2006 

• The MEDP Board of Directors hired Jody Christensen as the organization’s first staff member. 

• MEDP opened its office in September, establishing a dedicated point of contact for traded-sector business development in McMinnville. 

2007 

• The board, community stakeholders, business owners and resource partners developed a strategic plan centered on business retention and expansion and targeted recruitment. 

• MEDP completed the twelve-month process to certify McMinnville Industrial Promotions’ 26-acre Orchard Avenue property as Yamhill County’s first certified shovel-ready industrial site. 

• The board established annual recognition for local manufacturers and manufacturing companies. 

2008 

• Zieman Manufacturing announced 35 new jobs, and New Energy Works established operations in the McMinnville Industrial Park. 

• MEDP provided employee-transition resources as Skyline RV and Nursery Supplies closed and Richmond Baking ended operations. 

• An industry-led steering committee established the McMinnville WORKS internship concept to help grow the local workforce pipeline. 

2009 

• Betty Lou’s purchased a 94,000-square-foot former manufacturing facility on Booth Bend Road, expanding from its 32,000-square-foot Granary District location. 

• The growing organic snack manufacturer increased local production capacity and continued a workforce expansion that took employment from approximately 70 people in 2008 to more than 230 by 2016. 

2010 

• MEDP began working with Kidder Mathews to market the closed Forest Grove Lumber property for renewed industrial use. 

• Online NW, McMinnville Industrial Promotions, the City and McMinnville Water and Light partnered to expand fiber service in the Industrial Park. 

• MIP purchased the former Richmond Baking site, later leased to Betty Lou’s. 

• MEDP led TEAM Oregon Food Processing, a statewide recruitment initiative focused on attracting food processors to Oregon. 

• AmeriCorps volunteer Amy Jauron joined MEDP and later moved into a full-time economic development role. 

2011 

• Northwest UAV committed to McMinnville and purchased a 28,000-plus-square-foot facility on ten acres, supporting nearly 60 engineering, production, marketing and sales positions. 

• Amerson Precision Sheet Metal purchased its long-leased Colvin Court facility from McMinnville Industrial Promotions, bringing the company’s owned portfolio to five buildings. 

2012 

• Yamhill County contracted with MEDP to develop the GROW Yamhill County strategic plan, improve business finance programs, launch a website, conduct recruitment and pilot countywide projects. 

• The work helped CEC open a second facility in Sheridan, piloted McMinnville WORKS and informed improvements to county loan and grant processes. 

• MEDP assisted employees affected by the BASi closure; Precision Analytical opened in the facility the following year. 

• Betty Lou’s leased a second Industrial Park facility, and Craftmark purchased five acres and specialized kilns at the former Forest Grove Lumber property. 

2013 

• Elk Creek Forest Products purchased the remaining former Forest Grove Lumber site and moved production to McMinnville. 

• MEDP piloted McMinnville WORKS with five interns, creating a talent recruitment strategy focused on growing the local workforce. 

• As Evergreen Aviation transitioned toward closure, MEDP shifted quickly into campus marketing and redevelopment support. 

• MEDP expanded statewide recruitment through TEAM Oregon Advanced Manufacturing, a collaboration focused on attracting new investment to Oregon. 

• Heather Simpson joined MEDP as marketing specialist. 

2014 

• MEDP began working with CBRE to market the former Evergreen Aviation corporate campus. 

• Red Hills Distribution opened in the McMinnville Industrial Park. 

• The Oregon Economic Development Association recognized McMinnville WORKS as its Collaborative Partnership of the Year. 

2015 

• MEDP launched a new brand and website, which received national recognition among leading economic development websites. 

• Jackson Family Wines purchased two former Evergreen buildings, helping return the campus to productive use. 

• Meggitt Polymers and Composites expanded, and five of the six Evergreen campus buildings moved into new ownership. 

• Heather Hadley Blank joined MEDP as part-time special projects manager. 

2016 

• MEDP launched The Spark e-newsletter and managed 24 active business retention, expansion and recruitment projects by April. 

• McMinnville WORKS received 170 applicants, engaged 16 host sites and offered 24 positions, all record levels at the time. 

• MEDP connected Ferrum Technology with a $100,000 Yamhill County Strategic Investment Grant. 

• McMinnville MADE marked the importance of manufacturing and MEDP’s tenth anniversary on October 7. 

• Falls Event Center purchased the Evergreen campus, including the space museum, waterpark, lodge and hotel properties. 

2017 

• MEDP organized an Innovation Tour with Yamhill County and Boeing and produced a gubernatorial tour at NW Rapid Manufacturing. 

• EDU Tours began connecting middle- and high-school STEM and robotics students with local employers and career pathways. 

• Tech Bytes forums advanced the Tech Terroir strategy and brought attention to McMinnville’s technology and innovation companies. 

• MEDP formalized its Investor Circle to broaden private investment in business retention, recruitment and workforce programming. 

• The first section of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass neared completion after decades of regional planning. 

2018 

• MEDP became an independent 501(c)(6) organization in January. 

• The City’s Opportunity Zone was defined and promoted, while Business Leader Roundtables contributed to the Mac-Town 2032 planning process. 

• Precision Analytical purchased its Rivergate facility; Meggitt added more than 75 employees; and Northwest UAV advanced a 30,000-square-foot expansion. 

• MEDP reported 217 company visits, 65 business consultations, $590,000 in funding secured, $5.1 million in company investment, and 220 new or retained jobs for the 2017–2018 reporting year. 

• Founding Executive Director Jody Christensen departed after twelve years to join the State of Oregon’s Regional Solutions team. 

2019 

• Scott Cooper became MEDP’s second executive director. 

