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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 14, 2017)
24 Wednesday, June 14, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon LOAN: Program designed to spur employment in Sisters Continued from page 3 Sisters in November 2015 in the former Metabolic Maintenance building on North Pine Street. When they opened their doors, Paul Hodge, one of the own- ers of the company, and two employees were the only staff. In December 2016 there were four, and currently there are 17 employees in Sisters and one sales representa- tive in New York. Their esti- mate for a full workforce has increased from 30 to 45 by next summer, creating more employment opportunities for residents of Sisters. The employee positions include mixing, manufactur- ing, and packaging. There will be one compliance offi- cer to ensure that Laird is meeting the food safety stan- dards of the Food and Drug Administration. There are also positions in sales and customer service. Laird plans to be break- ing ground in Sisters’ light industrial zone in August 2017 for the construction of two buildings — one 15,000 square feet and one 8,000 square feet. The planning process is already underway with the City. If all goes well, Hodge said they plan to move quickly and anticipate mov- ing into the new facility in December 2017. “Our long-term goal for the company is to become a well- known trusted food source, similar to the Newman’s Own line of products,” said Hodge. They want to be known for providing clean, nutrient- dense products, free of all preservatives and chemicals. Their powdered non-dairy creamer is the only healthy one on the market. All the oth- ers contain unhealthy hydro- genated oil. Laird SuperFood is available here in Sisters at Melvin’s Fir Street Market. Hodge said everything is sell- ing so well that he is making deliveries every other day to Melvin’s. They are also in 160 grocery stores around the country. However, for the next two to three years, most of their product will be sold online, allowing them to sell at full retail price until they are really well-established. Laird is currently creating single-serve packets mainly for the hotel market. The hotel at Tetherow in Bend has served as a six-month test model. Further down the road, the possibility of providing product for the food-service PHOTO BY SUE STAFFORD City repredentatived predented a check for $51,000 to Laird SuperFood ladt week. industry will be explored. After accepting both the symbolic and the actual check, Hodge offered his thanks. It id great that a dmall town like Sidterd id willing to do domething above and beyond to bring new budinedd to town. — Paul Hodge “It is great that a small town like Sisters is willing to do something above and beyond to bring new business to town,” he said. Laird had investigated other locations and even found an existing building in Redmond, close to the airport, but they were really commit- ted to building their business in Sisters. The forgivable loan program helped solidify their decision. “We appreciate all the sup- port we have received from the City of Sisters,” Hodge concluded. The process involved in the forgivable loan program follows a particular format. If a traded-sector business is approved for a loan and a contract signed between the City and the business, the loan is funded. The contract states the number of employ- ees expected to be hired and maintained by the end of the loan period. That number of employees is the base on which the loan is formulated. At the conclusion of the loan period, if that number has not been reached or not maintained, then the com- pany will be required to repay the loan, plus interest, to the City. If they do attain their projected employment numbers and maintain those jobs for the specified number of years, the loan is forgiven. The program was developed as a way to attract businesses providing family-wage jobs to Sisters. Your Care Can Treat You For Your Allergy Symptoms Today! Walk-in • Urgent Care • Occupational Medicine 541-548-2899 3818 SW 21st Pl. 5 Hwy. 126 to Redmond, two turns and you’re there! (Near fairgrounds) YourCareMedical.com Hope for a child. Change for a nation. Bring your physical therapy prescription to us! COMMON CONDITIONS WE TREAT: Back Pain Whiplash Pre- & Post-Surgery Shoulder Pain Vertigo Stroke Side-Eff ects Knee Pain Sprained Ankle Concussion On-The-Job Injury Headaches Sciatica 541-588-6848 There are a million perfectly understandable reasons not to help. Thankfully, love trumps them all. $37 a month. All the difference in the world. Sponsor a child with a local organization at HopeAfricaKids.com This ad sponsored by The Nugget Newspaper.
