Southern Oregon Business Journal - March 2024 Issue

By Jim Teece JimTeece.com

Solar, Innovation, Innovators & More

The Southern Oregon Business Journal tells all

Did you know that the 2nd Friday of March is Solar Appreciation Day?

I didn’t either.

I use solar energy every day to keep a couple of my towers alive, so I’m a big fan.

I love innovation and innovators and have written several times over the years about Stracker and Jeff Sharpe, the Ashland based Solar Engineer that invented the super cool, small footprint, multi-axis solar system that follows the sun for maximum efficiency.

Chris Cook writes about Stracker’s growth in this month's cover story.

They now have over 50 installations and hopes of growing into a national manufacturer of very cool technology.

Read the cover story at https:// southernoregonbusiness.com/ ashland-company-opens-newpossibilities-for-solar-energy/

Since last months change from “print” version to online only, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and exciting.

I received over 30 new subscribers in one day breaking a record set last year of 25. Advertisers reached out and re-upped.

People stopped me at events, meetings, and in the grocery store to say that they were excited about the change.

Change is hard and scary for any business and I’m glad this change hasn’t had too much of a negative effect.

Some readers check in randomly to find what’s new and others will wait until they receive the email prompting

them to read everything new in one sitting.

There is no right way to read the journal. It’s a mix of stories about local businesses, government press releases and relevant and inspiring stories for future, current and past business leaders.

I try to spread the news around Southern Oregon but sometimes there is so much going on in Jackson County that it feels somewhat focused on our county. That isn’t intentional. At least I try not to make it intentional.

In this “issue” you will find stories posted throughout the

month of March, 2024 from Klamath, Coos, Lane, Douglas, Josephine and Jackson Counties.

As I read them I worry less about place and more about what can we do where I live that mimics, supports or enhances the story.

The state awarded 14 very innovative companies grants. 9 out of the 14 were Portland Metro based, 3 were Eugene based and rounding out the list was 1 each from Philomath and Bend. https:// southernoregonbusiness.com/ business-oregon-awardsmatching-grants-to-support-

business-growth-and-

How do we get more innovative companies outside of Portland and/or in Southern Oregon? That’s the subject of future issues. Watch this space.

In the mean time, enjoy the sun and it’s energy even at night.

Thanks for reading.

Jim Teece, Publisher of the SOBJ.

SouthernOregonBusinessJournal.com

Take Charge Of Your Power

Does it bother

You really have no control over the price of your power or where it comes from.

Frustrating, right? It doesn’t have to be that way!

We have all the energy we need, right here in Southern Oregon. Let’s put it to good use. Harness the power of the sun right on your roof, and be ready when the next power outage comes.

Take charge. Call us today to fnd out how to power your life.

We are your local energy experts.

Eugene Branch

360

333

Ashland Branch

1500

Albany Branch 185

Grants

509

Jacksonville

Lebanon Branch

1495

Medford

1528

1311

Central

1017

Klamath

210

By Jim Teece SouthernOregonBusiness.com

Commonwealth Development Corporation And Wnc & Associates Announce Development Of Affordable Housing Community In Phoenix, Ore.

The new development will provide 72 units of affordable housing to area recovering from the 2020 Almeda Fire By Press Release – March 26, 2024 Commonwealth Development Corporation, one of the nation’s largest, majority woman-owned, affordable housing development companies, and WNC & Associates, a family-owned business known as both a…

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Business Oregon Awards Matching Grants to Support Business Growth and Commercialization

Business Oregon and the Oregon Innovation Council (Oregon InC) are thrilled to announce the recipients of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/SmallBusiness Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching Grant awards. The SBIR and STTR grant programs are federal programs designed to stimulate technological innovation and provide opportunities for small…

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Applications Open for $157 Million Broadband Deployment Program

The Oregon Broadband Office is now accepting applications for grant awards for theBroadband Deployment Program (BDP).

