Oregon Business Team 
When I interviewed Blount International CEO Josh Collins a year ago, he offered a clear strategy for growing sales from $487 million in 2009 to approximately $920 million in 2014. He may hit his goals sooner than planned after Blount’s purchase Wednesday of Illinois-based farm equipment manufacturer Woods Equipment for $185 million.
Oregon’s State Small Business Credit Initiative of $16.5 million announced this week doubles the cash on-hand for three funds to help grow small businesses.
Some small business owners in Portland feel that using Groupon and other daily deal sites often has unintended consequences for their businesses.
Portland State University opened “Electric Avenue,” featuring seven electric vehicle charging stations from six different manufacturers.
Oregon’s economy has stalled at about 9.5% unemployment for months, but that number is actually closer to 19.6% when counting underemployed workers.
An Oregon-based effort is vying to bring part of $510 million in federal funding for biofuel production to the Northwest.
What it really boils down to for rural Oregon is the need to adapt from an economy largely based in timber and agriculture to an economy with a robust balance of commercial, industrial and retail development. Does this mean that rural areas should “settle” for opportunities that don’t perfectly match up with economic development strategies? Does it mean that desperate times call for desperate measures? Maybe, maybe not.
More than 1,000 people stood in long lines for the chance at a temporary job at the Oregon State Fair, with some applicants even arriving a day early.
The Oregon University System is set to begin work on the state’s largest solar project with a groundbreaking at the Oregon Institute of Technology.
Started in Portland in 2006 by two doctors, ZoomCare recently opened its eighth Portland clinic and has plans to continue expanding.