Quick Reference
1 Top Employers & Industries
14 Telecommunications
3 Wage Information
14 Services
4 Industry Mix
15 Transportation
5
7
7
9
10
17
17
18
18
19
Business Costs
Employment Trends
Housing / Real Estate
Valuations
Population
11 Education
13 Utilities
Travel Distances, Commuting
Topography & Climate
Top 10 Taxpayers
Business Resources
Entrepreneurial Landscape
20 About EDCO
2015 CENTRAL OREGON
PROFILE
Economic Development for Central Oregon
705 SW Bonnett Way, Ste. #1000
Bend, OR. 97702.
www.edcoinfo.com
541.388.3236 | 800.342.4135
WELCOME TO CENTRAL OREGON!
The region encompasses dramatic snow-capped mountain ranges to high desert plateaus within the counties of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson.
Central Oregon has led the state’s population growth over the last two decades; in fact, Deschutes
County is among the fastest growing areas of the country over the past year. A lesser known fact is
that our region has also topped the state in job growth over the past year and over the past ten
years, creating a region that's characterized by dynamic small businesses and entrepreneurial activity. The region boasts strong clusters in high technology (software, hardware and
energy), advanced manufacturing, biosciences, renewable energy, brewing & distilling, and
recreation equipment.
For most new residents, Central Oregon is a lifestyle choice, offering a friendly environment, year round recreation options, and world class amenities—all with the benefits of a
hassle-free, small town feel. From a ranch in Prineville to an upscale urban condo in Bend,
and the range of options in between, the region presents a rare diversity of places to live—
all with an easy commute to work.
For a relocating business, Central Oregon has a reputation for welcoming new companies. The region has some of the lowest operating costs in the Pacific Northwest, without sacrifice in human
talent, quality health care, transportation or telecommunications infrastructure. What sets Central
Oregon apart from other lifestyle cities like Aspen/Vail, CO; Sun Valley, ID; Jackson Hole, WY or
Lake Tahoe is that it’s filled with middle-class working people who are not escaping from the rest of
the world, but building and living their dreams here. Dreams of a quality education for their children. Dreams of launching their own business. Dreams of short commutes and breathtaking landscapes. Dreams of interesting, challenging work without the big-city hassle.
TOP EMPLOYERS & INDUSTRIES
According to the Oregon Employment Department, over 75% of Oregon firms have nine or fewer employees and the average
firm employs 15 people. Recent research released by Dun & Bradstreet and American Express said that 99.1% of businesses in
Oregon were less than $10 million in revenues. To an even greater extent than the state, Central Oregon's business environment is typified by innovative, small companies, producing niche-market products and services.
Still, a number of large employers operate successfully here, tapping into Central Oregon’s ever-expanding workforce, overall low cost of
doing business and business-friendly local governments. Year over year, the region’s Top 50 Private Employers collectively added 1,100
jobs, and thereby employed nearly 20,000 Central Oregonians. Large employers include some distinct groups including:






Advanced Manufacturing
Bioscience (pharmaceuticals, medical device)
Brewing & Distilling (craft beer, cider, spirits, tea)
Building Products (doors, windows, molding, furniture)
High Technology (electronics, software, data centers)
Outdoor Gear & Apparel
Healthcare is led by St. Charles Medical Center, the largest private employer in the region. St. Charles owns and operates hospitals in
Bend, Redmond Madras, and Prineville. Additionally, Bend Memorial Clinic is the largest of nearly 100 private clinics and practices in
the area. Overall, the health care sector employs over 10,000 Central Oregonians.
Headquarter operations play a prominent role among top employers and include Keith Manufacturing, Les Schwab Tires, Bank of the Cascades, Deschutes Brewery, 10 Barrel Brewing and
Administrative/ call centers including Consumer Cellular, IBEX Global and Navis are also among the largest private employers in the
tri-county area
Employment in tourism and hospitality reflects the importance of this sector to the region. Central Oregon has the largest concentration of destination resorts in the Pacific Northwest and includes Riverhouse convention center, Sunriver Resort, Mt. Bachelor, Eagle
Crest (Resort Acquisition Partners), Kah Nee Ta Resort, and Indian Head Casino.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Central Oregon’s Top 50 Private Employers
2014 Rank
2015 Rank
1
3
2
5
4
9
8
6
10
14
7
11
12
13
15
16
18
23
17
20
22
24
26
19
29
21
27
30
28
34
38
25
32
31
33
39
35
36
41
49
37
39
40
N/A
45
47
50
41
48
N/A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
31
33
33
35
35
37
37
39
40
41
42
43
43
45
46
47
48
49
50
Employer
2013
Employees
2014
2015
St. Charles Medical Center regionwide
Sunriver Resort
Les Schwab regionwide (HQ & CO stores)
Bright Wood Corporation regionwide
Mt. Bachelor
McDonald's regionwide
Bend Memorial Clinic regionwide
IBEX
Safeway regionwide
Consumer Cellular
WalMart regionwide
Fred Meyer regionwide
Jeld Wen Windows and Doors
Northview Hotel Group
Opportunity Foundation
Black Butte Ranch
Central Oregon Trucking
PCC Schlosser
Deschutes Brewery
Costco
Bi-Mart regionwide
Bend Research
Lowe's regionwide
BendBroadband (incl. Zolo Media & The Vault)
Mosaic Medical
Bank of the Cascades regionwide
Home Depot regionwide
Contact Industries
Albertson's regionwide
The Center (Ortho/Neuro Care & Research)
Navis
Athletic Club of Bend
The Riverhouse
Kah Nee Ta Resort
Neighbor Impact regionwide
G5
Keith Manufacturing Co.
The Bulletin
MODA
Touchmark at Mt. Bachelor Village LLC
Brasada Ranch
Nosler
Indian Head Casino
Epic Air
Medline Renewal
Hooker Creek Companies
Ray's Food Place regionwide
US Bank regionwide
Praxis Medical Group (formerly High Lakes)
Rebound Physical Therapy
2,848
900
N/A
647
743
518
609
650
557
202
787
510
460
400
406
121
260
242
287
283
238
254
219
285
156
249
226
180
211
193
179
250
193
126
193
121
170
190
165
94
111
N/A
166
N/A
130
150
253
N/A
80
N/A
2,740
900
905
746
756
620
639
700
584
402
686
538
480
450
384
360
286
243
290
280
246
242
229
285
218
259
225
215
218
196
182
240
200
200
196
170
190
190
160
135
187
170
168
N/A
157
150
135
164
101
N/A
2,830
900
880
870
775
668
652
595
590
585
574
528
460
450
392
360
312
305
295
285
265
264
262
261
243
237
235
225
216
213
211
200
200
200
196
192
190
190
180
178
172
170
168
160
153
150
143
126
119
110
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
WAGES INFORMATION FOR SELECT OCCUPATIONS
Below are average hourly wages in Oregon, Washington, and California. Central Oregon wages are typically below those of Oregon,
often 10 to 20%. Wages in Washington are typically higher than Oregon while California wages routinely run at least 20% higher
than those in Oregon:
Occupation
Wage Comparison for Selected Occupations
(annual average, $ per hour)
OR
Central OR
CA
WA
Accountant/Auditor
31.05
30.89
37.50
33.26
Architect, except Landscape & Naval
35.01
37.38
45.31
36.02
Carpenter
21.25
21.90
26.88
24.04
Chef & Head Cook
18.80
18.95
23.03
22.86
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologist
34.63
29.62
39.13
33.29
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operator
19.10
18.92
19.09
33.16
Computer Programmer
35.39
38.70
43.51
54.15
Computer User Support Specialist
22.76
23.20
28.25
27.58
Computer Systems Analyst
40.33
34.96
44.95
45.93
Customer Service Representative
16.75
14.35
19.14
17.70
Dental Hygienist
38.83
36.50
45.68
45.04
Electrician
33.24
26.77
30.97
30.48
Electrical Engineer
40.55
28.56
54.53
47.80
Financial Manager
51.61
53.54
67.73
56.45
Food Service Manager
22.62
22.14
25.40
24.67
General & Operations Manager
46.94
41.29
60.66
58.61
Graphic Designer
22.90
20.68
27.76
26.63
Industrial Machinery Mechanic
26.32
25.32
27.53
27.71
Industrial Production Manager
44.08
40.31
52.44
49.34
Landscape Architect
31.58
n/a
39.54
30.83
Marketing Manager
47.58
34.88
74.20
65.64
Mechanical Engineer
40.13
33.37
47.58
44.21
Medical Transcriptionist
18.51
18.74
21.48
17.69
Middle School Teacher, except Special Ed
27.20
24.67
32.78
29.37
Multimedia Artist & Animator
30.18
n/a
42.88
37.40
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
33.18
32.66
41.62
39.12
Paralegal
27.61
24.23
29.22
26.12
Physical Therapist
38.42
35.48
44.42
40.21
Police/Sheriff Patrol Officer
30.04
30.10
41.69
34.22
Receptionist
13.43
12.79
14.57
14.85
Registered Nurse
39.17
39.13
47.17
37.17
Secretary/Administrative Assistant, except Legal, Medical, & Executive
16.74
15.26
18.62
18.45
Software Developer, Applications
42.79
36.08
54.56
54.18
Software Developer, Systems Software
48.42
n/a
57.97
53.32
Supervisor, Administrative & Office Workers
24.44
23.78
28.26
27.15
Supervisor, Retail Sales Workers
18.58
19.39
21.48
21.87
Truck Driver, Heavy & Tractor-Trailer
19.14
19.06
20.78
20.95
Urban/Regional Planner
37.53
41.39
39.36
35.70
Sources: Oregon Employment Department, Washington State Employment Security Department, and California Employment Development Department. The data used to create these estimates came from the Occupational Employment Survey. Data is for Q1 2014 – the
most recent data available.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Covered employment & payroll
Below are the employment by sector, payroll, and average annual pay in the tri-county region. Average annual pay is the total of
all covered wages paid during the year divided by the monthly average number of covered jobs during the year.
