come to work every day,” finished Orpin.

EMPWR

 
EMPWR expansion progress on Booth Bend 

  • Expansion: Phase 1 (2022) - investment and installation of manufacturing and co-packing line (1). Phase 2 of 3 includes an 85,000 sq ft facility, new manufacturing, and co-packing lines (2).
  • Project Cost: Phase 1 - $20M, Phase 2 - $85M
  • Funding: Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund (SRF) Grant from Business Oregon, $1M
  • Jobs Retained: 85 jobs, currently 210 employees
  • Jobs Added: Phase 1 - 110-125 new jobs, Phase 2 - 220 to 240 new jobs (projected by 2026)
  • Completion Date: Phase 1 - completed in 2023, Phase 2 - First Quarter 2025 (projected)
  • Quote: Sheyla Wulf-Howell, VP of Operations (press release 04/2024)

“We are putting in a lot of work to become one of the best local employers around and placing a lot of emphasis on the happiness of our employees.” The company has also benefited from local partners. Sheyla said, “It’s been amazing to work with Business Oregon, the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership, City of McMinnville, and SEDCOR. They all pull together to find solutions and resources when we have questions.”

These companies and more have experienced significant growth and innovation through private and state investment and MEDP’s collaborative efforts with Business Oregon. We are building a resilient economic foundation by focusing on business retention and expansion (BR&E) activities, leveraging strong partnerships, and utilizing state and local resources. This approach ensures long-term prosperity and stability for McMinnville's businesses and residents.

See more Q3 News in our Full Quarterly Newsletter.

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