Press Releases ...

UMPQUA BANK INVESTS IN THE PARTNERSHIP (2-27-2008) see photo
The Partnership (Umpqua Economic Development Partnership) announced that Umpqua Bank has joined The Partnership. Neal Brown, Senior Vice President, Umpqua Bank, stated, "We are pleased to have this opportunity, as The Partnership will be critical to the development of new business opportunities in Douglas County." The Founding Partners are focused on a restructuring of The Partnership to include private sector investors and partners and have developed a 3 year plan that will gradually move The Partnership into a private/public organization. The Goal of restructuring is to become more productive and to create stability for the future. “We are really excited that Umpqua Bank has decided to join The Partnership. We look forward to working with Umpqua Bank on industrial projects in the future,” said Helga Conrad, Director, The Partnership. The Partnership (UEDP) has been the lead collaborative organization for economic development for the Douglas County region since 2001. Our mission is to assist companies that are creating jobs in our community and to recruit new companies into our area. The Founding Partners are: the Douglas County Industrial Development Board, the City of Roseburg, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and CCD Business Development Corp.

MERCY MEDICAL CENTER JOINS THE PARTNERSHIP (2-8-2008) see photo
The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership (UEDP) is pleased to announce that Mercy Medical Center has joined The Partnership. Kelly Morgan, Mercy Medical Center’s CEO stated, “By joining the partnership, Mercy is helping to ensure that our community continues to grow and remain vital. We firmly believe that a strong economy is key to a healthy community. It also makes good business sense. By working collaboratively, we – the public and private sectors- can leverage resources to attract, retain and grow businesses locally. And that will benefit everyone.” The Founding Partners are focused on a restructuring of The Partnership to include private sector investors and partners and have developed a 3 year plan that will gradually move The Partnership into a private/public organization. The Goal is to become more productive and to create stability for the future. The Partnership (UEDP) has been the lead collaborative organization for economic development for the Douglas County region since 2001. Our mission is to assist companies that are creating jobs in our community and to recruit new companies into our area. The Founding Partners are: the Douglas County Industrial Development Board, the City of Roseburg, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and CCD Business Development Corp.

AVISTA UTILITIES INVESTS IN THE PARTNERSHIP (1-10-2008) see photo
The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership (UEDP) is pleased to announce that Avista Utilities has joined The Partnership. Steve Vincent, Avista Utilities, stated, “Avista is proud to join The Partnership and to support its efforts in economic expansion in Douglas County. The influence this local agency continues to have on job growth, expansion of existing traded sector businesses, and the recruitment of new employers to the county has far reaching impacts. Therefore, I believe it is incumbent upon us at Avista to in turn support UEDP.” The Founding Partners are focused on a restructuring of The Partnership to include private sector investors and partners and have developed a 3 year plan that will gradually move The Partnership into a private/public organization. “We need investors to invest financially, but just as importantly, we need good minds to help us move forward,” said Helga Conrad, Director, The Partnership. The Goal of restructuring is to become more productive and to create stability for the future.

Pacific Power Joins The Partnership (12-11-2007) see photo
The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership (UEDP) is pleased to announce that Pacific Power has joined The Partnership. Monte Mendenhall, Pacific Power, stated, “Investing in The Partnership will result in bringing the private and public investors together to sharpen the focus on diversifying the region and growing the local economy.” The Founding Partners are focused on a restructuring of The Partnership to include private sector investors and partners and have developed a 3 year plan that will gradually move The Partnership into a private/public organization. The Goal is to become more productive and to create stability for the future. The Partnership (UEDP) has been the lead collaborative organization for economic development for the Douglas County region since 2001. Our mission is to assist companies that are creating jobs in our community and to recruit new companies into our area. The Founding Partners are: the Douglas County Industrial Development Board, the City of Roseburg, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce, and CCD Business Development Corp.