Covered employment refers to jobs that are eligible for unemployment insurance, so it is a good barometer of wage and sector
trends. Note that while most employees are covered, notable exceptions include the self-employed, those who work solely on
commission, and some agricultural workers.
Deschutes County
Industry
Total private coverage
Em ployees
58,758 $ 2,224,607,870
Nat. resources & mining
Crook County
Payroll Avg. Pay Em ployees
$ 37,860
Jefferson County
Payroll Avg. Pay Em ployees
4,612 $ 187,137,202 $ 40,576
Central Oregon
Payroll Avg. Pay Em ployees
3,920 $ 125,377,351 $ 31,984
Payroll
Avg. Pay
67,290 $ 2,537,122,423 $37,704.30
479
20,471,603
42,738
213
7,589,601
35,631
455
14,267,978
31,358
1,147
42,329,182
36,904
Construction
4,311
182,547,329
42,344
244
11,321,832
46,400
68
2,177,329
32,019
4,623
196,046,490
42,407
Manufacturing
4,475
188,139,276
42,042
786
29,577,894
37,630
1,007
40,079,066
39,800
6,268
257,796,236
41,129
Wholesale trade
1,734
91,051,334
52,509
653
40,796,774
62,475
146
6,029,845
41,300
2,533
137,877,953
54,433
Retail trade
9,823
274,714,335
27,966
517
12,228,500
23,652
545
12,466,882
22,875
10,885
299,409,717
27,507
Transp., w arehouse & util.
1,456
71,044,832
48,794
315
14,441,810
45,847
117
7,157,895
61,178
1,888
92,644,537
49,070
Information
1,470
78,194,207
53,193
75
16,590,718
221,209
24
654,513
27,271
1,569
95,439,438
60,828
Financial activities
3,189
165,453,962
51,882
115
4,101,448
35,664
107
3,969,933
37,102
3,411
173,525,343
50,872
Professional & bus. svcs
7,701
323,163,536
41,963
294
10,463,016
35,588
145
4,824,229
33,270
8,140
338,450,781
41,579
Education & health svcs
10,956
554,999,782
50,657
573
23,610,022
41,204
530
21,496,450
40,559
12,059
600,106,254
49,764
Leisure and hospitality
10,593
200,013,067
18,881
579
10,770,054
18,601
557
8,361,929
15,012
11,729
219,145,050
18,684
Other services
2,565
74,651,441
29,103
242
5,645,533
23,328
214
3,891,302
18,183
3,021
84,188,276
27,868
Total all government
8,690
408,577,230
47,016
1,247
56,445,038
45,264
2,442
96,960,309
39,705
12,379
561,982,577
45,398
67,448 $2,633,185,100
$39,040
5,860 $243,582,240
$41,566
6,362 $222,337,660
$34,947
79,670 $3,099,105,000
$38,899
Total all ow nerships
INDUSTRY MIX
Central Oregon has an ever-more diverse mix of industries that create the employment foundation for the regional economy.
For example, in 2007, construction accounted for more than 11% of total payroll, while today it is much closer to national averages. A large slice of the overall pie, government, has seen its share of payroll disperse to other sectors such as education and
health services (the fastest growing sector). Information, which includes software, IT services, and data centers, has grown by
30% over the past decade. Tourism (leisure and hospitality) has also seen gains in the past 10 years.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
BUSINESS COSTS
Oregon has achieved national status for being a cost competitive location for business. The table below compares the cost of doing
business in Oregon, Washington, and California. Major contributing factors to the Oregon advantage are no sales tax, no inventory tax, an affordable property tax system, and affordable labor costs. Average industrial, commercial, and residential power
costs are nearly half those in California and on average 25% below national averages.
BUSINESS COST COMPARISON – U.S. West Coast
Business Factor
Oregon
California
Washington
Average Industrial Electricity Rate (Jan. 2015; ¢/kWh)
5.78¢
10.74¢
4.21¢
Average Industrial Rate for Natural Gas (Jan. 2015, $/kcf)
$6.79
$7.68
$9.14
Average Annual Wage for Production Worker (Q1, 2014)
$35,820
$34,580
$41,020
Base Unemployment Insurance, range of rates (As of July 1, 2014)
State Unemployment Insurance Tax Rates (As of July 1, 2014)
1.8 – 5.4%
(base: $35,000)
2.2%
5.4%
1.5 – 6.2%
(base: $7,000)
1.3%
5.4%
0.17 – 5.84%
(base: $41,300)
.0%
5.4%
$5,449
$5,581
$5,690
$1.37
$3.48
$2.00
1.0% ($0)
13.3% ($1,000,000)
None
8.84%
None
Sales or Use Taxes on Construction Costs (FY 2013)
5.0% ($0)
9.9% ($125,000)
6.6% ($0)
7.6% (>$1M)
None
None
None
None
None
None
7.5%
(Average) 0.91%
8.41%
4.07%
0.484%
6.5%
(Average) 2.38%
8.88%
8.87%
State Sales Tax Collections Per Capita (July 1, 2014)
$0
$889
$1,604
Excise tax
Other taxes
Total
State & Local Tax Burden Per Capita (2011; U.S. Average = $4,217)
30¢
1.07¢
31.07¢
$3,861
36¢
9.39¢
45.39¢
$5,136
37.5¢
0.0¢
37.5¢
$4,366
State Tax Collection Per Capita (2013; U.S. Average = $2,689)
Real Estate Transfer Tax
$2,340
None
$3,490
0.110%
$2,692
0.128%
Minimum
Maximum
Average Annual Premium for Employer Sponsored Single Person Health Insurance (2013 data)
Workers’ Comp premium index rate (as of Jan 1, 2014)
Lowest
Highest
Lowest
Highest
State Individual Income Tax Rates (2014)
State Corporate Income Tax Rates (As of July 1, 2014)
State/local gross receipts, operations-based business tax
State
Local
Combined
State & Local Sales Tax Rates (As of July 1, 2014)
State Gasoline Tax Rates (cents per gallon)
(As of Jan, 2015)
1
State Business Tax Climate Index (2015 Tax Foundation)
#12
#48
#11
Sources: Tax Foundation, Oregon Employment Department, Washington State Employment Security Department, and California Employment
Development Department, US Energy Information Association, Employer Health Benefits Survey, Premium rate ranking index, Oregon Insur1
ance Division, Washington does not have a corporate income tax but does have a gross receipts tax (Business & Occupancy Tax). While not
strictly comparable to corporate income tax rates, it is imposed on revenues, not profits, resulting in noteworthy effective tax rates, particularly
for small businesses and startups.
Perhaps one of the greatest assets in Oregon is the structure of how corporations are taxed known as the Single Sales Factor.
