September 2023 - Southern Oregon Business Journal

The Southern Oregon Business Journal extends sincere thanks to the following companies for sponsoring the journal. Without their support we could not produce a FREE resource for Southern Oregon businesses.

Here we go again.

Kroger and Albertsons announced plans to merge and that they will divest 49 locations in Oregon. They have not announced which ones. We have an Albertsons and Safeway in Ashland. Surely one of them will be one on the chopping block… Again. A few years ago, Safeway and Albertsons merged and the government required divestiture. So Safeway closed. Haggen, A Washington based west coast regional food chain bought all 146 stores from Albertsons via the FTC demand and with Albertsons blessing and then promptly went bankrupt. Some might say “That’s one way to kill your competition.” What’s ironic? Albertsons quickly reopened the Safeway after Haggen closed. So now we again have both a Safeway and an Albertsons in our small town. I find it funny how the government helped “protect” us from a monopoly only to help strengthen one. Another irony, I just Googled about Haggen and guess who owns them now. Yup, Albertsons.

Who’s next in this space? The co-op has been wanting to grow for years from their current location. Maybe they can take over the abandoned store instead of building a new one. They had a chance before. Will they pull the trigger this time?

Read the interesting Oregon take on page 23, I never thought about the pharmacy side of it.

After going Public in September 2021, yes I drank the koolaid (or was it the “Annihilator “ and bought some stock in full disclosure, they are announcing the issue of even more stock to raise more capital to help them survive their critical cash shortage. Page 24.

Back in 1995-96 or so, I created “Thinkubator” in Ashland. I set aside 10% of our 10,000 SQFT office to lease out space monthly “SmartSuites” or hourly and provide all the technology you needed to run your business. You just had to show up and bring your energy and grow your business. It was way ahead of its time and I ran it until it outgrew our company and we moved out. You can still see artifacts at http://thinkubator.com/

CoWorking is what all the cool kids call it now and it’s an important component in the innovation ecosystem.

There is a cool take on it by SOU professor Precious Yamaguchi, Ph.D. on page 6. She and her husband ran one for a while in Ashland. In fact all 3 coworking spaces in Ashland have recently closed. I don’t get into why in this issue, but I am thinking about it.

I'm co-chairing the 26th annual Oregon Connections conference in Ashland this year. Senator Ron Wyden is our keynote speaker. I'm excited about it. Page 9 will tell you all about it. Or go to https:// oregonconnections.info/

Jim Jim@SouthernOregonBusiness.com

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PEOPLE’S BANK - PAGE 33

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SOU - LEADERSHIP BEGINS HERE SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITYPAGE 22

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ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON - BACK COVER & 11

Founder Greg Henderson ghenderson703@gmail.com

Greg started the Southern Oregon Business Journal in 2015 and retired in 2020.

Cover Photo by By Precious Yamaguchi, Ph.D. - Read her article “Community Building in Coworking” on page 6

A JOURNAL FOR THE ECONOMICALLY CURIOUS, PROFESSIONALLY INSPIRED AND ACUTELY MOTIVATED

Southern Oregon Business Journal

4 Book Review - “Atomic Habits” by James Clear

5 The Hivve: Raising the Tide in Grants Pass' Post-Pandemic Work Landscape

6 Community Building in Coworking

10 A commitment to energy efficiency nets Biomass One nearly $300,000 in annual energy savings

12 Coding Zeal hosts 2 day conference for RedwoodJS community to gather and learn online and in-person in Grants Pass 14 Business Oregon Investment report

$5

James Clear’s “Atomic Habits” is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their habits and achieve their goals. The book provides a practical and actionable guide to building good habits and breaking bad ones. Clear presents a simple yet effective framework for creating lasting change in your life.

The book is divided into four parts: The Fundamentals, The Four Laws of Behavior Change, Make It Obvious, and

Habits”

by James Clear

Make It

Satisfying. Each part provides valuable insights and strategies for improving your habits and achieving your

cues that remind you of your habit. For example, if you want to start exercising in the morning, you can lay out your workout clothes the night before as a visual reminder.

One of the key takeaways from the book is that small changes can lead to big results. Clear emphasizes the importance of making small, incremental improvements in your habits rather than trying to make drastic changes all at once. He also stresses the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome.

Clear’s framework is based on four laws of behavior change: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. By following these laws, you can create good habits that stick.

The first law, make it obvious, is about making your habits visible and easy to see. This can be done by creating visual

The second law, make it attractive, is about making your habits appealing. This can be done by linking your habit to something you enjoy. For example, if you want to start reading more books, you can join a book club or find a reading buddy.

The third law, make it easy, is about making your habits simple and easy to do. This can be done by breaking down your habit into small steps. For example, if you want to start meditating every day, you can start with just one minute of meditation and gradually increase the time.

The fourth law, make it satisfying, is about making your habits rewarding. This can be done by creating a sense of accomplishment after completing your habit. For example, if you want to start writing every day, you can reward yourself with a cup of coffee after finishing your writing session.

Overall, “Atomic Habits” is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their habits and achieve their goals. The book is well-written, easy to read, and full of practical advice that you can apply to your life right away.

https://jamesclear.com/

“Atomic

By Trever Yarrish https://www.linkedin.com/in/treveryarrish/

The Hivve: Raising the Tide in Grants Pass' Post-Pandemic Work Landscape

dedicated desk, or a digital nomad happy with a floating desk, we've got you covered. And it's not just about the space; it’s about the community we're building—one that thrives on collaboration and mutual support, truly embodying our motto to "Raise the Tide."

