Big deals of the month.

The reopening of a plywood plant in Rogue River has brought 108 jobs and a bit of optimism to a lumber-dependent region hit especially hard by the economic downturn.

The closing of a longtime Oregon dairy has delivered another blow to an already fragile industry suffering from declining milk prices and rising feed costs. Five years ago Oregon had about 330 dairy farms that produced and sold milk. Today it has 280.

Ochoco Lumber’s new biomass plant, built adjacent to its existing sawmill on its Malheur Lumber site in John Day, began churning out pellets this month.

Struggling rural towns got a $60 million boost in 2010 from the federal New Market tax credit program and Portland-based Ecotrust CDE, which funneled money from the program into regional businesses creating green jobs in economically distressed communities.

High hopes for the Oregon ski industry’s most successful season in history got swamped by a rain-soaked January that caused resorts to close lifts and limit service.

A recent scientific study co-authored by Oregon State University marine biologists showed that marine reserves help boost fisheries over 100 miles away.

The state and nation were mired in unemployment during 2010.

  All “latest” numbers are for November 2010 unless otherwise noted. Latest Month Previous Month Previous Year Annual Change EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS LISTINGS Total employment State of Oregon, thousands (December) 1,778.0 1,790.1 1,721.8 3.3% Total unemployment State of Oregon, thousands (December) 206.2 208.2 205.5 0.3% Unemployment rate Ore. civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted (December) 10.6% 10.5% 10.6% … Read more

Portland music promoter Mike Thrasher has become one of the biggest concert promoters in the Northwest with his stealthy street-level marketing.