The tax rate on corporate income of firms doing business in the state is the greater of a minimum tax based on relative sales
($150-$100,000, approximately 0.1%) or an income-based levy of 6.6% on amounts up to $10 million and 7.6% above that. Oregon businesses are taxed on a portion of their total income derived from sales within the state. This corporate income tax is
considered Singe Sales Factor tax, as it only considers Oregon sales in determining corporate income taxes owed to the state.
Other states often include additional assets and payroll, making them "multi-factor" taxes.
This tax policy is a major reason why Oregon is home to Intel’s largest global employment (more than 16,000 employees) and
capital investment. Single sales factor plays an important role for Nike, Columbia Sportswear, Keen, and other outdoor gear and
apparel manufacturers continued growth of headquarters, R & D, and warehouse operations.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
The table below compares costs for a manufacturing company with 20 employees and one with 200 employees. This example
does not factor or include cost savings offered by incentive programs. Oregon offers more incentive programs to traded-sector
businesses (companies that sell product or services outside of the area), than Washington and California combined. Attempting
to understand all cost factors in different states and how those impact your specific business can be a daunting task. Some cost
factors such as the efficiency and approach of regulatory oversight (i.e. implementation of federal EPA rules) can be dramatically
different from state to state but virtually impossible to place a dollar value on for comparison purposes.
20-Employee Firm
200-Employee Firm
Cost Factor
Oregon
California
Washington
Oregon
California
Washington
Energy costs
$149,760
$194,820
$140,015
$149,760
$1,948,200
$1,400,160
Employee gross payroll
$903,900
$879,680
$1,007,720
$9,039,000
$8,796,800
$10,077,200
Social insurance
$27,669
$29,142
$33,399
$276,694
$291,417
$333,986
Corporate income/other taxes*
$2,000
$1,658
$36,300
$59,950
$212,160
$363,000
Annual property tax
$125,600
$85,600
$72,000
$1,256,000
$856,000
$720,000
Annual tax on current purchases
$0
$33,975
$32,438
$0
$339,750
$324,375
Tax on capital purchases
$0
$543,600
$1,305
$0
$5,436,000
$13,050
Total operating costs, initial capital
$1,208,929
taxes
$1,768,474
$1,323,177
$12,129,244 $17,880,327
Difference from Oregon
+ $559,545
+$114,248
+ $5,751,093
$13,231,771
+1,102,527
*"Other taxes" includes any relevant business taxes that states would apply to the business used in the example, such as gross
receipts taxes. Table source: Business Oregon website. .
Workers Compensation Insurance
th
Workers’ compensation costs in Oregon are 8
lowest in the county, highly favorable compared
to other states. The “pure premium” is the portion of the premium employers pay insurers to
cover anticipated claims costs for job-related injuries and deaths. State officials attribute the decrease to a focus on improving worker safety, getting injured workers treated and back on the job
quickly, as well as the initial impact of medical
cost control strategies. The “pure premium” rate
has either remained the same or decreased for 22
of the past 24 years – making this cost among the
lowest in the country for employers.
For manufacturers in places like California, the
cost savings of worker’s compensation insurance
in Oregon can be substantial. Even a company
with 50 employees can realize six-figure annual
savings on this one cost factor alone.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Employment Gains 2004 to 2014
(Covered employees by payroll)
Area
Bend/Deschutes County MSA
Portland MSA
Salem MSA
Medford (Jackson County)
Corvallis (Benton County)
Eugene-Springfield (Lane County)
Oregon
U.S. Average
2004
2014
Gain/Loss
% Change
58,428
821,394
146,499
79,350
34,508
139,483
1,594,537
139,240,000
67,448
893,748*
152,192*
79,746
35,107
142,188
1,727,275
146,303,000
9,020
72,354
5,693
396
599
2,705
132,738
7,063,000
15.4%
8.8%
3.8%
.49%
1.73%
1.93%
8.3%
5.07%
From 2004 to 2014, jobs in the nation
grew at an overall rate of 5.07%. Oregon outpaced the nation’s job growth
by approximately 30% and Deschutes
County grew at three times the national average. It is important to note
that the figures on the left include
significant job losses during the Great
Recession.
Over the past decade, almost as many
jobs were created in the
Bend/Deschutes County MSA (9,020)
Source: Oregon Employment Department; QCEW &BCLS CPS.*2014 data not available at time of publication.
as four of the other five state MSAs
combined (9,393 excluding Portland), which represents a population base that is roughly six times larger. On a percentage basis, Bend/Deschutes County employment grew at rate nearly double that of Oregon overall.
UNEMPLOYMENT TRENDS
Regarded as a lagging indicator by most economists,
this chart provides a five-year perspective on unemployment in the Tri-County area. Since early 2011,
unemployment rates have been reduced significantly. As of March 2015, Deschutes County’s unemployment rate of 6.0% is the lowest since December
2007. Crook County’s fell to 8.9%, the lowest rate
since June 2008. The unemployment rate dropped
to 7.4% in Jefferson County from 9.8% the same
time last year, a statistically significant decline.
Because of Central Oregon’s sustained strong inmigration, job creation typically lags population
growth, a reason why historically, Oregon’s unemployment rate tracks higher than the national rate.
HOUSING / REAL ESTATE TRENDS
Average Monthly Rent
The Central Oregon rental market continues to face heightened demand in the midst of constrained supply. According to the
Central Oregon Rental Owners Association, curAverage Monthly Rent for a 3 Bedroom House ($)
rent vacancy rates have shrunk to 1.04% as of
Area
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
March 2015), down from 12.4% in 2009.
Bend
Redmond/Terrebonne
1,003
969
1,012
1,231
1,110
1,221
884
863
911
975
952
1,014
The high demand has exerted pressure on prices
Madras/Culver
834
849
817
800
765
859
and a growing interest in multi-family residential
Prineville
790
809
847
835
955
895
construction, particularly in Bend and Redmond.
La Pine
890
905
861
889
838
880
In the last year, two and three bedroom rental
Sunriver
1,000
991
896
1,086
1,066
1,180
houses increased more on a percentage basis
than apartments and duplexes. 2014 average rent Sisters
n/a
913
850
922
875
898
prices for a 3 bedroom home were up slightly
Source: Central Oregon Rental Owners Association (COROA); March 2015
from 2013 in nearly all Central Oregon communities. Our expectation is that 2015 annual rental figures will be up sharply in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, and Sisters amidst strong inmigration and near record low vacancies.
Page 7
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Home Prices
As with much of the
rest of the country,
residential property
prices peaked to alltime highs in 2007 and
declined in value by as
much 40% in the following years. Prices
are now rebounding
substantially - both
median and average
home prices increased
in 2014 across the region, but are still below 2005 levels.
It is noteworthy to
mention that prices in
Sunriver and Sisters include a much higher percentage of high end homes and homes on acreage than comparable prices in
Bend or Redmond.
Home Prices of Existing Single Family Homes
(residential, less than one acre, $)
Median Sales Price
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Crook County
Bend
149,375
279,900
195,500
351,978
199,450
345,000
177,500
289,450
112,000
212,000
91,100
191,750
79,900
190,000
87,000
220,395
126,725
269,000
133,700
Redmond
198,818
262,749
250,000
216,000
147,500
123,450
116,000
132,000
175,000
196,275
La Pine
148,450
183,500
215,000
160,000
109,000
99,900
88,200
94,950
133,000
150,900
Sisters
394,250
460,000
415,000
367,450
286,250
223,750
201,000
245,000
300,000
Sunriver
462,500
575,000
548,547
555,738
402,000
417,500
375,000
350,000
364,000
260,000
369,000
Jefferson County
133,500
165,080
177,950
139,950
89,900
69,950
69,900
71,550
84,950
109,950
U.S.
219,000
221,900
217,900
196,600
172,100
173,200
166,200
176,800
197,100
208,300
289,950
Average Sales Price
Crook County
154,906
212,173
224,151
206,874
145,040
120,537
94,540
113,911
148,124
163,587
Bend
334,570
406,122
426,044
353,142
266,319
245,069
238,186
263,556
317,735
344,694
Redmond
226,238
292,268
286,543
245,204
170,739
142,402
137,214
148,086
197,015
217,263
La Pine
Sisters
163,971
449,979
202,331
514,259
237,665
526,626
180,153
437,636
126,606
372,483
110,632
295,488
107,238
248,019
100,906
294,247
146,802
317,316
164,295
Sunriver
501,764
627,345
637,734
628,979
458,614
455,550
398,948
381,530
408,326
409,227
Jefferson County
131,493
170,228
187,367
144,146
145,040
78,376
77,010
74,939
91,748
114,669
U.S.