While work is a vital aspect of what we offer, The Hivve is more than just a coworking space; it’s a community hub that wears many hats (and hosts many events). Our 150-person venue is a catalyst for cultural and social activities. From private parties to intimate conferences, we've got the perfect setting for you. If music speaks to your soul, you won't want to miss our fall lineup of live concerts, designed not merely as shows, but as unforgettable experiences.

"Raise the Tide"—it's not just our motto at The Hivve; it's a philosophy that encapsulates our mission to uplift the community, both professionally and creatively. As Grants Pass emerges from the rigors of the pandemic, we've seen a dramatic shift in how people approach work and social interactions. The Hivve is proud to be part of that growth curve,

serving as a hub that inspires creativity and productivity alike.

We have seen the need for adaptable workspaces surge. No longer a niche luxury, coworking spaces like The Hivve have become essential to today's diverse workforce. Whether you're a remote professional in need of a private office, a freelancer looking for a

Ah, but we have more up our sleeves. Coders and tech enthusiasts, mark your calendars! We're hosting the upcoming RedwoodJS Conference in the last week of September. It's an unmissable event that promises to spark innovation and maybe even offer a networking opportunity or two. Use the code PCNW_FRIENDS to get 40% off tickets at https://www.redwoodjsconf.com.

Learn more about our offerings and stay updated on upcoming events by visiting https://www.thehivve.com.

See you soon at The Hivve!

By Precious Yamaguchi, Ph.D.

Driving through the downtown areas of cities such as Denver, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles, it seems like coworking spaces are popping up everywhere you look. There’s a wide range of coworking spaces in major cities, some of them occupying newly renovated industrial buildings while other coworking spaces are located in charming curated boutique storefronts. No matter what its style or layout, coworking spaces are not only an alternative to working from home, they provide a synergistic environment for people to meet, network, and of course, get work done. It may be a bit more challenging to spot coworking spaces within the Southern Oregon region than in some of the bigger cities, but they are influencing the way Southern Oregoners and its visitors work, interact, and build community.

Community Building in Coworking

day pass if you are a visitor or need a space to work for the day. Most coworking spaces have an openfloor plan, a bit like a cafe or a library where you can see other people working as opposed to cubicles where people are blocked off from each other. There are usually private rooms individuals or groups can rent as well.

According to GitNux Blog (2023), it’s predicted there will be 41,975 coworking spaces in the world by 2024. Coworking spaces often offer people annual, monthly, or weekly memberships; and most of them provide the option for a

When I first started to use coworking spaces when I lived on the east coast over a decade ago, they were very practical and utilitarian to one’s needs. There were often multiple electrical outlets, tables, chairs, and a small coffee station. In the early 2000s, coworking spaces served their purpose for people often working in tech: they were a place to work and collaborate. Now, coworking spaces come with numerous bells and whistles,

and are expected to be wellappointed with modern furniture, options of standing or sitting desks, private rooms, conference rooms, noisereducing booths for Zoom calls, and an abundance of snacks. The coworking space my husband and I owned, Catalyst Ashland, had a podcast studio, computer and mobile device repair service, art gallery, and even a wine bar within our building. We were inspired by other coworking spaces such as Cloudroom in Seattle, a woman-owned coworking space whose decor is thoughtfully curated, and CTRL in Pasadena, California, that designed a former fitness center location into a modern and efficient coworking space of multiple floors where

individuals can find a range of working spaces ranging from open desks to private conference rooms.

limit ourselves to the library or the nearest Starbucks. Places like Medford Coworks, owned by Abigail Schilling, provides its Southern Oregon locals with a location to hold meetings, conference calls, or just a comfortable place for individuals to get work done. I first visited Medford Coworks several years ago when my family and I participated in an artist’s photography project and she used Medford Coworks as her location for her photoshoot for her art project.

As coworking spaces become more intentional in creating inclusive spaces for diverse populations and people of all ages, cultures, genders, and accessibility needs, they become a starting point for bringing entrepreneurs and community members together, as well as provide pleasant environments to work individually or collaboratively. Many of us have had experiences of desperately looking for a cafe or a conference space to hold a small gathering or get some work done, often having to

With the pandemic still in existence and what seems like the never-ending increase of rent for housing and office space, coworking spaces have become more than just a practical way of working, but also a way of providing access to interacting with our communities, resources, and technology. If you’re interested in trying one, most coworking spaces offer a day pass. You may be amazed at the amount of work you get done in an environment that is curated towards your work needs!

Citations

Barufatti, A. (2023, August 18). Coworking statistics 2023: facts and data. Gitnux Blog. https:// blog.gitnux.com/coworking-statistics

Photos provided by the author - Precious Yamaguchi, Ph.D.

Broadband : Future Proofing Oregon

Join us in Ashland, Oregon on October 26th and 27th for the 26th annual Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference.

This year's conference theme is Broadband : Future Proofing Oregon and will feature keynotes by Senator Ron Wyden and NTIA’s Adam Geisler.

Senator Wyden will discuss his vision for a future where all Oregonians have access to high speed, a ordable Broadband and the tools to use it e ectively.

Adam Geisler, Division Chief Tribal Connectivity and Nation to Nation Coordination at US Department of

Commerce NTIA will present Money Talks and Implementation Rocks! The $3 billion journey of NTIA's Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: lessons learned and opportunities discovered.