The Partnership Expands (9-20-2007) see photo
As The Partnership continues look ahead to the future, the Founding Partners have focused their efforts on a gradual restructuring of the organization to include private sector investors and partners. “We need investors to invest financially, but just as importantly, we need good minds to help us move forward,” said Helga Conrad, Director, The Partnership. The Partnership has started a series of educational meetings to inform the community of the benefits of private/public economic development organizations. Monte Mendenhall, who sits on the Board of Directors for Southern Oregon Economic Development, Inc. (SOREDI), and Roger Lee, Director, Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO), have both come to speak to the Partnership about their experience with private/public economic development organizations. Because of expected reduced funding from their county in the future, SOREDI indicated they are looking to the private sector to fill that gap. More than just filling a funding gap though, the true upside of the private/public structure is having the ability to realize the untapped expertise in the community. The private sector business community tends to be more in tune with what is going on in the local economy. “Private Sector is more than funding, it’s leadership,” said Roger Lee, EDCO. We would like to extend a big thank you to: Steve Vincent, Avista Utilities; Diana Woodward, Board of Realtors; Tania Strickler, CCD Business Development; Eric Swanson, Rick Coen, City of Roseburg; Commissioner Joe Laurance, Douglas County; Lynn Herbert, Dave Sabala and Ron Doan, DCIDB; Jon Hill, ESD; Dave Gilbert, Horizon Automotive; Alex Palm, IE Engineering (City ED Commission); Kelly Morgan, Mercy Medical Center; Diana Corder, Pacific Power; Gary Gray, Premier West Bank; Debbie Fromdahl, Chris Burnett, Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce; Mike Windmer (City ED Commission) and Neal Brown,Umpqua Bank; Linda Clary, Umpqua Visions; Al Lowder and Kyle Banks, Wells Fargo Bank. Your participation in this important discussion is what made our educational meetings a success! To learn more about investing in The Partnership, contact our office at 541-464-3527.

BREAKING NEWS – OREGON’S TAX ADVANTAGE (1-19-2007) see photo
SINGLE SALES FACTOR FOR CORPORATE EXCISE/INCOME TAXES - Corporate tax due to Oregon is now based 100 percent on sales within the state, versus being based on the amount of corporate sales, payroll and property within the state. Oregon levies only a 6.6 percent corporate income tax, and only against profits accrued from sales in Oregon. This rate is relatively low among all states in the U.S., especially other western states with corporate income taxation. The resulting tax liability is reducible with credits. (Although it has no such income-based tax, our northern neighbor, the state of Washington imposes a tax on annual gross revenue.) Consequently, new capital investments or additional payroll expenses in Oregon will themselves entail no additional tax exposure. This is tremendously advantageous to new/expanding manufacturers or the like that "export" value-added goods or services outside of Oregon to customers at locations where the corporation is otherwise subject to income taxation. *Source: Oregon Economic & Community Development Department

MURPHY ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS GROUNDBREAKING (9-27-2006) see photo
On Thursday, September 21, guests and community leaders came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of Murphy Company’s new plant. Community speakers congratulated and thanked John Murphy, President of Murphy Company, for his dedication to see the company rebuild in Sutherlin. The Murphy Plywood Mill in Sutherlin, which employed 300 people, burned to the ground on July 5th of 2005. The community was committed to seeing Murphy rebuild in Sutherlin. Agencies on local, county and state levels all rallied support to encourage the rebuilding of the project in Sutherlin. They worked together to bring incentives for Murphy such as Enterprise Zone benefits, Workforce Training and additional state incentives. On August 2, 2006, John Murphy officially announced that the Murphy Company would rebuild in Sutherlin. The new project will be a 215,000 square-foot laminated veneer lumber plant with an investment of 61 million dollars. The job creation will be about 100, and while there will be less jobs, they will be jobs with higher wages due to the new skill levels that will be needed. The plant is expected to be operational by November 2007

DOUGLAS COUNTY WELCOMES ALFA LEISURE, INC. (4-7-2006) see photo
Alfa Leisure, Inc., a manufacturer of recreational vehicles based in Chino, California, announced its agreement to purchase over 34 acres of land from Douglas County, Oregon, as part of Alfa’s expansion of its manufacturing capacity. Alfa intends to construct an approximate 100,000 square-foot recreational vehicle production facility, as well as a service center facility, on the presently undeveloped property located near Roseburg along the western edge of Interstate 5. The envisioned production facility is expected to provide full time, family wage jobs for approximately 200 employees once it is fully developed and operational. The company selected this location after an intensive search for an available work force, reasonable acquisition and development costs, and proximity to the Interstate 5 corridor. “We are very excited about the opportunity to expand into Oregon,” says Alfa’s founder and Chief Executive, Johnnie Crean. “The site we have selected appears well suited for our future product development and manufacturing needs. We are pleased with the cooperation and support we have received from Douglas County in moving this project forward.”