267,400
268,200
266,000
242,700
216,900
220,000
214,300
225,500
NA
NA
290,327
Sources: Central Oregon Association of Realtors (COAR), National Association of Realtors
Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Market Trends
Central Oregon’s commercial real estate market is marked by substantial positive absorption trends. In their quarterly POINTS
report, Compass Commercial Real Estate observes that this past year marked the beginning of the end of the recession for the office market. Retail and office sectors are experiencing strong growth and low vacancy rates. Absorption of Bend’s 2.53 million
square feet of office space has picked up, with the current vacancy rate at 10.5%. Fratzke Commercial Real Estate noted that
building space in Bend, often driven by high-demand areas such as the Old Mill and Downtown Districts have very low vacancy
rates which are currently around 6.6% for retail space.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Activity in the industrial market (approximately 5.59 million square feet in Bend and Redmond) has been strong. Since the end of 2013,
net absorption increased from 6,998 square feet to 160,729 square feet by the end of 2014. Bend’s 6.7% vacancy rate is at its lowest
since Q3 2008; Redmond’s 22.5% rate represents three consecutive quarters of positive absorption.
Building activity is steadily increasing throughout Central Oregon. As a result, the number of building permits issued for new
commercial construction, remodels, additions, and repurposing is increasing rapidly, construction prices are on the increase and
rents, particularly for newer properties, are climbing.
Land Prices, Lease Rates & Construction Costs
Business Costs Across the Region
Land costs in the re1
(all costs expressed as costs per square foot )
gion are rebounding
Deschutes County
Crook
Jefferson
after seeing as much Category
County
County
Bend
Redmond
Sisters
La Pine
as 50% value reducIndustrial land costs
$5.00-$15.00 $2.50-$5.00
$2.55-$6.00
$1.00-$2.00
$1.00-$3.00 $1.00-$2.50
2
tions resulting from
Lease rates
the Great Recession.
Industrial
$0.45-$0.75
$0.40-$0.65
$0.45-$0.60
$0.15-$0.25
$0.20-$0.35 $0.20-$0.45
Costs do vary by
Commercial
$1.00-$1.70
$0.75-$1.40
$0.85-$1.50
$0.80-$1.00
$0.40-$0.90 $0.45-$0.90
community, with
Retail
$0.50-$2.50
$0.40-$1.50
$0.85-$1.50
$.50-$1.00
$0.70-$1.00 $0.65-$1.00
Crook and Jefferson
Construction
$60-$100
$60-$100
$60-$100
$60-$100
$60-$100
$60-$100
Source: EDCO research April 2015. The table is meant to represent a range of costs and may be negotiable please contact EDCO with
Counties generally
your specific project requirements. 1Assumes base rent excluding NNN costs
having lower land
and lease costs. In Deschutes County, Redmond offers lower land and lease costs than neighboring Bend, Sisters is comparable
to Bend, while La Pine costs are comparable with Crook and Jefferson Counties.
Several years of strong demand for retail, office, and light industrial space are pushing vacancies down and rents higher in 2015.
For the first time in seven years, EDCO expects to see a number of new industrial and light industrial construction projects in the
year and possible office projects in 20015 and 2016.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Central Oregon is home to 16 financial institutions which collectively have 64 branches in the region. In addition to these
banks and credit unions there are a number of alternative
financial resources that can be found on EDCO’s website under incentives. Alternative financing includes a number of
organizations with local offices that work closely with banks
and credit unions including Business Oregon, Craft3 and Oregon Certified Business Development Organization.
Banks, Savings Associations, and Credit Unions
in Central Oregon (as of May 2015)
Bank of America
Bank of the Cascades
Columbia Bank
High Desert Bank
JPMorgan Chase Bank
Mid Oregon Credit Union
Northwest Community Credit Union
Northwest Farm Credit Services
OnPoint Community Credit Union
Oregonians Credit Union
SELCO Community Credit Union
Summit Bank
Union Mid Oregon Credit Union
U.S. Bank
Umpqua Bank
Washington Federal
Wells Fargo Bank
Source: FDIC, EDCO Business Research
Financial Institution Deposits in Central Oregon
(in millions)
County
Crook County
Deschutes County
Jefferson County
Tri-County Total
2001
2006
$123
$1,164
$92
$1,379
$261
$2,294
$123
$2,678
2013
2014
$205
$2,450
$146
$2,801
$237
$2,682
$143
$3,063
% Growth
2001-14
92.68%
130.41%
55.43%
122.17%
The total FDIC-insured deposit base as of June 30,
2014 (the most current data available) was $3.06 billion.
Reflecting higher than average deposit wealth, Central Oregon also supports a significant number of financial planning
and investment firms. Many of these firms also provide
wealth management for clients nationwide.
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits as of 6/30 for each year.
Page 9
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
POPULATION
Population in Central Oregon
Area
Oregon
Crook County
Prineville
Unincorporated
Deschutes County
Bend
La Pine
Redmond
Sisters
Unincorporated
Jefferson County
Culver
Madras
Metolius
Unincorporated
Tri-County Total
1990
2000
2,842,321 3,421,399
14,111
19,184
5,355
7,358
8,756
11,826
74,958
115,367
20,447
52,029
Not yet incorporated
7,165
13,481
708
959
46,638
48,898
13,676
19,009
570
802
3,443
5,078
450
729
9,213
12,400
102,745
153,560
2010
3,837,300
21,020
9,260
11,760
157,905
76,740
1,660
26,225
2,040
51,240
21,750
1,365
6,050
710
13,625
200,675
2013
3,919,020
20,690
9,270
11,420
162,525
78,280
1,670
26,590
2,115
53,570
22,040
1,370
6,255
705
13,710
205,225
2014
3,962,710
20,780
9,385
11,395
166,400
79,985
1,670
26,770
2,190
55,785
22,205
1,380
6,260
700
13,865
209,385
Oregon’s population growth of 1.1% from
2013 to 2014 was again dominated by net migration (movers-in outpaced movers-out)
which accounted for 74% of the increase.
Natural births over deaths accounted for only
26%. Similar, but even more dramatic inmigration trends prevail in the Tri-County area. Deschutes County experienced the largest
year-over-year percentage gain (2.4%) for all
36 Oregon counties and is the primary driver
behind the addition of more than 3,000 new
residents annually to the region’s population.
Deschutes County grew dramatically between
the 1990 and 2000 Census and even more so
th
between 2000 and 2010. It was the 7 fastest
growing county in the U.S. last year. Bend
more than doubled in size between 1990 and
2000 and grew by 47% between 2000 and
Source: Population Research Center, PSU. 1990, 2000 & 2010 Census numbers are for
2010. While growth flattened between 2010
April 1 of that year, 2014 data is for July 1, 2014.
and 2012, signs over the past 18 months point
to a pickup of in-migration and business activity across the region. Since 2010, Crook County has grown at a very slow pace after
dramatic growth between 1990 and 2010. Still, over the past dozen years, Prineville’s population has expanded by 26%. At 15.9%
growth since 2000, Jefferson County has grown at a steady rate that exceeds that of Oregon and the nation.
In March 2015, Portland State University (PSU)’s Oregon Population
Forecast Program released a population forecast for the tri-county of an
estimated 416,764 people by 2065 –
the first of its kind in many years.
Population Projections 2015-2065
Area
Tri-County Total
Crook County
Prineville UGB
Outside UGB
Deschutes County
Bend UGB
La Pine UGB
Sisters UGB
Redmond
Outside UGBs
Jefferson County
Madras
2015
214,547
21,135
11,256
9,879
170,606
85,737
1,687
2,315
27,715
53,151
22,806
7,484
2025
258,899
22,404
11,935
10,470
210,826
109,546
2,263
3,431
33,282
62,305
25,669
8,700
2035
300,926
23,916
12,845
11,071
249,037
132,209
3,014
4,375
39,812
69,627
27,973
9,815
2045
340,739
24,962
13,472
11,489
285,908
154,719
3,872
5,320
47,167
74,830
29,869
10,867
2055
379,237
25,457
13,593
11,864
322,045
176,003
4,816
6,266
55,373
79,587
31,735
11,832
2065
416,764
25,640
13,383
12,257
357,345
194,793
5.836
7,212
64,785
84,719
33,779
12,749
Deschutes County, the fastest growing county in the state, will be home
to about 357,345 people in
2065, with 194,793 of them in
greater Bend, increasing the city by
an estimated 127% over today’s
population. The population in Jefferson County in 2065 will reach an esSource: PSU Oregon Population Forecast Program, Preliminary Forecasts, March 2015.
timated 33,779, 48% over today’s
population. By 2065, an expected 25,640 will call Crook County home, a 21% increase over 2015. Overall, population forecasters
expect the region to continue to be a very dynamic part of the state and country.