• MEDP reaffirmed four strategic goals: business retention and expansion, business attraction, workforce development, and innovation development. 

• Career Bound piloted a Yamhill County jobs pipeline focused on skilled trades and vocational careers through Oregon WORKS funding. 

• Mac Market opened in the Alpine District, and Buildable redeveloped its Third Street property for offices and commercial space. 

• The Alpine District organized a neighborhood committee as redevelopment activity continued. 

2020 

• Launch Mid-Valley hired a venture catalyst and held its inaugural Startup Bootcamp. Sustainable Rituals, one of the winning concepts, later opened at Mac Market. 

• When COVID-19 closed businesses and disrupted operations, MEDP shifted to emergency outreach, funding guidance, Paycheck Protection Program information, PPE connections and resource navigation. 

• Stoller Properties purchased the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum and waterpark campus. 

• Betty Lou’s sold its co-packing line to Noble Foods while retaining the Betty Lou’s brand and Miller Avenue operation. 

• Casteel Custom Bottling broke ground on a new 20,000-square-foot facility. 

2021 

• Heather Hadley Blank served as interim leader after Scott Cooper’s departure while MEDP continued business assistance and project development. 

• Casteel Custom Bottling opened its new facility; NW Rapid Manufacturing expanded into a 6,500-square-foot space on the Northwest UAV campus; and Innova NW broke ground near Alpha Drive. 

• MEDP highlighted growth at Chapul Farms, ARQ, HelloCare, Cart-Away, Buildable, Ultimate RB, Northwest UAV and other employers. 

• McMinnville WORKS placed 10 interns with seven host organizations and created more than 90 mentoring, networking and professional-development connections. 

• Planning advanced for an innovation center identified in Mac-Town 2032, while Alt Coworking opened and Launch Mid-Valley continued entrepreneur programming. 

• MEDP’s Mac Development Week campaign and the Oregon WORKS model each received International Economic Development Council recognition. 

2022 

• Patty Herzog joined MEDP as executive director, bringing rural economic and community development experience to the organization. 

• MEDP convened a regional workforce partnership that developed into the Workforce Integration Network, or WIN. 

• Applied Physics Technologies advanced plans for a new clean room; Solid Carbon received a Business Oregon High Impact Opportunity Project grant; and Lateral Systems received a state match for federal innovation funding. 

• The inaugural BizCon brought entrepreneurs, investors and resource partners together in McMinnville through Launch Mid-Valley. 

• MEDP secured a Youth Development Grant to expand Career Bound for young people ages 14 to 24, with priority placed on manufacturing, healthcare and technology work experiences. 

• Phenix Solutions advanced its heavy-lift remotely piloted aircraft concept and reached the semifinal round of the Bend Venture Conference. 

2023 

• McMinnville WORKS marked ten years, having connected more than 1,400 applicants, over 30 host sites and more than 150 interns during the program’s first decade. 

• Career Bound served 17 young people with paid work experience and essential-skills training; 14 participants were hired after completing the program. 

• Business Oregon awarded Applied Physics Technologies $1.2 million for a clean room and headquarters improvements expected to expand capacity and support 30 additional jobs. 

• MEDP helped secure funding for local companies and community partners, including grants supporting Solid Carbon, ExcelTech, workforce development and other initiatives. 

• EMPWR Nutrition acquired Noble Foods, invested in production improvements and expanded its McMinnville operation. 

• The City secured funding for feasibility work on a future innovation campus along Highway 18, and McMinnville Industrial Promotions celebrated seventy years of service. 

2024 

• MEDP reported the 2023–2024 fiscal year through its annual report and McMinnovation awards program. 

• EMPWR Nutrition was recognized as McMinnville Maker of the Year; Phenix Solutions as Start-up of the Year; and Willamette Valley Medical Center as Workforce Partnership of the Year. 

• WIN continued bringing employers, educators and workforce organizations together around shared talent challenges and program development. 

• The City, the owners of three private properties and advisory partners began the coordinated master-planning process for the approximately 190-acre innovation district that became McMinnville Landing. 

• McMinnville MADE Manufacturing Month and employer tours continued to connect civic leaders and the community with local traded-sector companies. 

2025 

• The McMinnville Landing master plan advanced through public engagement, preferred-plan development, infrastructure analysis and design standards for three privately owned properties along Highway 18. 

• The Yamhill County Student MFG Experience connected students with manufacturing facility tours, an industry expo, mentors and the Ready or Not manufacturing simulation. 

• Cascade Steel’s parent company, Radius Recycling, was acquired by Toyota Tsusho America, linking the McMinnville steel mill to a new global owner. 

• Precision Analytical was named McMinnville Maker of the Year, and MEDP recognized partners in business leadership, workforce, entrepreneurship and innovation. 

• MEDP’s 2024–2025 report continued its focus on business retention and expansion, workforce development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and business attraction and site promotion. 

2026 

Year to date 

• MEDP entered its twentieth anniversary year as McMinnville marked its 150th municipal anniversary. 

• The McMinnville MADE Mayor’s Tour Series highlighted Applied Physics Technologies, Amerson Precision Sheet Metal, Laurelcrest Labs, Solid Form Fabrication, Heater Allen Brewing and the McMinnville Municipal Airport. 

• Launch Mid-Valley held a new Startup Bootcamp focused on growth-oriented founders and regional entrepreneur connections. 

• McMinnville Landing moved from master planning toward implementation discussions, with continued attention to infrastructure, landowner coordination, investment and site readiness. 

• MEDP expanded the public conversation about traded-sector impact, opportunity zones, workforce collaboration and the long-term value of economic development.