Other sessions include : Working Partnership Models (Non-Profit, Municipality, EDD, Tribal) ; Convergence-Colliding Technologies ; Broadband 101 ; What Happened To Telephone? ; Telehealth ; Overbuilding? Or Future Proofing?

Sessions and Speakers Subject to Change

Sponsors (as of 7/7/2023)

EnerTribe, Inc, WBE Technologies LLC, Power & Tel, Quantum Fiber, Walker, Millennium, Northwest Technology Sales, Rabbit Communications LLC, Zyxel Communications, Inc.

Please visit our website at OregonConnections.info to register to attend in person or online or sign up as a sponsor or exhibitor.

By Ashley Bartels

A10-year commitment to energy efficiency has helped Biomass One, a 28.5-megawatt cogeneration facility in White City, slash 4.1 million kilowatt hours from its annual energy use.

Biomass One, which burns wood waste to generate renewable power, first worked with Energy Trust of Oregon in 2009 to boost efficiency in its primary process. Installing new fans and motors with variable frequency drives delivered annual savings of 3.35

million kWh. A $344,000 Energy Trust cash incentive helped defray the $708,000 installation cost.

Starting in 2017, plant personnel dedicated five years to replacing 99% of the facility’s lighting with new, energy-efficient LEDs. “We started in our maintenance shop, where our metal halide lamps had reached the end of their useful life,” said Louis Eck, purchasing agent at Biomass One. That project worked so well, Biomass One moved on to the

turbine building, replacing existing lighting with high-bay LEDs controlled by occupancy sensors that dim the lights when no one is underneath. “LEDs have made the turbine building much brighter and safer for employees,” said Eck. “They really appreciate the extra light.”

Outside in the fuel yard, dozens of 1,000-watt lighting fixtures gave way to 300-watt LED fixtures mounted on top of buildings and stacks and above the fuel pile. Here Biomass One got innovative

A commitment to energy efficiency nets Biomass One nearly $300,000 in annual energy savings

with controls. “The wood debris makes it dusty, so we wired all the exterior lights so they’re controlled by a single photocell located out of the dust zone,” said Eck. “We operate 24/7, so LEDs brought a significant improvement in security and safety. Employees no longer need to use flashlights at night.”

Altogether, lighting improvements trimmed the plant’s annual electricity use by 555,000 kWh. The project cost was approximately $72,000 because Biomass One did all the work in-house, buying LEDs from their local vendor. Energy Trust cash incentives totaling $39,000 made the one-year return on investment more favorable.

In 2021 and 2022, Biomass One enrolled in Strategic Energy Management (SEM)—an

Energy Trust offering that helps organizations identify no-or lowcost operations and maintenance improvements that deliver lasting savings. The facility formed a plant-wide energy team and received training on developing comprehensive energy management practices. Biomass One is making simple changes, like shutting down its 500horsepower hog motor during lunch, reducing unneeded pressure in its compressed air system and removing redundancy in the condensate pumps serving its generator.

“We’re not done yet, we know we have more work to do,” said Eck.

to Oregonians.”

Learn more about industrial equipment incentives and lighting and lighting control upgrades for your business.

https://www.energytrust.org/for-business/? utm_source=sobj&utm_medium=av&utm_campaig n=for-business

By Ashley Bartels

Energy Trust of Oregon is dedicated to helping 2 million utility customers in Oregon and 86,000 utility customers in Southwest Washington save energy and benefit from renewable power, today and in the future. Energy Trust information, cash incentives and contractor connections help customers use less energy, generate renewable power and protect the environment. We are a mission-based organization collaborating with utilities, nonprofits and government agencies to deliver significant clean energy benefits for Oregon and Southwest Washington.

We’re a renewable power company at Biomass One, so we knew we had to replace our outdated lighting with cost-saving LEDs. While working with Energy Trust, we realized we could save even more money and increase plant safety by using occupancy sensors throughout our facility. See how lighting controls can help your business at energytrust.org/industry-lighting.

“We’re a renewable energy power plant, so energy we save is energy we can sell to Pacifi-Corp and provide

SINCE ADDING OCCUPANCY SENSORS TO OUR LED LIGHTING SYSTEM, WE ARE SEEING OUR BUSINESS IN A VERY DIFFERENT LIGHT.

By Jim Teece using content from https://www.redwoodjsconf.com/

Coding Zeal hosts 2 day conference for RedwoodJS community to gather and learn online and in-person in Grants Pass

Trever is at it again. This time he and the amazing team at Coding Zeal will host the first ever RedwoodJS conference.

RedwoodJS is a React framework that enables you to quickly scaffold up a app from idea to deployment.

From GitHub — Redwood is an opinionated, full-stack, JavaScript/TypeScript web application framework designed to keep you moving fast as your app grows from side project to startup.

At the highest level, a Redwood app is a React frontend that talks to a custom GraphQL API. The API uses Prisma to operate on a database. Out of the box you get tightly integrated testing with Jest, logging with Pino, and a UI component catalog with Storybook. Setting up authentication (like Auth0) or CSS frameworks (like Tailwind CSS) are a single command line invocation away. And to top it off, Redwood's architecture allows you to deploy to either serverless providers (e.g. Netlify, Vercel) or traditional server and container

providers (e.g. AWS, Render) with nearly no code changes between the two!