Page 10
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
EDUCATION
Public Schools
2014-2015 Public School Enrollment Breakdown
School District
Students Schools
Website
Crook County
Crook SD
Deschutes County
Bend-La Pine SD
Redmond SD
Sisters SD
Jefferson County
Jefferson SD 509J
Culver SD
Tri-County Total
3,303
12
crookcounty.k12.or.us
17,163
7,329
1,107
30
13
3
bend.k12.or.us
2,905
695
32,461
7
3
72
Jcsd.k12.or.us
U
U
redmond.k12.or.us
U
sisters.k12.or.us
Central Oregon schools in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County
School Districts serve an area greater than 7,800 square miles, include
urban centers such as Bend and Redmond along with smaller towns
and rural areas. Over 32,000 students attend 72 schools. Tri-County
districts operate 30 elementary schools, 13 middle schools, and 18 high
schools, as well as a diverse array of charter and community schools. Of
the area’s teachers, nearly 99% meet Highly Qualified standards and
over 65% hold a Master’s Degree or higher.
U
culver.k12.or.us
U
Source: Oregon Department of Education; local school districts
The largest school district is Bend-La Pine with over 17,000 students
enrolled and more than 1,750 staff members. Its attendance area
spans more than 1,600 square miles - the seventh largest in the state.
In the 2013-2014 State School Report Card, 86% of our schools in the
Bend-La Pine received overall ratings of 4 or 5, with 25% of our schools
rated in the top 10 of Oregon schools.
Since 2000, students in the Bend-La Pine School District have continually scored higher on
SAT tests than their peers, 95 points higher than their peers nationwide. More than 70% of
Bend students continue onto college.
Private Schools
2014 Average SAT Scores
Bend-La Pine
Washington
Oregon
California
U.S. Average
Nevada
1615
1519
1544
1504
1497
1454
Private schools in Central Oregon have developed a reputation for high academic achievement and a focus on giving personalized attention to each individual student. There are 29
Sources: College Board & Bend-La Pine
private schools in Central Oregon; twelve of these are faith-based and represent a variety
School District
of Catholic and Protestant denominations. In addition, two institutions – J Bar J and New
Leaf Academy offer therapeutic education services to at risk youth in need of support. While a diverse range of educational
methods and services are present in private schools throughout
K-12 District Enrollment for Oregon’s Metro
Central Oregon, several institutions stand out for reputation and
District
2004
2015
%
large student population. Among these select private schools
Change
Bend-La Pine 1
13,940
17,122
22.8
are Trinity Lutheran School, Seven Peaks, and Cascades Academy
Redmond 2J
6,159
7,329
19
in Bend as well as Central Christian School in Redmond.
Hillsboro 1J
Salem-Keizer 24J
Medford 549C
N. Clackamas 12
Statewide Average
Eugene 4J
Corvallis 509J
Portland 1J
18,951
37,877
12,853
16,170
551,372
18,476
7,063
48,326
20,884
40,698
13,628
17,130
570,857
17,012
6,643
45,998
10.2
7.5
6
5.9
3.5
-7.9
-5.9
-4.8
Demand for Higher Education
The populace of Central Oregon has a strong interest in pursuing
higher education and improving their vocational skills. The chart to
the right shows enrollment for Central Oregon’s post-secondary
education institutions over the past twelve years. The last six
years of demand for higher education have been driven by several forces: Central Oregon’s growing population base, a recovSource: Oregon Department of Education, Fall Membership Report ’14-‘15
ery from the national economic recession, and job training and
re-training. Additionally, OSU Cascades Campus is gaining in reputation, attracting more students, and expanding its program offerings.
EDCO works in partnership with Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and OSU-Cascades to ensure that program offerings
align with business needs. Both institutions have top leaders that serve as Directors on EDCO’s Board.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Central Oregon Community College (COCC)
Central Oregon Community College operates campuses in Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville. Founded in
1949, COCC (www.cocc.edu) is Oregon’s first and consequently oldest community college. The College offers transfer/lower division programs, mirroring the first two years of a university education at a fraction
of the cost, plus career and technical education programs to move students into local industry jobs. The
COCC District covers a 10,000-square-mile area that encompasses all of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson
counties, the southern part of Wasco, and the northern portions of Klamath and Lake Counties. A sevenmember board of directors governs the College, with
members of that board elected from geographic zones in the
District.
The 200-acre Bend campus includes 26 buildings with a total of 575,000
square feet under roof. The newest buildings are the Jungers Culinary Center,
funded primarily by private donations and opened in 2011, and the Health Careers Center and Science Center, funded by a voter-approved bond measure,
both opened in fall 2012.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) operated by COCC provides
active support for Central Oregon’s small businesses. SBDC provides programs
such as counseling and market research assistance for entrepreneurs at the
earliest stages of development. COCC’s Business and Employee Development
department delivers industry-specific courses and workshops tailored to business and industry’s changing needs. The College also offers a wide range of
continuing education for personal and professional development.
The COCC Redmond Campus sits on 25-acres near the Redmond Airport and includes four buildings to serve students with a variety of career programs, educational opportunities, and transfer eligible classes. This past year, approximately 2,300 students
enrolled in one or more credit classes in Redmond. In addition to the wide range of services and college courses offered to students, COCC’s Redmond Campus is home to the region’s Manufacturing and Applied Technology Center, a 26,000-square-foot
technical training facility with certificate and degree programs readying students for jobs in the manufacturing field.
The COCC regional Technology Education Center offers classes for
Central Oregon’s business and workforce population at the Redmond Campus. This 34,000-square-foot facility, planned and developed with industry participation, located on the corner of Veterans Way and Salmon Drive, is home to the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence and Development (CEED) and courses and programs in Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection, Digital Arts and
Media and Flexible Technology. For more information visit
www.cocc.edu/redmond, or call 541-504-2900.
New COCC Technology Education Center in Redmond
Enrollment at COCC has increased dramatically over
the years, doubling in the last few years as increasing
numbers of area residents turned to the College for
education and training during the economic downturn.
A record number of students have been earning certificates and degrees then transferring to four-year colleges and universities or moving into jobs locally using
skills learned in the career and technical education
programs.
Sources: OSU-Cascades & Central Oregon Community College. Fall term enrollment.
Page 12
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Oregon State University – Cascades Campus
Founded in 2001, OSU-Cascades offers upper-level and graduate courses in a unique partnership with Central Oregon Community College in which students typically take lower-division courses at COCC. Currently
the two institutions share a beautiful, 200-acre campus on the northwest side of Bend. Students who take
advantage of this partnership pay about 25 percent less in tuition and fees than they would at a traditional
university. Offering small class sizes, OSUField of Study
Degree Program
Cascades students may choose from a variety of
Accountancy
BA/BS
graduate, undergraduate, and minor programs
American Studies
BA/BS
(see table at left).
Applied Visual Arts
BFA
Art
Art History
Biology
Business Administration
Business & Entrepreneurship
Computer Science
Counseling
Creative Writing
Early Childhood Development & Education
Energy Systems Engineering
English
Exercise & Sport Science
Human Development & Family Sciences
International Studies
Liberal Studies
Military Science
Natural Resources
Political Science
Psychology
Social Science
Speech Communication
Sustainability
Teaching
Tourism & Outdoor Leadership
Visual Arts
BA/BS
Minor
BS, Minor
BA\BS, MBA
Minor
BS
MS
MFA
Minor
BS
Minor
BS
BS
BA
BA/BS
Minor
BS, Minor
Minor
BA/BS, Minor
BA/BS
Minor
BS
MAT
BS, Minor
Minor
The Energy Systems Engineering Management program is unique in
the state, preparing graduates for a broad range of careers in the
energy industry. The Computer Science degree was developed with
considerable industry input from many of the region’s nearly fourdozen software firms. OSU-Cascades is in the first phase of constructing a $111 million branch campus in Bend that will accommodate up to 5,000 full-time students.
