Mid-Columbia Economic Development District

06/15/2026

A huge thank you and best wishes to Jesus Mendoza for his leadership at The Link Public Transit and to Casey Ruiz for a decade of service to our communities.

😊🍒🍰😢There were smiles, cherries and cake to celebrate on Friday, but we are sad to have said goodbye to two members of The Link Public Transit team. Jesus Mendoza (left) served as Transportation Operations Manager for the past five years and Casey Ruiz (right) has been a driver at The Link for the past ten years! Thank you, Gentlemen! Field Supervisor Laura Reed, (center) as well as the rest of the staff, wish them all the best.😊

06/08/2026

📢 NOW OPEN: $230 Million in WA Public Works Funding! 🏗️💼

The Washington State Department of Commerce has announced that the Public Works Board (PWB) is officially opening its Traditional Programs funding cycle for fiscal year 2027.

If your community has critical infrastructure needs, nearly $230 million is available to help local governments and districts fund essential projects across three key areas:

$202 Million for Construction projects 🚧
$20 Million for Pre-construction & Planning 📋
$7.5 Million for Emergency projects 🚨

👥 Who Can Apply?
Washington state cities, counties, special purpose districts, and quasi-municipal organizations.

🗓️ Key Deadlines
Construction Applications: Due by July 31 with awards anticipated this fall.

Pre-Construction & Emergency: Open continuously until funds are exhausted.

💡 Need help applying? Join a Department of Commerce Workshop! No registration required—just jump in to get your questions answered by the PWB team:

June 10: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
June 11: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

🔗 Ready to get started?
Apply directly via ZoomGrants or read the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on the PWB Traditional Financing webpage.

📧 Questions? Reach out to PWB Solicitation Coordinator Alison Mitchell at [email protected].

05/29/2026

Thank you to all those who came out to the historic Granada Theatre last night for the 2026 Gorge PitchFest!

Congratulations Kaahreena Ochoco, owner of Vibe Consignment for winning the Grand Prize! All five finalists were awarded last night, including Tenn Tools as the crowd favorite.

And the winner is... Vibe Consignment!

Even a power outage couldn't stop us -- Kaahreena walks away as the Grand Prize winner with a $10,000 check!

Second place was awarded to Iliana Maura, walking away with $2000.

Our three runners up walked with $1000 each, and a hour consultation with Narwhal Law and Business Strategy. A special mention to Tenn Tools for our crowd favorite and an extra $1000! Great work to Brick City & Games and Hilltopados for their pitches and accomplishments at the finals!

See you all next year! Gorge PitchFest 2026

05/28/2026

TONIGHT!
The Granada Theatre
FREE entrance including TACOS from Lake Taco!
5:30 pm - Come support our finalists and help celebrate a WINNER!!

We're so excited to announce the finalists for Gorge PitchFest 2026!

Brick City & Games
Hilltopados
Iliana Maura
Tenn Tools
Vibe Consignment

Come see them pitch live at the Granada Theatre - The Dalles, Oregon on May 28th!

05/22/2026

MCEDD is happy to help support this June 4 event with Gorge Women in Buisness, thanks to a grant from Oregon Community Foundation!

Discover Who Your Best Clients Are — and How to Reach Them Effectively

05/12/2026

Natasha Bacheller of Atlas Solutions, LLC, in cooperation with Mt Adams Chamber & Visitor Center will present this essential, free training for all small business owners and new entrepreneurs.

Free to attend! Register now, while seats remain.

05/12/2026

The Mt Adams Chamber & Visitor Center presents a FREE event: 💰Small Business Financial Essentials

TOMORROW!
Wed., May 13th 5:30-7 pm
🍷LDT Wine Co.
111 E Jewett Blvd, White Salmon

Real, actionable info on:
💰tracking income and expenses
💰 understanding financial statements
💰 tax responsibilities
💰 common mistakes to avoid
💰 strategies to stay organized all year long

Limited seats STILL AVAILABLE! Register now at MtAdamsChamber.com/events

Funding provided by WA State Microenterprise Association - WSMA thanks to a grant made by the Washington State Department of Commerce and with the support of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District.

05/12/2026

Join Mid-Columbia Innovation Hub this Thursday, May 14 to hear from two local makers who have taken their ideas … from Craft to Commerce.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/may-hubtalk-craft-to-commerce-tickets

Two makers. Two different roads from craft to commerce.
Join us for a HubTalk panel with Tonia Farman (Farman Creative) and Dyana Fiediga (The Clay Commons) — a conversation for anyone who's wondered whether their craft could be a business, or is already in it and stuck on what comes next. Pricing, pivots, and the parts of the story that don't make the highlight reel.

05/07/2026

Small Business Owners - celebrate National Small Business Week by registering for a FREE practical training focused on small business taxes and accounting essentials.

💵 Small Business Financial Essentials
🗓️ Wednesday May 13th 5:30-7pm
🍷 LDT Wine Co, 111 E. Jewett Blvd., White Salmon
✅ Register today - cap of 15 attendees

Understanding your numbers is one of the most powerful tools you have as a business owner. Join us for a practical, easy-to-understand training focused on small business taxes and accounting essentials. Whether you re a new entrepreneur or an established business owner, this session will help you st...

05/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who applied to Pitch Fest 2026! The applications were all so strong but five finalists have been selected.

Congratulations!!

Come out and help the judges vote for this year’s winner! May 28th at the Grenada Theater. Attendance is free and dinner is provided. Reserve your spot below.

We're so excited to announce the finalists for Gorge PitchFest 2026!

Brick City & Games
Hilltopados
Iliana Maura
Tenn Tools
Vibe Consignment

Come see them pitch live at the Granada Theatre - The Dalles, Oregon on May 28th!