By making a lot of decisions for you, Redwood lets you get to work on what makes your application special, instead of wasting cycles choosing and rechoosing various technologies and configurations. Plus, because Redwood is a proper framework, you benefit from continued performance and feature upgrades over time and with minimum effort.

Redwood is the latest open source project initiated by Tom Preston-Werner, cofounder of GitHub (most popular code host on the planet), creator of Jekyll (one of the first and most popular static site generators), creator of Gravatar (the most popular avatar service on the planet), author of the Semantic Versioning specification (powers the Node packaging ecosystem), and inventor of TOML (an obvious, minimal configuration language used by many projects).

This conference is for builders and leaders like you from around the world — founders, indie devs, open source contributors, backend and frontend specialists, and technology leaders

ALL in on react server components

React is an established, powerful tool for building interactive applications. It’s no secret that the introduction of RSC is a big change. Redwood is one of a few existing frameworks on the edge of RSC adoption. React is a major theme at this conference, and your opportunity to get in early on a best-in-class framework and the future of React.

Get Equipped to Build a Modern App

At this conference, you’ll learn about much more than Redwood.

Sessions and workshops from experts and frontline founders will cover topics across modern tools, best practices, and building a startup. Redwood sits at the center of an ecosystem that includes industry standard tools

you’ll need at any stage (MVP to Scale) across the developmentto-production, CI/CD lifecycle.

Relationships are Rocket Fuel

Get unique access to the Redwood Core Team, founders, industry experts, investors, and some of the best technical leaders around the globe. This experience was designed intentionally so you will leave with everything you need to build and grow, including new connections with amazing people. With Redwood, community and collaboration take front and center — you don’t have to go it alone.

Learn more at https:// www.redwoodjsconf.com/

By Business Oregon

A state agency

Business Oregon Investment report

https://www.oregon.gov/biz/reports/investment-reports/Pages/default.aspx

Business Oregon invests in business development and infrastructure projects throughout the state of Oregon. Below is a summary table of recent investments. This does not capture all the projects Business Oregon has worked on, just those with dollars invested through the

programs listed in the above linked fiscal year reports. A best effort is made to make sure that project information is accurate, but it's always possible an error could be made.

Read the report at https:// www.oregon.gov/biz/reports/ investment-reports/Pages/ FY2023.aspx

By Business Oregon A state agency

Business Oregon Announces Intent to Award $5 Million in Startup Funding to Support 50 Oregon Businesses

Business Oregon has announced an Intent to Award $5 million from the Business Oregon Venture Fund Program (BOV Fund Program) to three Oregon-based fund managers to increase access to venture capital for as many as 50 early-stage startups, with priority given to businesses located in underserved geographies and owned and controlled by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDIs). The BOV Fund Program is a part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program authorized through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

The BOV Fund Program is one of two programs launched by Business Oregon under SSBCI to expand access to venture capital across Oregon, particularly for underserved geographies and SEDI-owned businesses.

This round of funding is planned to be released following final approvals, which are expected to conclude in late summer of 2023. Business Oregon intends to award BOV funding to the following Oregon-based recipients:

The BFM Fund (Black Founders Matter): Based in Portland, The BFM Fund invests in seed-stage ventures with a focus on startups led by BIPOC entrepreneurs.

The BFM Fund is expected to receive $3 million. VertueLab: VertueLab is a non-profit that supports climate technology startups with funding and technical support. VertueLab is expected to receive $1.5 million.

ONAMI: ONAMI is a non-profit that focuses on starting sciencebased technology companies from the earliest stages and provides financial and operational support. ONAMI is expected to receive $500,000. Combined with the private matching funds, these awards are expected to provide at least $10 million in startup funding to as many as 50 Oregonbased businesses and are expected to create more than 350 jobs in Oregon over the next several years.

These awards are part of the first tranche of SSBCI funds disbursed by the U.S. Department of Treasury to Business Oregon. A second tranche of SSBCI funding is expected to be disbursed to Business Oregon so that additional investments can be made. The expected date for

Business Oregon to receive the second tranche of funding is yet to be determined. However, Business Oregon expects to solicit a Request for Grant Applications for additional funds in the coming weeks. For more information on the federal SSBCI program, visit home.treasury.gov. For more information on Business Oregon’s SSBCI programs, including the BOV Fund Program, visit oregon.gov/biz.

Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at biz.oregon.gov.

By Business Oregon A state agency

Business Oregon Opens Grant Program to Support Rural Communities

Business Oregon is pleased to announce a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for the 2023-2025 Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) Grant Program. ROI is an investment in the vision and proficiency of rural communities and aligns with Business Oregon’s strategic plan to grow local businesses, cultivate rural economic stability, and champion opportunities for underrepresented Oregonians. The Oregon Legislature has allocated $2 million to the ROI Grant Program for the current biennium.

ROI focuses on empowering rural communities to support entrepreneurs and small business growth through the cultivation of strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. At its core, ROI is designed to create an economy that works for all Oregonians. It is inclusive and community-driven, empowering local leaders to implement collaborative strategies that elevate the role of entrepreneurship in rural economic development, enabling entrepreneurs to create placebased enterprises that boost local economies.

Small businesses and entrepreneurs drive rural economies and are a major

source of opportunity for growth. In addition to supporting entrepreneurship and small business growth, ROIs emphasis on cultivating a healthy ecosystem helps build resiliency and makes businesses more likely to survive a crisis by having access to a full complement of resources.

By focusing on ecosystem development, ROI helps entrepreneurs thrive in the good times and recover after disruptions.