Additional Colleges and Universities
Additional accredited academic institutions have a presence in Central Oregon, typically combining evening and occasional weekend
classes in conjunction with distance learning.
 University of Oregon is offering its Executive MBA program locally
at its Bend Center (503-276-3622)
 Eastern Oregon University Division of Distance Education (541385-1137)
 George Fox University (1-800-631-0921)
 Linfield College - Central Oregon Center (541-388-2986)
 Oregon Institute of Technology, Bachelor’s degree in Operations
Management, via COCC
Average 2014 Electricity Rates
(in cents, per kwh)
UTILITIES SERVING CENTRAL OREGON
Electric Companies
Central Oregon providers of electric power are:
 Pacific Power (PPL), 888-221-7070
 Central Electric Cooperative (CEC), 541-548-2144
 Midstate Electric Cooperative, 541-536-2126
Service Class
Industrial
Commercial
U.S.
7.01
10.75
CA
10.74
13.98
OR
5.78
8.76
CEC*
5.84
7.26
PPL* MSE*
7.13 6.52
8.78 6.71
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration 2014 data. *2013 eia data
For all sectors, Oregon’s electrical rates are well below the national
average. For industrial customers, Central Oregon providers offer
rates up to nearly 20% below the U.S. average and nearly 50% below
those in neighboring California. The region is primarily served by one
of the largest and most robust transmission systems in the country
that is operated by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) a federal department. BPA is the source of most power generation for
Central Electric and Midstate Electric cooperatives, although there
are a number of other smaller scale renewable energy production
facilities within the region including hydro and solar.
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Central Oregon Profile
© Copyright 2015 EDCO
Natural Gas
Natural gas is widely available throughout Central Oregon and is supplied by
Cascade Natural Gas Corporation (CNGC), 888-522-1130. Headquartered in
Kennewick WA., CNGC serves more than 46,000 local industrial, commercial,
and residential customers from a regional operations base in Bend.
Average 2014 Natural Gas Rates
(in cents, per kcf)
Service Class
Industrial
Commercial
Delivery
Charge/Therm
$0.80
$0.26
$0.75
$0.18
$0.72
$0.15
Base Charge Cost Per Therm
Commercial
Industrial
Large Volume–General*
$3.00
$12.00
Included
CA
7.73
9.08
OR
6.79
9.94
CNGC
7.33
8.01
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Natural Gas Rates
User
U.S.
5.53
8.90
*Requires specific contract and usage conditions; 1 therm = 1,000 BTUs.
Source: www.cngc.com
Potential users for the Large Volume–General Service rate
should contact EDCO for additional information about their
potential usage conditions. Transmission to the region is
provided by 36 and 42 inch high capacity lines that run from
Canada to southern California.
Water System & Rates
Cities in the region have invested in the latest technology for the least environmental impact and greatest savings to residents
and businesses. Rates vary between communities in the region. Commercial and industrial rates are typically based on meter
size; please contact EDCO for specifics.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Built largely over the last decade, Central Oregon’s telecommunications infrastructure is one of the Northwest’s
most technologically advanced, meeting requirements for
capacity, redundancy, and reliability. High-end data services,
typically offered only in large metro areas, include Ethernet
access rates up to 10 GB. Several local providers focus purely
on the commercial marketplace.
Telecom Resources in Central Oregon
Carriers & Providers
Wireless Internet
Cable
Resellers & Integrators
BendBroadband, BendTel, CenturyLink, FatBeam, Quantum Communications, Integra
Telecom
Community Broadband, Webformix,
Yellowknife Wireless
BendBroadband, Chambers Cable, Crestview
Cable, DirecTV
Integra Telecom (Internet & voice)
Services are delivered across a number of access options inTelephone Interconnect ACT Cascades, CascadeTel
cluding land line (copper), high speed fiber optics, and wireCellular
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon
less (WiFi, WiMax and secure microwave). Many providers
offer DSL, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, and Metro Ethernet services, along with the traditional high capacity TDM services (T1, T3,
OCx). All Local Exchange Carrier central offices use digital electronic switches and the entire system is on a redundant, selfhealing fiber optic network.
With a strong history of investing in cutting edge technology early, BendBroadband’s nationally recognized reputation for innovation has made Central Oregon a telecommunications oasis, on par with far larger metro areas. In 2010 BendBroadband won a
federal broadband infrastructure grant of $4.4M to deploy fiber infrastructure to Madras, La Pine, Sunriver, and Prineville,
providing broadband connectivity to the region’s historically underserved areas. The new 132-mile fiber network is comprised of
closed or open rings to points of presence in the four cities, OTN network in the middle mile, and a combination of Optical Metro Ethernet and GePON in the last mile creates a comprehensive, regional 40
Gbps fiber ring.
SERVICES
Health Services
Top quality health care is one of Central Oregon’s crown jewels. With four hospitals and more than 120 employed medical providers, St. Charles Health System is the largest provider of medical care in Central Oregon. St. Charles has
pledged to partner with the communities it serves to achieve an ambitious vision: Creating America's healthiest communities, together. St. Charles Health
New St. Charles Bend Cancer Center
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System began in 2001 as Cascade Health Services when St. Charles Medical Center in Bend merged with Central Oregon District
Hospital in Redmond. Today, the organization owns and operates medical centers in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, and Madras.
Medical centers in Bend and Redmond are accredited while St. Charles Bend is Oregon's only Level II Trauma Center east of the
Cascades.
St. Charles Bend is a fully accredited, 261-bed hospital that includes 24-hour emergency care, intensive/cardiac care, physical,
respiratory and nutritional therapy, radiology, surgery and an on-campus rehabilitation center. In addition, they offer quality
care services including cancer care, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, stroke care, and weight loss surgery. High-tech leadingedge services are also present in St. Charles’ telemedicine and da Vinci Surgery programs.
As a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation, St. Charles is Central Oregon's largest employer with more than 3,500 caregivers in
Bend, Madras, Redmond, Prineville, and Sisters combined. More than 350 active medical staff members and approximately 200
visiting medical staff members also make it possible for St. Charles to deliver a wide range of excellent care in a compassionate,
healing environment.
Media
 Print: The Bulletin is the dominant daily newspaper while local papers cover Madras, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters, and La
Pine. Cascade Business News, a bi-weekly business publication, 1859, Oregon’s first cultural magazine, and The Source, an
alternative weekly newspaper, round out the print news options.
 Radio: Three privately-held companies (Horizon Broadcasting Group, Bend Radio Group, and Combined Communications) collectively own 15 radio stations plus there are two independent operators. Spanish language station, Radio La Bronca, addresses the
region’s Latino population.
 Television: KTVZ TV 21 is the NBC affiliate, KOHD TV 51 is the ABC affiliate, KFXO TV 39 is the Fox affiliate, KBNZ TV 7 is the
CBS affiliate, and KOAB TV 11 is the PBS station. BendBroadband airs local origination programming through COTV 11, its
community cable channel, which provides in-depth local news, sports and information.
TRANSPORTATION
Commercial Airport
Redmond Municipal Airport
(RDM; www.flyrdm.com) provides commercial air service
(30 flights daily) to Denver, Los
Angeles, Portland, Salt Lake
City, San Francisco, and Seattle via four carriers (Alaska,
American, Delta, and United).
Considerable investment has
been made at the airport in
recent years including a $40
million terminal expansion,
expanded passenger parking
(to over 1,000 places) tarmac
and runway reconstruction.
The Airport is home to the USDA Forest Service Redmond Air Center, Cascade Aviation Management, Life Flight, Butler Aviation, Les Schwab, Bonneville Power, RDD
Enterprises, Lancair, and Henderson Aviation.
RDM also provides air cargo services and hosts general aviation traffic, including extensive corporate and business travel. Fed Ex, United Parcel Service and the USPS provide
air freight and package express services.
