The BP oil spill that’s devastating the seafood industry in the Gulf Coast region isn’t yet affecting Oregon’s sushi restaurants.

Cork is an important part of the wine industry. Maybe not as critical as the grape, but hard to think of a bottle without it. Salem-based Cork ReHarvest, an environmental nonprofit, is working to bolster cork’s importance as a manufactured good with a new cork recycling program.

The Port of Astoria’s newly finished strategic plan hopes to generate 200 new jobs for the coastal town, no small feat  considering that Clatsop County’s unemployment rate is 9.5% and job growth has decreased by 1.4% since last May.

The final acquisition of an important rail segment has given the International Port of Coos Bay a chance at economic stability.

A roundup of timely transactions, mergers and big deals.

  All “latest” numbers are for May 2010 unless otherwise noted. Latest Month Previous Month Previous Year Annual Change EMPLOYMENT/BUSINESS LISTINGS Total employment State of Oregon, thousands 1,750.0 1,749.3 1,748.3 0.1% Total unemployment State of Oregon, thousands 202.9 209.9 223.5 -9.2% Unemployment rate Ore. civilian labor force, seasonally adjusted 10.6% 10.6% 11.6% -1.0 Portland/Vancouver MSA; … Read more

Oregon farm product prices peaked in summer 2008, flopped in 2009 with the stagnant economy, but regained some footing in the first half of 2010.

A tanned, barefoot Rod “Harry” Harris splashed some amber whiskey into glasses from aboard the RoLin, his 70-foot yacht moored in Portland’s RiverPlace marina. Harris helped make the spirit himself at House Spirits, a small-batch distillery in Portland, as part of the Whiskey Your Way program, which allows participants to blend and age their own 15-gallon barrel of whiskey for $4,900.

Capital poor and risk averse, Oregon has never been known for fast money. But an ambitious group of young business leaders is working to reinvigorate the startup scene.

Leaner companies earn more profits on lower sales, and IPOs return.