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Through 2011, the bridge program has sustained more than 17,000 jobs. Overall, the program will create or sustain approximately 23,000 jobs.
bridges began in 2001, and the Economic and Bridge Options Report contributed to the passage of the 2003 Oregon Transportation Investment Act, which funded the bridge program. In 2010, the program spent more than $174 million on construction, design and program management. Of those expenditures, 89 percent went to Oregon firms. Since work started in 2003, businesses and individuals have earned more than $991 million after taxes.
Under the banner of “Small Business Success in the 21st Century,” the 10th Annual Rogue Valley Business Resource Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the RCC / SOU Higher Education Center, located at 101 Bartlett Street in Medford. Sponsored by Rogue Valley businesses and state and federal government organizations, the free informational event provides industry and trade seminars, consultations, and other key resources for small business owners and those considering an entrepreneurial venture. Admission is free. Pre-registration and same-day registration is available. Sessions include “Doing Business on the Internet,” “How to Dominate Your Niche Using Social Media,” Are You Ready to be in Business,” “Branding & Differentiation,” and
Without bridge program funding, weight limits on Oregon’s aging bridges would become common. At the time OTIA III was enacted, the potential cost to Oregon’s economy was estimated at $123 billion in lost production and 88,000 lost jobs in the next 25 years.
“Managing Your Business Finances – Tips from a Pro.” Business and government representatives, including the Oregon Department of Transportation, will staff information booths in Exhibitors Hall. The Resource Fair is divided into three sessions, with breaks to visit the exhibitors. “The Resource Fair is neither a sales event nor a trade show,” said ODOT Civil Rights Field Coordinator Christie Meacham. “This is an invaluable opportunity, a golden ticket, for business owners to tap private and public resources that can help their business become more successful.” More information about the Rogue Valley Business Resource Fair is available via phone: (541) 552-8300; email: nickelb@sou.edu; and online: www.sou.edu/bizfair.
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