Flying Time to Markets Served by RDM
Flight to:
Denver, CO
Los Angeles, CA
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Flying Time
Minutes
2 hours
24 min
2 hours 0 min
0 hours 40 min
1 hour 30 min
2 hours 8 min
1 hour 10 min
Source: Redmond Municipal Airport
(www.flyrdm.com)
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General Aviation Airports
 The Bend Municipal Airport is located just outside the Bend city limits in Deschutes County and is owned and managed by the
City of Bend. The 415 acre airport has a single 5,200’ runway with parallel full length taxiways on the east and west sides. A total
of 67 separate structures reside at the airport, 15 city-owned and 52 privately owned. There are currently 14 businesses located
at the airport. Aircraft manufacturing, aircraft parts manufacturing, and helicopter flight training comprise the greatest commercial activity at the airport.
 The Prineville/Crook County Airport is located three miles SW of Prineville and has two well-maintained, lighted, intersecting
asphalt runways that are able to accommodate small aircraft and corporate jets. The primary runway is 5,751’ in length and
75’ wide and is equipped with GPS instrument approaches. The crosswind runway is 4,054’ long and 40’ feet. An automated
weather observation system was installed in the fall of 2013. In February 2013, Hillsboro Aviation began using the Prineville/Crook County airport as a flight training center for international students. Hillsboro picked Prineville because of the favorable weather conditions and services the airport and community provide.
 The Madras Municipal Airport and industrial site is a fast-growing Category 4 airport for general aviation and business use.
The airport is owned by the City of Madras and is surrounded by a 125-acre industrial park. One of the two runways is 5,100’
in length and can accommodate a wide variety of general aviation aircraft up to C-130’s. The Madras Airport has 2,100 acres
for aeronautical and industrial use. A new 39,000 SF hangar facility is leased to Aero Air, LLC as their base for maintenance
and operation of fire-fighting aircraft. Aero Air recently expanded their operations with an additional 65,000 SF hangar and
other aircraft related businesses. A $2.2 million Connect Oregon III project provided additional navigation aids and runway/taxiway lighting, an automated weather observation system, and new taxiway and ramp improvements.
 The Sunriver Resort Airport is a general aviation airport located 17 miles south of Bend in the heart of the critically acclaimed
Resort. With a recently upgraded and refinished 5,500’ long paved and lighted airstrip, the Resort airport is the third busiest
in the state and is one of the longest private airstrips in the West. The airport serves a wide range of aircraft from small private planes to corporate jets. Also prominent among these high-end services is luxury auto rental provided by the Kendall Automotive as well as full services to pilots and flight crews.
 Sisters Airport: At 3168’, Sisters Eagle Air Airport is located one mile north of downtown Sisters and is categorized by the Oregon Department of Aviation as Category IV (local general aviation airport). While privately owned by Sisters Eagle Air, Inc.,
the airport is open to public use. It is also used for EMS, and wildfire aircraft support. The runway dimensions are 3550’ x 60’
/ 1082 x 18 m. Originally built in 1936, the Sisters Airport was re-paved, updated, and improved in 2013 and is fast becoming
a center for local businesses. Several successful traded-sector companies, including ENERGYneering, have their headquarters
at the airport. In the spring of 2014 the airport property was annexed into the City of Sisters. Through this public-private
partnership, the airports, and its key companies, have plans to expand commercially/industrially, and with an array of benefits and perks for pilots.
Additional Transportation Services
 For air freight, Central Oregon is served by Federal Express, United Parcel Service, and US Postal Service Express mail.
 To move motor freight, U.S. Highways 97 and 20, both of which run through Central Oregon, are two of the state's major
trucking routes. To reach the Northwest’s metro areas, trucking companies that operate in Central Oregon use Hwy 97 to access Interstate 5 (north-south) and Interstate 84 (east-west).
 In terms of rail service, Burlington Northern-Santa Fe, Union Pacific, and the City of Prineville Railway provide direct rail
connections for shipping to any market in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Amtrak provides passenger rail service to
Central Oregon via the Chemult station, about 60 miles south of Bend on Hwy 97.
Transit within Central Oregon, Cascades East Transit (CET) operates the regional bus system, providing service within the City of
Bend, and between Bend and the following cities: La Pine, Prineville, Madras, Culver, Metolius, Warm Springs, Redmond, and
Sisters. CET is managed by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC). For more information, visit
www.cascadeseasttransit.com, call locally: 541-385-8680 or call toll free 1-866-385-8680.
 Among the most relevant intra-city bus options, Central Oregon Breeze, a division of CAC Transportation, provides service 362
days a year between Bend, Redmond, Madras, Gresham, and Portland. The Breeze connects Central Oregon residents with
Amtrak, the MET, and Portland International Airport. TAC Transportation operates two lines important to Central OregoPage 16
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nians making connections: Eastern POINT provides service along Hwy 20 from Bend to Burns and Ontario; similarly, the
High Desert POINT provides daily Amtrak thruway service from the Chemult Amtrak station to Sunriver, La Pine, Bend, and
Redmond.
TRAVEL DISTANCES
Distance from Bend Oregon
With U.S. Highway 97 running north to south through Bend, and U.S.
Highway 20 running east to west through Bend, travel to other areas in
Oregon is relatively straightforward. Using either the northern Highway
26 or the more southern Highway 20 route, Portland is a three hour
drive from Bend while Medford runs about four hours away. Outside
Oregon, Seattle can be reached in less than six hours and parts of the
Bay Area can be accessed in eight or nine hours. Los Angeles, at nearly
14 hours, tests the outer limit of a day’s drive.
City
Portland
Medford
Olympia
Seattle
Boise
San Francisco
Los Angeles
State
OR
OR
WA
WA
ID
CA
CA
Miles
145
189
251
311
323
507
838
Source: Mapquest
Drive Time
3 hrs, 3 min
4 hrs, 6 min
minutes
4
hrs, 44 min
utes
5 hrs, 42 min
minutes
6
hrs, 33 min
inutes
9
hrs, 0 min
nutes
13
hrs, 48 min
nutes
COMMUTE TIME
Averaging just over 20
minutes, drive times for Central Oregon are very manageable. For the majority of people
living and working in the same
urban center, most commute
times are often less than 15
minutes. However, because
the workforce throughout the
Tri-County area is truly regional, it is common for people to
commute between Redmond
and Bend or between Sisters
and Bend. Even with the TriCounty average of just over 20
minutes, commute times in
Central Oregon are substantially below the average comSource: U.S. Census Bureau
mute times in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Boise, Los Angeles and many other urban centers.
City
TOPOGRAPHY & CLIMATE
Every community in Central Oregon has its own variations of temperature and precipitation, relative to its elevation and proximity to the mountains. The region is known for sun, averaging just
two weeks fewer sunny days than San Diego, CA. Interestingly, the region lies on one of the nation’s largest rain gradients: Redmond receives an average of 8.6 inches of precipitation and is
only 60 miles from a region in the Cascades that receives over 120 inches.
Elevation
La Pine
Sunriver
Bend
Sisters
Redmond
Prineville
Madras
Warm Springs
4,300’
4,100’
3,623’
3,200’
3,077’
2,868’
2,242’
1,575’
The geographical climate for Central Oregon is predominately High Desert. Summer temperatures range from an average high of 85°
to a low of 44° F while winter temperatures range from average highs in the 40s to lows in the 20s. Annual precipitation ranges from
8.5 to 20 inches, falling mostly in the form of snow during the winter months.
Bend, Oregon Weather Profile
Average High (°F)
Average Low (°F)
Mean (°F)
Average Precipitation (inches)
Jan
41°
21°
32°
1.8
Feb
46°
24°
36°
1.0
Mar
51°
26°
38°
0.9
Apr
57°
28°
44°
0.6
May
65°
34°
50°
0.8
Jun
74°
41°
57°
0.9
Jul
81°
45°
64°
0.5
Aug
80°
44°
64°
0.6
Sep
74°
37°
55°
0.5
Oct
64°
31°
47°
0.7
Nov
48°
27°
38°
1.6
Dec
41°
22°
32°
2.0
Source: CountryStudies.us
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TOP 10 PROPERTY TAXPAYERS
Top 10 Property Taxpayers in 2014-15
Deschutes County
Crook County
Jefferson County
1
PacifiCorp (PPL)
Property & Revenue Tax Manager
(Pacificore)
2
Bend Cable Communications LLC
Brasada Ranch Development LLC
Gas Transmission Northwest Corp.
3
Gas Transmission Northwest Corp
Les Schwab Warehouse Center Inc.
PacifiCorp (PPL)
4
Cascade Natural Gas
Contact Industries inc
Bright Wood Corporation
5
Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village LLC
Les Schwab Tire Center #11
Keith Investments/Manufacturing
6
CVSC LLC (Cascade Village Square Center)
O’Ryan Ranches LLC
Warm Springs Power Enterprises
7
Deschutes Brewery INC
WG Prineville LLC
Safeway, Inc.
8
Wal-Mart Stores
CenturyLink
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
9
Century Link
Apple Inc
Union Pacific Railroad
10
Suterra LLC
Gas Transmission Northwest Corp.
CenturyLink
Portland General Electric
Sources: Local County Assessors
CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE & OTHER BUSINESS RESOURCES
Chambers of Commerce
Other Organizations
Bend Chamber
541-382-3221
www.bendchamber.org
Prineville/Crook Co. Chamber
541-447-6304
www.visitprineville.com
Central Oregon Visitors Assoc. (COVA)
800-800-8334
www.visitcentraloregon.com
Crooked River Ranch Chamber
541-923-2679
www.crrchamber.com
Redmond Chamber
541-923-5191
www.visitredmondoregon.com
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
Business and Economic Development
541-553-3468 | www.warmsprings.com
La Pine Chamber
541-536-9771
www.lapine.org
Sisters Area Chamber
541-549-0251
www.sisterscountry.com
La Pine Industrial Group
541-536-9042
Madras/Jefferson Co. Chamber
541-475-2350
www.madraschamber.com
Sunriver Chamber
541-593-8149
www.sunriverchamber.com
Visit Bend
877-245-8484
www.visitbend.com
BUSINESS RESOURCES
Listed below is a sampling of the broad variety of business support organizations (BSO) that cover the continuum of business
development - from concept to mature business. More resources are available, so contact EDCO for a complete list including
local resources or customized assistance that brings our longstanding relationships with these organizations.
Oregon Resources
County Resources
Business Oregon
www.oregon4biz.com
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC)
(541) 548-8163 | www.coic2.org
Inventor’s Northwest
(541) 317-1154 | www.coinventorsgroup.ning.com
Central Oregon Workforce Coordinating Council
541-504-3306
NEW (Network of Entrepreneurial Women)
www.networkwomen.org
City Club of Central Oregon
541-633-7163 | www.cityclubco.com
Oregon Employer Council Central Oregon
(541) 408-4557 | www.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/OEC
Crook County
www.co.crook.or.us
OMEP (Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership)
www.omep.org
Deschutes County
www.deschutes.org |541-388-6584
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Vocational Rehab
(541) 388-6336
Jefferson County
www.co.jefferson.or.us
Worksource Bend (Oregon Employment Department)
www.worksourceoregon.org
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
(541) 383-7290 | www.cocc.edu/sbdc
Tri-County Resources
Abilitree
(541) 388-8103 | www.abilitree.org
AdFed of Central Oregon
(541) 385-1992
HRACO (Human Resource Association of Central Oregon)
www.HRCentralOregon.org
Opportunity Knocks
www.opp-knocks.org
COCC (Central Oregon Community College)
www.cocc.edu
OSU-Cascades (Oregon State University—Cascades Campus)
www.osucascades.edu
COIC (Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council)
(541) 548-8163 | www.coic2.org
SBDC (Small Business Development Center)
(541) 383-7290
EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon)
www.edcoinfo.com
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)
www.centraloregon.score.org
HiDEC (High Desert Enterprise Consortium)
www.hidec.org
Tech Alliance
www.techallianceco.org
CENTRAL OREGON’S ENTREPRENEURIAL LANDSCAPE
An increasing level of startup activity is being seen across Central Oregon. Numerous industry
clusters are coalescing in such areas as high technology, bioscience, outdoor recreation and consumer goods, food products, brewing & distilling, energy, advanced manufacturing, and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles). This activity is being driven by both entrepreneurs relocating to the region, and local entrepreneurs embarking on their own enterprises. The region is large enough to
support the resources and access to capital that help new entrepreneurs get started, while still
being small enough that those resources are interconnected enough to support businesses as they
grow. Unique to Central Oregon are the numerous community resources and assets that are available. A few of these include those managed by EDCO, such as the Stable of Experts, PubTalk, and
the Bend Venture Conference (BVC).
The Stable of Experts (SOE) is a searchable database of over 120 experts that spans multiple industries and disciplines. These
experts have agreed to dedicate a certain number of hours to helping entrepreneurs fill their skills gaps and mentor young leaders. Every new business is like a puzzle with certain pieces missing. The SOE helps to fill in these missing pieces and increase
their probability of success.
Central Oregon PubTalk is a monthly event held at McMenamins Old Saint Francis School,
which has been converted into a very cool pub. These events are a showcase for entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas, and
for previously showcased businesses to
provide an update on their progress.
Keynote speakers are brought in to add
an educational component to the event. A successful pitch is an integral
component of securing funding, which all new business need. PubTalk offers a platform for emerging businesses to practice and perfect that pitch.
Coaching sessions are conducted by EDCO previous to the event. The event
has grown from 950 attendees in FY 2014 to an expected 1,500 in FY 2105.
The Bend Venture Conference (BVC) has become the marquee event for
the entrepreneurial community not just in Bend, but in the entire state of
th
Oregon. The annual event takes place in October and is in its 12 year. The
2014 BVC was a pivotal year for the conference, with over $1 million in funding secured for many of the participating startups.
Over 450 investors, entrepreneurs, service, professionals, and students attend the event.
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ABOUT EDCO
EDCO Offices
Central Oregon Business Begins with EDCO
Founded in 1981, EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public
members and stakeholders. Our mission is to create a diversified local economy and a
strong base of middle class jobs in Central Oregon. To do this, we focus on helping companies do the following:
Move. We guide employers outside the region through the relocation process as a resource for regional data, incentives, talent, site selection, and more.
Start. We mentor and advise scalable young companies from concept to exit on issues
such as access to capital, critical expertise, and strategy.
Grow. We help local traded-sector companies expand be finding suppliers, workforce
sourcing, permitting, and incentives.
In addition, EDCO also works to improve the region’s business climate by influencing
state legislation and local policy making, improving our transportation and information
links to the rest of the world (air service, telecom) and catalyzing other critical infrastructure or community development needed to be prepared for successful business
development.
Board of Directors
EDCO is a membership organization with roughly half of its funding coming from public entities (counties, cities and higher education) and the other half from private companies and individuals. The organization is guided by a 45-member board drawn from
across the tri-county area of Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson, and representing a wide
variety of industry sectors.
EDCO is funded by members
Focused on Results
At EDCO, we keep close tabs on economic indicators such as job growth, total payroll
and new capital investment made by traded-sector companies. The results of the last
three fiscal years and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2014-2015 are as follows:
EDCO’s RESULTS
Fiscal Year
2014-2015 (Q3)
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012
TOTALS
Companies
32
30
29
21
80
Jobs
(new & retained)
524
590
1,136
890
2,616
Payroll
(estimated)*
$21.2 million
$25.9 million
$40.1 million
$30.2 million
$96.2 million
New Capital
Investment
$81.9 million
$210.9 million
$340.0 million
$25.6 million
$576.5 million
Regional Office (Bend)
705 SW Bonnett Way, Ste. #1000
Bend, OR 97701 | 541-388-3236
Executive Director: Roger Lee
Bend Manager: Robyn Sharp
Redmond
446 SW 7th Street
Redmond, OR 97756 | 541-923-5223
Manager: Jon Stark
Sisters
520 E Cascade Street | 541-977-5683
Sisters, OR 97759
Manager: Caprielle Lewis
La Pine
16345 Sixth Street. | 541-536-1432
La Pine, OR 97759
Manager: Janet Burton
Prineville/Crook County
510 SE Lynn Blvd.
Prineville, OR 97754 | 541-233-2015
Manager: Caroline Ervin
Madras/Jefferson County
2028 NW Airport Way
Madras, OR 97741 | 541-390-3121
Manager: Janet Brown
EDCO Platinum Members
AmeriTitle
Bank of the Cascades
Bend Memorial Clinic
BendBroadband
Cascade Natural Gas
Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Central Oregon Community College
CenturyLink
City of Bend
City of LaPine
City of Madras
City of Prineville
City of Redmond
City of Sisters
Combined Communications
Crook County
Deschutes County
Jefferson County
Mid Oregon Credit Union
OSU-Cascades
Pacific Power
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt
SGA CPA’s & Consultants
St. Charles Health System
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© Copyright 2015 EDCO