"SITE CERTIFIED" DOUGLAS COUNTY INDUSTRIAL PARKS (8-4-2005) see photo
The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership is pleased to announce that the Oak Creek Industrial Park and the South Umpqua Valley Industrial Park are now “Site Certified”. A certified industrial site demonstrates to prospective clients a certainty that they can purchase a parcel of land and build on the site within 180 days. Much of the up front work has been completed: land use planning and zoning, wetlands delineation, infrastructure to the site, environmental and cultural protections are assessed and other details of the site have been completed. The prospective company does not need to spend valuable time and finances on getting the site ready for construction. For additional information on both certified sites and other Douglas County Industrial sites, click on the "Industrial Sites" tab.

The Venue Office & Residential Suites (6-24-2005) see photo
The Venue Office & Residential Suites, located in the heart of downtown Roseburg, has been newly rehabilitated with modern interiors while restoring the original historic street facades. There are six fully furnished residential suites equipped with satellite televisions, local phone service, laundry facilities, and fiber optic internet service. The suites are available for corporate uses, extended stays and local tenants. The Venue Office Suites has nineteen office suites, three conference rooms and a break room. The suites are all wired for DSL and fiber optic internet service. There is a secure garage attached directly to the office complex and resident suites rear entrance. Spaces are available for both office and residential tenants. For additional information and rates, visit their website by clicking on area links and click on The Venue Office and Residential Suites.

UEDP RECEIVES CEDAR FUND AWARD (11-19-2004) see photo
On Tuesday, November 16th, UEDP received the first of Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians 2004 CEDAR Fund Awards. The $50,000 award is for UEDP’s commitment to bring business and employment to Douglas County and “...will greatly enhance our ability to market our county to the world business community,” said Helga Conrad, Director, UEDP. The objective of the CEDAR Fund is to enhance the Tribe’s mission of developing cooperative relationships that benefit not only the Tribe, but also the community. “We hope to work collaboratively with CEDAR recipients and other governmental and non-governmental organizations to create hundreds of new jobs, directly or indirectly, over the next decade,” said Shaffer, Tribal Chairman, Cow Creek. “The Umpqua Economic Development Partnership appreciates the generosity of the Cow Creek Tribe and their continued commitment towards economic development in Douglas County. Working together with our community partners – state, county, cities, tribe, chambers, community college, financial agencies and businesses – we can reach these goals and grow a healthy Douglas County,” said Conrad. In addition to the CEDAR Fund, the Tribe, through both its Foundation and Tribal Government Fund, contributes over $1 million annually to other regional organizations. Visit www.cowcreek.com.

HELGA TO ATTEND SEMA 2004 IN LAS VEGAS (9-10-2004) see photo
Helga and a SW Oregon team of economic developers will be participating in the SEMA Show 2004 in Las Vegas, NV. SEMA, an automotive specialty products trade show, provides a unique opportunity to network with some of the industries brightest minds. Showing off Oregon and Douglas County to companies in the market for expansion or relocation, the Team will have the opportunity to discuss our low business costs, reliable workforce, Industrial Land at low cost, Enterprise and Electronic-Commerce Zones and many other incentives. Stop by booth #12857 and have the opportunity to schedule a private consultation with Team Oregon.

NORTH RIVER BOATS EXPANSION CREATES NEW JOBS (4-6-2004) see photo
North River Boats, acquired by Brian Brush in 1997, has since been the fastest growing aluminum boat manufacturer in the country. They build 10 models of aluminum boats ranging from 16’ to 25’ in length and are primarily designed for recreational use. They have recently acquired a second site in Roseburg, allowing them to hire additional employees. Located in Green, the Second Manufacturing location will house North River’s administrative, upholstery and finishing work, while the fabricating will continue to take place at the Kester Road Facility. This expansion will create 128 new jobs for Douglas County.