In lieu of a “one size fits all” approach with specific objectives to which each community must align, ROI reflects community priorities and acknowledges that the best people to determine the right approach for a community are the residents themselves.

This RFGA is expected to result in the selection of a cohort of ROI grant recipient communities for the 2023-25 biennium. In addition to grant funding for their projects, ROI grant recipients will have access to a consultant to help augment local capacity and engage in peer learning opportunities with other ROI grant recipients.

Grant recipients will have until June 30, 2025, to implement their

projects. This RFGA will close on October 27, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. PDT. An evaluation committee comprised of internal and external stakeholders will review applications and make funding recommendations with Notices of Intent to Award expected by December 15, 2023.

For more information on Business Oregon’s ROI Grant Program, visit https://www.oregon.gov/biz/.

Business Oregon, the state's economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at biz.oregon.gov.

By Business Oregon

state agency

Ninja Mountain Bike Performance Taps Into Klamath IDEA Resource Network

Ninja Mountain Bike Performance was formed in 2010 by thenprofessional mountain bike racer, Richard La China. He used the knowledge acquired over his many years of racing to offer mountain biking skills clinics and help other riders feel stronger and more controlled on their bikes. The skills clinics became very popular, and demand quickly grew. In the years since, Ninja Mountain Bike Performance has become the largest mountain bike skills instruction

company in North America. They offer more than 1,000 clinics annually across the United States —training riders of any ability, from beginners looking to gain confidence to experienced riders ready to tackle advanced technical terrain.

In 2018, Richard and his fiancé Hannah moved Ninja Mountain Bike Performance from Southern California to Chiloquin, Oregon. At the time, the company still employed just Richard and Hannah, plus a

network of contractors across the US to lead the skills clinics. One of Ninja's most popular clinics was (and still is) a half-day jumping clinic where riders learn how to safely jump their mountain bike. To help teach riders to jump, Ninja uses several different styles of jump ramps. Inevitably, at the end of every clinic, students would ask where they could purchase these ramps so they could continue practicing and developing their skills. In response, Ninja entered a private label agreement with a European

manufacturer and began importing a line of mountain bike jump ramps. In 2021, Ninja began selling this line of ramps online. Like the clinics, the ramps quickly grew in popularity, but as sales increased, the supply chain became more and more unreliable through the COVID-19 pandemic. Richard decided it was necessary to bring the manufacturing in house, and Ninja started designing and engineering their own line of jump ramps and accessories.

Manufacturing was a new endeavor for Richard and Hannah, and they were relatively new to southern Oregon. They were not aware of what resources were available in the area to help them, but fortunately Ninja Mountain Bike and Klamath IDEA, a member of Business Oregon's ROI community, found each other. With that start, Klamath IDEA was able to connect Ninja Mountain Bike

with other resource providers that soon resulted in a lease agreement that allowed them to begin manufacturing ramps.

“We were first connected with Larry Holzgang from Business Oregon through Klamath IDEA," Hannah said, adding that she knew his “wealth of knowledge, connections and resources was going to be a huge asset for our company. [...] In the year since we first connected, Klamath IDEA, the Klamath SBDC office and Business Oregon have been instrumental in connecting Ninja with the resources we've needed to sustainably grow and scale our business."

The initial lease arrangement was short term, and as it neared time for renewal, it was again time to reassess their plans for manufacturing the ramps. With the growing demand for ramps, Ninja Mountain Bikes realized the existing building and equipment were not going to keep up. They

needed a larger facility and higher capacity CNC routers to meet demand for the ramps. Richard found a suitable building in Klamath Falls to purchase, and he acquired new CNC production equipment through a lease. However, the building still needed upgrades to accommodate manufacturing, and the combined cost of everything was stretching the company's working capital beyond comfort. Business Oregon was able to bring some relief by helping to upgrade the electrical system through the Small Business Sustainability Fund.

Ninja Mountain Bike Performance has grown from two employees in 2021 to nine employees— primarily due to manufacturing the ramps in house. The company's revenue is also growing exponentially. Although the transition has been a little stressful, onshoring the production of the ramps has proven to be successful for Ninja Mountain Bike Performance and great for the community as a whole.

“We are incredibly excited to expand our operations in Klamath Falls with our own manufacturing equipment and facility," said Richard. “Klamath Falls has proven to be a wonderful place to grow our business, and we are committed to helping create more jobs locally and support the growth of Oregon's economy."

By Press Release – September 8,

2023

https://news.sou.edu/2023/09/new-solar-arrays-movesou-toward-energy-self-sufficiency/

New solar arrays move SOU toward energy selfsufficiency

Southern Oregon University is taking big strides toward becoming the first public university in the U.S. to produce all of the daytime electricity used on its campus, with a $1.56 million contract signed this month to install new solar arrays and a battery storage facility, and onsite construction work set to begin this winter.

The new installations on Lithia Motors Pavilion and The Hawk Dining Commons will increase SOU’s photovoltaic output by 86

percent – from the current 455 kilowatts to a total of 848 kilowatts.

The two new solar facilities, combined with nine existing arrays, will enable the university to generate just over 12 percent of the electricity it uses. The contract with Ashland’s True South Solar also includes a battery storage bank that will be built adjacent to The Hawk, enabling SOU to support community resilience by providing power in The Hawk, if

needed, in the event of an emergency.

