McMinnville MADE Mayor's Tour Series Celebrates Innovation During Two Milestone Anniversaries in 2026

Jul 20, 2026

 McMINNVILLE, Ore. — As the City of McMinnville celebrates its 150th anniversary and the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) marks 20 years of advancing economic opportunity, the 2026 McMinnville MADE Mayor's VIP Tour Series is showcasing the businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators who continue to shape the community's economy. 

Hosted by Mayor Kim Morris and MEDP, the annual tour series offers local elected officials, community leaders, and partners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at companies that represent the diversity, ingenuity, and resilience of McMinnville's traded-sector economy.  

From advanced manufacturing and precision fabrication to life sciences, craft beverages, and aviation, each stop tells a unique story while reinforcing a common theme: 

Innovation thrives in McMinnville because of the people who build it. 

Applied Physics Technologies (APT) | June 

The series began with Applied Physics Technologies (APT), a company that has called McMinnville home for more than 30 years and whose technology reaches laboratories, manufacturers, and research institutions around the world. Born from research at Linfield University, APT designs and manufactures advanced electron sources that support electron microscopy, additive manufacturing (3D printing), analytical instrumentation, semiconductor applications, and scientific research. 

Guests gained an appreciation for how world-class innovation can grow from a small Oregon community, with highly specialized products developed and manufactured in McMinnville helping advance discoveries and technologies across multiple industries worldwide. 

Amerson Precision Sheet Metal | July 

July's tour highlighted Amerson Precision Sheet Metal, a family-owned manufacturer that has been part of McMinnville's industrial community since 1979. Serving customers in the telecommunications, aerospace, medical, and other precision manufacturing sectors, Amerson has built its reputation through quality craftsmanship, technical expertise, and long-term customer relationships. 

Visitors toured the company's fabrication floor, where advanced laser cutting systems, robotic welding technology, and skilled fabricators work together to produce complex components. Equally impressive was Amerson's commitment to investing in people. The company continues to mentor employees through hands-on training, apprenticeship-style learning, and partnerships that strengthen local workforce development, including an interest in supporting McMinnville High School's Fabrication and Engineering pathways. Their operational innovations—including producing their own nitrogen for laser cutting and recycling manufacturing offcuts—also demonstrate how efficiency and sustainability can complement advanced manufacturing. 

Laurelcrest Labs | July 

The July series continued with Laurelcrest Labs, an innovative manufacturer that has quickly become a leader in Oregon's regulated cannabis industry. Founded in 2017, the company combines scientific expertise, rigorous quality assurance, and sophisticated extraction technologies to produce high-quality cannabis ingredients and consumer products. 

The visit highlighted how laboratory science, manufacturing excellence, and regulatory compliance come together to support one of Oregon's emerging industries. Laurelcrest's continued investment in technology, talent, and product innovation demonstrates how McMinnville has become home to companies operating at the forefront of highly specialized manufacturing. 

Solid Form Fabrication | August 

In August, participants will visit Solid Form Fabrication, founded in McMinnville in 2007 by brothers Deven and Keath Paolo. The company has earned a reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest for tackling complex custom metal fabrication projects requiring precision craftsmanship and creative problem-solving. 

Beyond their manufacturing expertise, Solid Form exemplifies the community leadership that strengthens McMinnville's workforce ecosystem. Owner Deven Paolo has served on MEDP's Board of Directors, currently serves on the McMinnville Industrial Promotions Board, and has become a regional advocate for careers in the skilled trades through initiatives such as Rising Together and his work with Built Oregon. The tour will showcase how successful manufacturers can create impact well beyond their shop floor by investing in future talent and industry collaboration. 

Heater Allen Brewing | September 

September's tour will feature Heater Allen Brewing, one of Oregon's most celebrated craft breweries. Since opening in 2007, founders Lisa Allen and Rick Allen have earned international recognition for producing traditional European-style lagers that consistently receive acclaim from beer enthusiasts around the world. 

The brewery's recent expansion in McMinnville's growing Craft District reflects both its continued success and the city's evolving food and beverage economy. Located near the future redevelopment of the Northwest Rubber site, Heater Allen represents how entrepreneurial businesses can help shape vibrant commercial districts while building internationally respected brands rooted in local values and craftsmanship. 

McMinnville Municipal Airport | Fall 

The series concludes this fall with the McMinnville Municipal Airport, one of the community's most significant economic assets. For more than 95 years, the airport has served as a gateway for commerce, aviation, and industry, supporting a growing cluster of aerospace manufacturers, aviation services, and advanced industrial employers. 

Participants will learn about the airport's role in supporting business recruitment and expansion, recent completion of its Master Plan, and the transition to Trimble Aviation as the airport's new Fixed Base Operator. The tour will also highlight the airport's connection to the future McMinnville Landing Innovation District, positioning the area for continued investment, job creation, and long-term economic growth. 

Celebrating McMinnville's Legacy of Innovation 

For 150 years, McMinnville has evolved from an agricultural community into one of Oregon's most diverse and innovative local economies. Throughout that journey, local businesses have continually adapted, embraced new technologies, and produced products that serve customers across the nation and around the globe. 

For the past 20 years, MEDP has partnered with businesses, educational institutions, public agencies, resource providers, and investors to support business retention and expansion, entrepreneurship, workforce development, and strategic business attraction—helping create great, living-wage jobs while strengthening the region's economic future. 

The McMinnville MADE Mayor's Tour Series brings those efforts to life by providing a rare opportunity to step inside the companies that power McMinnville's economy. Each visit reveals not only innovative products and technologies, but also the skilled workforce, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaborative partnerships that make those successes possible. 

As McMinnville celebrates its sesquicentennial and MEDP commemorates two decades of economic development leadership, the 2026 tour series serves as a reminder that the community's greatest competitive advantage has always been—and continues to be—the people and businesses who choose to innovate, invest, and build their future in McMinnville. 

To explore additional McMinnville MADE stories and revisit the businesses featured in the 2025 Mayor's Tour Series, visit MEDP's McMinnville MADE collection.