In a continuing effort to proactively boost economic development in Southern Oregon, Jackson County Government has been working with a growing network of Rogue Valley business and community leaders on a strategic initiative named "Sustainable Valley," designed to seize the economic development opportunities created by the challenges of sustainability. The program is designed to create important, sustainable family wage traded-sector jobs to make Jackson County's economy more resilient for the benefit of the entire Southern Oregon community.
Working closely with established economic development organizations, Sustainable Valley has identified an opportunity to develop a Sustainable Valley Business Accelerator designed to help innovative, sustainable technology startup companies grow and succeed. Its goal is to accomplish this by providing hands-on support, helping get start-ups ?investment ready,? connecting companies to interested investors, and strengthen the branding of Southern Oregon as an attractive place for all manner of sustainable businesses to launch and grow.
Jackson County Government is proposing an investment of $50,000 toward an initial six-month budget of $180,000 in order to yield the following deliverables:
Legal incorporation of Sustainable Valley as a nonprofit organization.
Selection of an initial site for the Sustainable Valley Accelerator and formal launch of the Accelerator.
Production of a more detailed three-year business and financial plan.
Securing of initial startup funding or funding commitments of at least $500,000 for operations and investment purposes. These funds will come from a mix of local, state, federal and private funding sources.
Jackson County and Southern Oregon have proven to be a good home for sustainable product and technology businesses including Amy's Kitchen, Barefoot Motors, Brammo, Upwind Solutions, Sky Research, MotorcycleUSA, Rogue Valley Micro Devices, Plexis Healthcare Systems and many others. Among the reasons these companies have been successful are a central location between the metro areas of Seattle/Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area with ideal logistics on the I-5 corridor, an available and technically educated workforce, access to existing supply chain, quality institutions of higher learning for partnering opportunities, cultural resources, quality of life, a low cost of doing business, and an airport for handling future growth.
"The success of the Accelerator and broader Sustainable Valley vision will diversify our economic base which provides for less volatility and enables better planning for community, government, and education. The success of this initiative will provide our region with a more recognized brand name," said Danny Jordan, Jackson County Administrator.
Mark VonHolle, VP of S&B James Construction Management, SOREDI Board President and The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County Board Member, who initiated the ?Sustainable Valley? economic development initiative, stated: ?The last of 40 sawmills in this region closed in 2009, and the loss of those good family wage traded sector jobs has led Jackson County to be in the bottom three percent for the lowest wages in the U.S. for counties with populations of 75,000 or higher. In addition, the Mail Tribune recently reported nearly one in four citizens in Jackson and Josephine counties are now on food assistance. This is totally unacceptable. We can and must do better!?
"As Sustainability is the new environmental, social, technologic and economic reality of our times, rebranding our region as 'Sustainable Valley' is an idea whose time has come. We can't compromise our airshed and we won't allow the values and culture to be compromised that make Southern Oregon such a great place to live, raise a family and do business. This is a strategic initiative to create meaningful, sustainable, technology-based family wage jobs in order to make our economy more resilient and our community more prosperous," said Dave Gilmour, Jackson County Commissioner.
"This developing strategy has the power to transform our regional economy and provide a pro-active solution to many of the corresponding economic challenges our community and state are facing. The economic multiplier associated with a strong foundation of family wage traded-sector jobs will provide increased opportunities and benefits for all of the other businesses in our community," said Jack Walker, Jackson County Commissioner.
"Creative business leadership will be required to accomplish more efficient use of energy, water and materials, 'green' building products, transportation systems and more sustainably grown food. Companies that provide this leadership can do very well and create excellent jobs for our community. We want to make sure some of those companies are rooted right here," said Dennis C.W. Smith, Jackson County Commissioner.
Sustainable Valley is a public-private partnership to help the local region seize opportunities created by sustainability. The volunteer advisory committee includes business and community leaders. The group plans to organize as a nonprofit charity and establish a for profit Sustainable Valley Business Accelerator to help get targeted companies ready for investment and growth. Business Oregon, The City of Medford, Asante Health System, Lithia Motors and Medford Fabrication are also investing in this initiative with Jackson County.
For more information, please contact Danny Jordan, Jackson County Administrator, at (541) 774-6003.cell phone spy software
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