“This is truly a monumental step toward our goal of energy selfsufficiency,” SOU President Rick Bailey said. “We have spent much of the past year working with state and federal lawmakers to identify and secure funding for these projects – and that work will continue. But now we will begin to enjoy some of the fruits of our labors.

“These projects not only demonstrate our commitment to sustainability, but our eventual energy independence will save us at least $750,000 per year in utility costs. Each new array that we bring online will immediately start reducing that overall energy bill.”

The university anticipates generating 100 percent of its own electricity by 2033, and is already planning subsequent rounds of solar expansion. Another project whose contract has not yet been awarded – the first of several SOU arrays that will be built on parking lot structures – will add 340 kilowatts of generating capacity and bring the university to nearly 17 percent of its overall electricity usage.

SOU has been awarded $1 million in each of the past two years from the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program and received a $2 million appropriation from Congress last December. That total of $4 million in state and federal funding will pay for the lion’s share of work under the current contract, and for the initial parking lot array. The Student “Green Tag Fee” – an assessment of $13 per student each term, approved in a student vote several years ago – is also contributing $51,000 toward the cost of the current project, demonstrating student support for SOU’s generation of renewable energy.

“The campus-wide support for sustainability initiatives – in particular, our conversion to solar power – has been

overwhelming,” SOU Sustainability Director Becs Walker said. “Students, faculty and staff are helping in whatever ways they can as we ramp up our efforts and transition to renewable energy.

“This entire process is valuable, with many learning opportunities for those who choose to become directly involved.”

True South Solar and its subcontractor, Welburn Electric of Phoenix, began design work for the current phase of solar expansion immediately after the contract with SOU was signed on Sept. 1. Drawings, specifications and permit work will take a couple of months, and orders for solar and battery storage equipment will extend into the winter months before site work begins.

The Lithia Motors Pavilion solar array is expected to be completed in early 2024, and the morecomplex solar array and battery storage project at The Hawk Dining Commons is scheduled for completion by the fall of 2024.

Solar energy production is one of the initiatives that SOU is currently pursuing in its effort to be more entrepreneurial in its approach to revenue generation. Achieving the energy-independence goal will also contribute to a reduction in SOU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

SOU currently has nine solar arrays on campus, plus an array at the Higher Education Center in Medford and a pole-mounted array installed last year by a

nonprofit on land leased from the university. SOU has added five arrays over the past three years, with funding by private investors, grants, the student government and university administration.

SOU will continue to implement energy conservation and energy efficiency measures as it increases its solar power production. For instance, The Hawk Dining Commons and McLoughlin Residence Hall each have solar hot water systems installed to augment their natural gas domestic water heating, and the campus has three net-zero buildings – they create as much or more energy than they use.

The university is also a partner in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Climate Challenge, which supports SOU’s 2033 goals to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent from a 2018 baseline, and to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent from a 2022 baseline. Visit sou.edu.

Kroger, the parent company of Fred Meyer and QFC, is set to acquire Albertsons for $24.6 billion 1 . The merger would result in a “moderate concentration” of Oregon’s retail prescription drug market, with Kroger commanding nearly 30% and its nearest competitor holding 13% 2 . However, the merger could have a significant impact on Oregon’s population, particularly in rural areas, as Kroger would control nearly 30% of the state’s retail prescription drug market 2 .

The Oregon Health Authority has released an analysis that found that Kroger and Albertsons operate more than 150 retail pharmacies spread across 29 counties in Oregon that make up nearly 99% of the state’s population 2. If Kroger successfully purchases Albertsons, it could control nearly 30% of Oregon’s retail prescription drug market, which could have a significant impact on the state’s population 2 .

The merger would be the latest in an increasingly consolidated health care services market in Oregon and nationally. It would also come

Kroger-Albertsons merger and its impact on Oregon

as the number of retail pharmacies have dwindled in recent years, sparking particular concern about access in rural Oregon 2 .

However, there are concerns about the lack of clarity about which stores will be closed as part of the merger. Albertsons sold 146 Haggen supermarket stores after acquiring Safety in 2014. Haggen later filed for bankruptcy and blamed the merger for its demise 2 .

Kroger has not identified which stores it will sell or shut down. But both companies have indicated that “the purpose of the transaction is to create a more competitive combined company” and Kroger has stated “it has no plans to reduce health care or pharmacy services in Oregon,” according to the analysis 2 .

In conclusion, if Kroger successfully purchases Albertsons, it could control nearly 30% of Oregon’s retail prescription drug market. The merger would result in a “moderate concentration” of Oregon’s retail prescription drug market, with Kroger commanding nearly 30%, and its nearest competitor holding 13%. The merger would be the

latest in an increasingly consolidated health care services market in Oregon and nationally. It would also come as the number of retail pharmacies have dwindled in recent years, sparking particular concern about access in rural Oregon. However, there are concerns about the lack of clarity about which stores will be closed as part of the merger.

1. https://ir.kroger.com/ CorporateProfile/press-releases/ press-release/2022/Kroger-andAlbertsons-CompaniesAnnounce-Definitive-MergerAgreement/default.aspx

2. https://www.thelundreport.org/ content/kroger-albertsonmerger-could-impact-oregonpharmacy-access

3. https://www.kgw.com/article/ money/business/oregonsupporting-washington-lawsuitalbertsons-kroger/ 283-77f44205-7af8-42b1-af47fdf526a1fc7e

4. https:// www.businessinsider.com/howkroger-albertsons-mergerimpact-workers-shoppersgrocery-inflation-2022-11

5. https://journalrecord.com/ 2023/09/11/kroger-albertsonssell-hundreds-of-stores-in-bid-toclear-merger/

By Press Release

September 6, 2023

Dutch Bros Inc. Announces Proposed Public Offering of Class A Common Stock

https://investors.dutchbros.com/news/news-details/2023/Dutch-Bros-Inc.-Announces-Proposed-Public-Offering-of-Class-A-Common-Stock/default.aspx

Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS; “Dutch Bros”) today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering of $300 million of shares of its Class A Common Stock. In addition, Dutch Bros expects to grant the underwriters a 30day option to purchase up to an additional $45 million of shares of its Class A Common Stock. The proposed offering is subject to market and other conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the proposed offering may be completed, or the actual size or terms of the proposed offering.

BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Jefferies LLC are acting as lead bookrunning managers for the proposed offering.

The proposed offering is being made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was filed by Dutch Bros with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) today and automatically became effective upon filing. A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the

terms of the offering have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, when available, may be obtained by contacting BofA Securities by email at dg.prospectus_requests@b ofa.com (or via mail at BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department),

J. P. Morgan Securities LLC at (866) 803 803-9204 or by email at pros pectuseq_fi@jpmorganch ase.com, or Jefferies LLC at (877) 821 821-7388 or by email at Prospectus_Department@Je fferies.com. The final terms of any offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement.

Dutch Bros Inc. Announces Pricing of $300 Million Offering of Class A Common Stock

September 7, 2023

“Dutch Bros”) today announced the pricing of an underwritten offering of 11,538,461 shares of its Class

A Common Stock at a price to the public of $26.00 per share. The gross proceeds from this offering are expected to be approximately $300 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses payable by Dutch Bros, and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. The offering is expected to close on or about September 12, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Dutch Bros Inc.

Dutch Bros Inc. is a high growth operator and franchisor of drive-thru shops that focus on serving high QUALITY, hand-crafted beverages with unparalleled SPEED and superior SERVICE. Founded in 1992 by brothers Dane and Travis Boersma, Dutch Bros began with a double-head espresso machine and a pushcart in Grants Pass, Oregon. While espresso-based beverages are still at the core of what we do, Dutch Bros now offers a wide variety of unique, customizable cold and hot beverages that delight a broad array of customers. We believe Dutch Bros is more than just the products we serve—we are dedicated to making a massive difference in the lives of our employees, customers and communities.

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By Marshall Doak, SOU SBDC Director

From startups to large corporations, when a business wants to expand - whether it be new products or markets or increasing the volume of business transactions - capital is needed to fund that expansion. Expansions always occur in advance of the increased revenues and profits used to pay for the expansions. This brings us to two questions which are: Where and how does a business obtain the needed capital to enable it to expand?

Happily Stable

First, there is nothing wrong with owning and operating a lifestyle business. Having the business pay its bills, employ a few people, and give the owner / operator an income is a great thing. If it endures over several years, it can be a contributor to the community in tangible ways, which is also a great thing to accomplish. If the goal is to move the business from this maintenance level to one that not only generously compensates the owner for their work, but also generates a return on investment to the owner, then expansion will be

Let’s Talk Lending and Debt Financing

needed for this to occur. This requires additional capital investment(s) into the business to scale it up.

Taking the plunge

Where would a small business (revenues < $2 million dollars annually) look for modest amounts of expansion capital? Depending on your company structure, your resources and availability of capital will vary. The first place to look is the current investor / ownership mix. Committed investors who understand your business are always the best bet. If there are partnership problems, then these need to be dealt with prior to a call for a round of increased funding. This is equity or ownership funding, separate from the debt financing we are discussing in this article.

Outside of your company, the best financing (debt) sources are your commercial bankers. Through business operations, you have established relationships that can be leveraged for funding purposes. You must qualify under the bank’s or credit union’s lending standards and amounts, but these institutions

are in business for this purpose. The Small Business Administration (SBA) might be brought in as a financial backer to the lending institution so that the risk to the lender is reduced to enable the deal to happen. All of the documentation, collateral, cash inputs and personal guarantees from the company’s ownership are needed in order to seal the deal. The business must demonstrate, through projections, that the cash flow of the increased-sized operation will suffice to be available to pay the loan. Know that both fixed and variable rates are commonly available and up-front fees are also assessed during the application process.

If your bank turns you down, all is not lost as other sources of financing become available. These are either private investors, state or federal funding opportunities, regional economic development funds, or a combination of these sources. In general, these sources will require all the documentation you would give a commercial bank, oftentimes carry a little

higher interest rate, but are allowed to take on a little more risk than a commercial source might be able to accept.

Failing to acquire funding at this level can oftentimes end the hunt for finding monetary resources. There may still be options available at high cost or with difficult repayment options, so if you are in this situation, it will pay for you to work with a trusted adviser for obtaining funds when you reach the near-desperation area emotionally.

continue building and expanding your business. Many kinds of business metrics are measured and compared against peer businesses to help make that determination.

The banking and lending communities are well aware of these benchmarks and use them to rate your business risk and the chances it will create the revenues needed to service increased debt. This all happens before a lending decision is made.

It is typical in this stage of business development that the commercial banking relationships that have been established over time are one of the top reasons businesses continue and not fail during this stage of growth.

Preparing for the Journey Towards Debt Financing

General principles apply to business operations regardless of what stage a business is currently operating in. The best businesses are run on systems that are repeatable, predictable, efficient and minimize the waste of time and other resources.