WELCOME AMERICAN PRIDE MANUFACTURING (1-23-2004) see photo
We are pleased to announce a new company to the Green District of Douglas County. Jerry and Kim Risk, owners, moved here from California. The company has a strong business plan and hope to achieve a growth that would provide more employment opportunities to our area. American Pride specializes in the design and manufacture of water trucks, fuel trucks and lube trucks. They also build custom fabrication products such as trailers and wrought iron hand rails. Located at 1501 Green Siding Road, they are open and ready to serve clientele.

SOUTH UMPQUA VALLEY GETS NEW SIGN (7-23-2003) see photo
On Friday, July 18th, Joined by County commissioners Doug Robertson and Dan VanSlyke and DCIDB President Norm Gershon, the South Umpqua Valley Economic Development Group unveiled a new sign showcasing the valley's industrial park and giving it a highly visible landmark from Interstate 5. With 60 acres still available for development that include water/sewer/utilities, South Umpqua Valley Industrial Park is ready to break ground for the next industrial project. Currently, the park is home to WINCO Foods Distribution Center.

UEDP ENDORSES BROWNFIELDS 2003 CONFERENCE (5-16-2003) see photo
Where better to gather for Brownfields 2003: Growing a Greener America than in Portland, Oregon – a city that has for many years aggressively pursued the redevelopment of brownfields. Come join us for what promises to be the most valuable brownfields conference yet. Brownfields 2003 will be held Oct 27 -29 and builds upon past successes by offering up-to-date and stimulating information for brownfields practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. For more information, log on to www.brownfields2003.org.

Trade Show Networking (3-18-2003) see photo
February, March, and April, Helga will be traveling to trade shows promoting Douglas County to manufacturing companies looking to expand or relocate. Helga and a team of representatives from Oregon attended the MDM West show in Anaheim meeting contacts within the medical/dental instruments industry. The first week in March took Helga to Chicago where she and the Oregon team attended the National Association of Manufacturers conference. The team focused their efforts on several Site Consultants in the area resulting in positive feedback for our county and our state. Helga will be traveling to Los Angeles the end of March for the Westec Convention where she will develop contacts within the metal working and manufacturing industry. In April, Helga will attend the IAMC conference for Site Consultants in Florida. The conference provides a unique opportunity to build relationships with key Industrial Site Consultants and brokers. “Even in this economic restructuring, UEDP remains committed to take an active role in seeking out companies for expansion and relocation. We continue to network and build relationships with contacts who will keep Douglas County on the table as a viable choice.” Helga Conrad, Director, UEDP.

Website Updates (3-11-2003) see photo
We are excited about the recent updates to our website. We hope that you will find them helpful. An added feature is the BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT. This section will showcase Business Leaders in Douglas County and include their comments for doing business in our area. Also, photos and links will accompany the information page for private industrial land available in the county. We keep updated information from local real estate brokers on industrial land listed in the private sector. A link to contact information will be provided for your easy convenience. Please don't hesitate to contact our office with your questions or comments.

Helga Attends Corenet 2002 in San Diego, CA (11-18-2002) see photo
Helga and Team Oregon participated in Corenet 2002, San Diego, CA. Oregon's booth attracted interest by tempting visitors to try their luck at the putting game. "This kind of convention allows our economic teams to get out and network with site consultants. We get an opportunity to show what Oregon and Douglas County can offer to companies in the market for expansion or relocation." - Helga Conrad

DELL Computer Ribbon Cutting (11-5-2002) see photo
DELL Computers is welcomed into the community during their ribbon cutting celebration Nov 5th. DELL management received an overwhelming response from applicants eager to work for the computer giant's call center. The collaboration of community leaders, City of Roseburg, and members of workforce training organizations was a good example of how hard our teams strive to work with corporations in their effort to relocate to Douglas County. DELL's Site Manager, Rob McIntosh, credits Helga Conrad, Director of Umpqua Economic Development Parternership, for her outstanding commitment to help the company move here smoothly.