The U.S. Department of the Treasury allocated$156.8 million for Oregon. The sole

March 2024

eligible activity for this program’s funds is the construction and deployment of broadband infrastructure projects that…

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Douglas County’s Per Capita Personal Income Decreased in 2022

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis recently released its 2022 estimates of personal income for substate areas (counties and townships). Personal income includes all forms of income including earnings by place of work, dividends, interest…

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Employment in Jackson County’s Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Industry

The arts, entertainment, and recreation sector includes a wide range of establishments that operate facilities or provide services to meet varied cultural, entertainment, and recreational interests of their patrons. This sector comprises establishments that are involved…

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Wage and Job Growth Across Many Industries

Oregon had 1.98 million people working in jobs covered by the state’s unemployment insurance system during the first quarter of 2023. This was an increase of 21,700, or 1.1%, from the same quarter of the previous year. They earned a total of…

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Health Care Jobs Now and Into the Future

Many industries in the nation are seeing an upward trend in employment as the economic landscape strengthens. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, six out of the 10 fastest-growing industries in the nation from 2022 to 2032…

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Oregon Launches New Online System for Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Frances Online will provide better online customer service for people filing unemployment insurance claims MARCH 6, 2024 (SALEM, ORE.) – The Oregon Employment Department (OED) launched a brand new, easy-to-use online system for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits this week. UI benefits went live through Frances Online on Mon., March 4. “Frances Online is… Read More

Oregon’s Nonfarm Payroll Employment Rises by 4,400 in February

Oregon’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment rose by 4,400 jobs,following a revised loss of 5,700 jobs in January. February’s gains were largest in professional and business services (+1,000 jobs) and in health care and social assistance (+900 jobs).Five other major industries each expanded…

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OREGON AG ROSENBLUM ACTS TO STOP KROGER-ALBERTSONS MERGER

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today joined the Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from across the nation in acting to block the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger. Oregon, the FTC, and the other AGs filed to enjoin the merger in U.S. District…

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Elevating Voices, Changing Lives: zö agency’s Mission to Empower the Changemakers

In an age where societal challenges and inequalities persistently surface, the importance of investing in and nurturing changemakers cannot be overstated. These individuals and organizations drive the engine of positive change, tirelessly working towards a more equitable and compassionate world. The journey towards social progress is a…

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Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Announce Opening of New Three Rivers Health Center

There has long been an identified need for extended mental health and primary health services for the area, and I’m just so happy to see that we’re finally getting this center going for our community.” — Iliana Montiel…

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Upper Klamath Basin Ag Collaborative Awarded $6 Million Grant

Ag Collaborative awarded $6 million federal grant which they will put toward developing agricultural resiliency and restoration in the Upper Klamath Basin. Upper Klamath Basin Ag Collaborative was awarded a $6 million federal grant which they will put toward developing agricultural resiliency and restoration in the Upper Klamath Basin— specifically the…

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LANDMARK INVESTMENT IN ARTS AND CULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE

Foundations join state leaders in sending $52M “love letter” to Oregon arts and culture nonprofits Oregon Shakespeare Festival to net $5 million from the Oregon Community Foundation over next 3 years Arts and culture organizations – still reeling from the pandemic – will seea major infusion of funding over the next…

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Oregon Attorney General Rosenblum Releases List of Top Consumer Complaints of 2023

Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline fielded

11,631 phone calls and 9,076…

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Neuman Hotel Group Announces Sale of Ashland Hills Hotel to BHG Hotels, Managed by COHO Services

Neuman Hotel Group has sold the Ashland Hills Hotel to BHG; COHO Services will manage all three properties and maintain brand synergy in Southern Oregon. ASHLAND, OREGON, USA, March 20, 2024 / EINPresswire.com/ — The Neuman Hotel Group (NHG), an established business with over 23 years of service in Ashland, OR, has sold…

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Ashland Company Opens New Possibilities for Solar Energy

March 23, 2024

Over a Million Dollars Recovered for Consumers who Called DOJ Hotline By Oregon Department of Justice To mark National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today released the Oregon Department of Justice’s (DOJ) list of 2023’s top ten consumer complaints. The

Strackers Provide Maximum Solar Energy with the Smallest Footprint By Chris Cook, Capiche, capiche.us Southern Oregon has vast solar energy potential, and an Ashland-based company is leading the way with an innovative high-tech solution. With an average of nearly 200 days of annual sunshine and high irradiation levels, the climate…

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Southern Oregon Business Journal

5350 HWY 66, Ashland, OR. 97520

www.southernoregonbusiness.com