As business needs change, for example making an initial hire or staging your business for sale, even preparing financials for a corporate Board, all have attributes in common. One overriding question to focus on this is: Are you maximizing your Value Proposition? If you are, the great! You have a better chance of obtaining the capital you need in order to

As businesses grow, what was a large workload for an individual becomes impossible with a small crew. Additional hiring of employees with specialized skills are needed to properly scale a business. Cash flow monitoring and projecting become critical success areas to pay attention to. Systems and systems integration are driving forces to maintain and increase the value drivers in the company.

A need for increased and diverse markets emerge that need to be successfully developed for business continuity. Commercial banking relationships are especially critical to be maintained and enhanced to keep reserve capital balances healthy and productive.

There are businesses that reach several million dollars in sales and are able to survive without elaborate systems. The Good ‘Old flying-by-theseat-of-the-pants approach has worked for a select few. For a while perhaps. Then it is not unusual to hear of a disaster or legal problem elevate to wipe out substantial value in that business.

On occasion, an issue will envelop an established business and wipe it out right before an entrepreneur wants to retire and cash out.

Even at the end stage of a business’s lifecycle, keeping an eye as to what the financials tell you, and keeping the banking relationships secure will enable the transfer of the business at the end to be successful, and return the value of the many years of investments into expansions back to the owners.

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By Jason Payton Occupational Economist Oregon Employment Department https://www.qualityinfo.org/-/2023-oregon-wage-information

2023 Oregon Wage Information

Understanding how your take home pay compares with others in your field, or someone in a different career, is vitally important. It can inform you about how your work is being valued, and whether you may want to pursue more lucrative career options in the future. Likewise, hiring

employers benefit from knowing the range of wages paid to workers in positions similar to those they are looking to hire, in their area of the state. Thanks to survey responses from employers around the state, the Oregon Employment Department publishes wage estimates for over 750

occupations, as well as hundreds of occupations in every region of the state. The 2023 version of Occupational Wage Information is now available.

The annual average wage for all occupations in Oregon was $64,835 in 2023, or $31.17 per hour. Of the occupations with

published data, taxi drivers had the lowest average wage of $14.72 per hour. Obstetricians and gynecologists had the highest average wage ($159.43 per hour). Medical specialists like obstetricians and gynecologists have such a high average wage because it take many years of education and experience in order to perform that level of work.

The cost of living, mix of industries, and available workforce can be different across the state. We may see a higher number of software engineers and folks working in corporate headquarters in Portland, while natural resource jobs may be more concentrated in rural communities, and leisure and hospitality jobs focused near the coast. Wage estimates reflect these differences. The average hourly wage for Multnomah and

Washington counties (the Portland-Metro region) was $34.80, and Clackamas County came in at $32.30 in 2023. Jobs in Eastern Oregon ($25.63) and Southwestern Oregon ($25.49) had lower average wages than jobs around the Portland tricounty area.

Looking at average wages is not enough to understand the whole story around the pay for different careers. Looking at average wages is a lot like trying to assemble a Lego® race car by looking at the box art. You can get a sense of the race car’s design and where some of the wheels go, but without looking at the pieces you are working with or the instructions you may have a hard time putting all the pieces together. Looking at wage ranges gives a more complete blueprint of how workers are paid when they start a career, or

how that may change with more experience.

We provide wage ranges by publishing a series of percentiles for each occupation. A percentile wage shows the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. In most cases, wages in the 10th or 25th percentile likely reflect workers just entering a career, or who have less education attainment than others performing similar work. To better our understanding of wage ranges let’s look at the wages for some engineering occupations in Oregon.

Engineers make a career out of playing with Lego® blocks in the real world. Mechanical engineers can design the next generation of race cars. Engineering technicians may work with

engineers to make sure new designs can be built and manufactured, while material engineers may work on what that new car will be made of. The wage ranges for these engineering careers typically show higher wages being paid to those positions with higher education requirements, and experience.

According to the U.S. Census, most engineering technicians in Oregon have some postsecondary education or an Associate’s degree. The majority of mechanical engineers have a Bachelor’s degree, while material engineers typically have some kind of advanced degree. With the wage range estimates we can

see that most mechanical and material engineers are paid more than almost all mechanical engineering technicians or technologists.

Wages can also be different based on who is employing the engineer. According to estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, mechanical engineers working for engineering firms providing scientific research and development services typically earn a higher entry-level 10th percentile wage ($37.71) than those employed by machinery manufacturers ($29.88), and transportation equipment manufacturers ($29.72). The median wage for all three industries is very similar, but

engineering services do pay mechanical engineers in the 90th percentile a higher wage ($69.07) than the other two. This may indicate that these engineering firms may have a higher education requirement, or expect applicants to have more industry experience before applying.

Occupational wage information allows us to better understand what people get paid for the work they do, and how that may differ across the state. To get additional wage estimates for hundreds of careers please visit QualityInfo.org.

Southern Oregon Business Journal 5350 HWY 66, Ashland, OR. 97520 www.southernoregonbusiness.com

AFTER WE UPGRADED OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM, THE SAVINGS CAME BY THE BUSHEL.

Too little water isn’t good for the apples. Too much wasted water isn’t good for the apple grower. That’s why we looked to Energy Trust of Oregon to guide us on the installation of a new, more efficient irrigation system. Happy apples. Happy us. See how they can help your business at energytrust.org/for - business.