Business Oregon

Business Oregon awarded $7.6 million in Economic Equity Investment Program (EEIP) grants to 33 organizations across the state! EEIP grants support culturally responsive organizations that provide assistance to eligible beneficiaries in an effort to advance economic equity. More: https://lnkd.in/gZ5agfJ7

Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced that it has approved Oregon’s initial funding award of $9,947,586.17 under the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program to implement the digital inclusion initiatives outlined in the State Digital Equity Plan. Digital equity and inclusion investments will reach all corners of the state, providing online safety and privacy training, including cybersecurity, as part of digital skills training conducted by selected partners. Initiatives will also encourage the adoption of low-cost internet service options and increase access to affordable computing devices and technical support. More: https://lnkd.in/gXzA3gCU #Oregonbroadband4all

Continuing our Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration, Business Oregon recognizes Wise Eyes Renovations! Alyssea J. Cephas (pictured) is the founder of Wise Eyes Renovations. With numerous certifications and extensive training, Alyssea has built Wise Eyes Renovations on a foundation of expertise. Wise Eyes Renovations received support from Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), a recipient of Business Oregon funding. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gN2PAp9E

Please join the Oregon Broadband Office on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, for a Fireside Chat: After the Build: Digital Equity and Affordable Internet   Join Representative Pam Marsh, Rebecca Brown, Senior Director, Community Impact, at Comcast, and Juan Muro, Director, Free Geek for a discussion of the post-infrastructure phase of broadband technology on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 11AM PST. Moderated by Leina Gonzalez Baird, Digital Equity Program Coordinator, in the Oregon Broadband Office.   Registration link: https://lnkd.in/gndfB3Jf   The Oregon Broadband Office is committed to inclusive digital spaces and communications. We encourage you to contact us 72 hours before the webinar to request language access, live captioning, ASL interpretation services, or other communication support services.    If you have questions or a request for services, please contact Leina Gonzalez Baird, Digital Equity Program Coordinator, at Leina.Gonzalez-Baird@biz.oregon.gov

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Business Oregon recognizes all of the entrepreneurs showcased at Pitch Latino! Pitch Latino took place last month and is a signature event of Latino Founders that brings together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and community leaders to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit within the Latino community. The presenting businesses represented the best of Latino entrepreneurship, from education and renewable energy to childcare, fiber arts, and residential services. Each entrepreneur had 5 minutes to pitch their innovative ideas in front of a live audience, competing for the chance to win grant funding and receive valuable feedback to help elevate their businesses while networking with community members, city officials, and business leaders in the community. It was an inspiring event, and we can't wait to see these amazing businesses grow. Diana Lainez, founder of Ocata, a Salvadoran-inspired creamy sauce company, won the grand prize: https://lnkd.in/gmc7zASG

Continuing our Global Entrepreneurship Week celebration, we encourage you to do what you love – in Oregon! Our state is home to many innovative entrepreneurs and Oregon is a great place to start or grow your business. Watch this short video to help us celebrate the many wonderful Oregon-based businesses and our workforce doing what they love, in Oregon. Video: https://lnkd.in/dj3V8M9D

Business Oregon loves supporting local startups! In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, we recognize Soulful PDX. They were able to launch their new storefront through financing from our Entrepreneurial Development Loan Fund (EDLF). Due to the startup nature of the business, Soulful PDX was limited in its options for access to traditional financing. The EDLF program allowed the owner of Soulful PDX to purchase required inventory and complete the build-out of their retail space. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gqRiv496

Happy National Take a Hike Day! 🥾🌲 We encourage you to get out and explore the many mountain ranges, national forests, rocky coasts, crashing waterfalls, and high desert that Oregon has to offer. Travel Oregon offers great advice and suggestions for overnight camping, day hiking, walking, and multi-day backpacking! There are hundreds of hikes waiting for you in the great Oregon outdoors. Visit this link for help planning your next hike: https://lnkd.in/gfdwAznb

Get a 360-view of the important issues, challenges, and opportunities on the horizon for businesses right now and into the future at the Bend Chamber's 2024 Impact Conference! Senator Ron Wyden will be providing a special message to the attendees and Business Oregon Economist Damon Runberg will speak about the latest in economic updates for the region. Register today: https://lnkd.in/gNhS5v9e

November is Native American Heritage Month, and Business Oregon honors the rich traditions, achievements, and enduring legacy of Indigenous communities across Oregon and the United States. This month provides us with an opportunity to reflect and deepen our understanding on the cultural heritage and economic impact of Tribal communities who have shaped Oregon’s history, environment, and economy. One organization to highlight is the Northwest Native Chamber, serving Native entrepreneurs not just in Oregon, but now throughout the Northwest. The organization provides a variety of culturally specific services and programming for businesses at nearly every stage of their business growth. More on the chamber and the no-cost services they can provide at https://nwnc.org/