MEDP Spark Q2 '25 - Investing in McMinnville's Economic Future

May 19, 2025

MEDP Q2 - 2025 Spark Newsletter, read the full e-newsletter at this link.

A Letter from MEDP's Executive Director, Patty Herzog:

Investing in McMinnville’s Economic Future: Why MEDP Matters
By Patty Herzog, Executive Director, McMinnville Economic Development Partnership (MEDP)

As McMinnville faces difficult financial decisions, we mustn’t lose sight of what fuels our long-term stability: a vibrant, resilient economy. That’s why continued investment in economic development—and in MEDP specifically—is not just important, it’s essential.

For nearly 20 years, the McMinnville Economic Development Partnership has been helping our community grow and adapt. From global manufacturers to local startups, we’ve worked alongside the businesses that anchor our economy, supporting them through workforce shortages, site expansions, regulatory hurdles, and even crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. These companies bring high-wage jobs, tax revenue, and vitality to our city. MEDP helps them stay and succeed here.

Our model is uniquely McMinnville. MEDP was founded in 2006 through a one-of-a-kind partnership between the City of McMinnville, McMinnville Water & Light, McMinnville Industrial Promotions (MIP), and the Chamber of Commerce. This public-private structure has enabled us to build a professional, responsive, and results-driven team dedicated solely to economic development. Together, we’ve created a nationally recognized approach that many other communities aspire to replicate.

Removing the City’s investment in MEDP would reduce our operating budget by 28%. That’s not just a number, it represents lost capacity to serve the very businesses that drive our economic engine. Pulling back now, when competitiveness and innovation are more critical than ever, would be a step in the wrong direction.

Economic vitality doesn’t happen by accident. It takes vision, collaboration, and sustained commitment. MEDP was built to deliver that and we’re ready to keep doing so.

Now is the time to lean in, not pull back. Let’s continue working together to ensure McMinnville’s economy remains strong for generations to come.

Read the full Q2 Spark here.

Accolades & Congratulations to:

Congratulations to Phenix Solutions on the receipt of a Business Oregon Strategic Reserve Fund Grant from Governor Kotek for $141,000 to support them with certification requirements and workforce training, and development.
Welcome to Alpine Avenue: The Mac Tool Library held its Grand Opening this month. Stop by and check out all the amazing tools!

Thank you to our incredible Investor Circle!

Join MEDP in supporting economic vitality in McMinnville,

Join our Investor Circle today!

MEDP is a 501c6 created back in 2015 as a committee of the Chamber of Commerce. We became a standalone entity supported by our primary funding partners: McMinnville Industrial Promotions, McMinnville Water & Light, and the City of McMinnville. We rely on the generosity of our Investor Circle to support programs for our traded sector business community. Please join us in supporting McMinnville business and industry by investing today. Investors will be highlighted at our October Annual Event and Awards program and throughout the year at MEDP events and in our quarterly e-newsletter and social media channels.

MEDP's strategic initiatives focus on: