Share this article! Layoffs at Harry & David Although no official word has come from the company, Harry & David has reportedly laid off up to 80 employees across its information technology, marketing, creative services and finance departments. The layoffs have a significant impact on local jobs — Harry & David is Southern Oregon’s largest … Read more
Layoffs at Harry & David
Although no official word has come from the company, Harry & David has reportedly laid off up to 80 employees across its information technology, marketing, creative services and finance departments.
The layoffs have a significant impact on local jobs — Harry & David is Southern Oregon’s largest nonmedical employer.
While no one in an official role confirmed the layoffs, both current and former employees said meetings were held with workers to discuss the gourmet food and gift company’s restructuring efforts.
Layoffs of management and salaried employees are nothing new for the company. In January 2009, Harry & David slashed more than 100 salaried and full-time positions, or about 10 percent of its nationwide staff of 1,100.
Read the full story at the Mail Tribune.
Treasury cracks down on perks
Prompted by an investigation from The Oregonian into the first-class travel and free golf being received by treasury investment officers, Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler is cutting down on those perks.
Travel is part of the routine for the investment staff, but many of those trips have also included luxurious shopping and resort meetings — perks paid for by state funds.
Wheeler said he was concerned when he learned that state money was being used to pay for first-class travel for investment officers. He said he was troubled by the kinds of entertainment those officers were accepting and that internal procedures, such as travel requests, weren’t apparently being followed.
“There’s the question of perception,” said Wheeler, who will be a first-time candidate for statewide office when he faces treasurer candidate and longtime state Sen. Rick Metsger in May’s democratic primary. Wheeler said public employees must set a “sterling” example of frugal spending.
Read the full story at OregonLive.com.
Epic Air twist means Bend jobs
While Chinese company China Aviation was the highest bidder for the assets of bankrupt aircraft-maker Epic Air, a surprise deal is keeping control of the Bend company in the U.S.
Under the new collaboration, LT Builders Group will team up with the Chinese company to revive Epic Air.
In a surprise role reversal, a colorful group of experimental-plane builders, who appeared outmaneuvered last week by high-bidder China Aviation, will team with the Chinese aerospace subsidiary. Together the Americans and Chinese will pay $4.3 million for Epic’s assets, yielding money and business for creditors, jobs in Bend at a revived venture, support for existing Epic aircraft owners and a means for amateur builders to complete their planes.
“We did it!” said pilot and businessman Daryl Ingalsbe, an LT Builders Group manager, flashing thumbs-up as he left the courtroom. “We kept control of this wonderful company in the United States.”
Read the full story at OregonLive.com.
Timber towns court biomass
Residents of towns like Estacada, Molalla and Canby have been hit hard by the decline of the timber industry.
But Clackamas County officials are making efforts to bring business back by promoting its resources to the biomass industry.
Biomass facilities convert organic waste materials such as timber waste into a coal-like substance that can be burned to create electricity. [Clackamas County Commissioner Bob Austin] said such facilities could provide new jobs and help support local farmers.
“We have not only timber waste from our forests, but agricultural waste from our nurseries and Christmas tree farms,” Austin said. “Instead of burning it, we could be showing potential investors there is a supply for a biomass facility to operate year-round in Clackamas County.”
Read the full story at the Daily Journal of Commerce.
Portland home sales up
Portland real estate is beginning to show signs of life, with closed home sales improving 35% this past January over the same period last year.
The timing couldn’t be better, with construction jobs down and a glut of inventory keeping new building from picking up.
This is a great time to buy a home. Really, it is. The recession has produced a slowdown in home sales, resulting in a glutted market and increasingly desperate sellers who are cutting their prices. Interest rates remain near historic lows and builders are offering incentives to potential buyers.
And until the end of the month, the federal government is also offering tax credits to both first-time and repeat homebuyers. First-time buyers can qualify for credits of up to $8,000, depending on their income and the price of the home, while repeat buyers can qualify for credits of up to $6,500.
Read the full story at the Portland Tribune.
