Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, OR 97523 February 5, 2003
As everyone is aware, our local economy is not doing very
well. The last 14 months have seen the departure of Fire Mt.
Gems, Energy Outfitters, and Krauss Craft to the I-5 corridor.
Now with Rough & Ready facing the possibility of closure, an-
other 140 jobs are on the line.
The new priority for the CRT is economic development and
job creation. In addition to its other activities in this field (the Re-
volving Loan Fund, helping R&R employees explore the ESOP
option, marketing of wood product businesses, exploring federal
contracting for forestry work), the CRT is seriously considering a
major investment in the tourism sector. Tourism - though not a
panacea to our economic ills - does offer opportunities to support
local businesses and create jobs.
This would take the form of a multi-functional facility de-
signed to increase curb appeal to stop more travelers and better
link the Oregon Caves National Monument to the rest of Illinois
Valley. The proposed center will serve as a catalyst for entrepre-
neurial development by providing a focal point where business
owners, crafters, artists, and service providers can interact and
collaborate.
The centre will serve as the intersection of Internet and on-
site marketing for area products. The goal is to build a critical
mass of commercial activity based on existing export products
(furniture, arts and crafts, wine) and tourism services
(accommodation, dining, attractions) within a supportive environ-
ment (rental space, administrative services, training, and technical
assistance) to spawn new businesses (web design/maintenance,
product photography, shipping) that will encourage further
growth.
The center will be a multi-functional facility combining a
number of elements: Gallery and showroom for furniture, arts/
crafts products, and Oregon Caves souvenirs; demonstration stu-
dios where artisans can practice their crafts to regale visitors;
small business incubator with rental space and affordable admin-
istrative services; community connectivity area with high speed
computer access buttressed by technical support; and training fa-
cility for micro-enterprise organizations and Rogue Community
College to deliver courses and workshops.
In addition to the center, the CRT is applying for a Rural
Business Opportunities Grant which would provide funds so that
qualifying businesses and start-ups could establish a “Business
Investment Account.” These funds - when matched with the busi-
ness owner’s own money - can be used to purchase whatever ser-
vices (business planning, technical consultation, Website design,
training, etc.) that would best help that business grow. The goal
would be to assist businesses to acquire services needed to access
loans and/or to solve pressing business problems.
If you would like to get involved in development, please con-
tact the CRT office. If you own or would like to own a business,
visit ivcrt.org for the business survey.
Forestry Contracting Workshop, Feb. 8 - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you are interested in finding out more about federal con-
tracting for restoration, thinning and other work in the public for-
ests and defensible space on private land, the Family Resource
Center is the place to be.
Page 9
Beware of
ODA initiates new marketing program
field honest for all producers.
gling. That makes the ODA
Signs of hope for Oregon
phone scam agriculture
While the agency has a
focus on helping the industry
during 2002 are
number
of programs that di-
remain
economically
viable.
seen
by
Phil
Ward,
the
direc-
says OSP
rectly assist the agriculture
Ward said that ODA is
tor of the Oregon Dept. of Ag-
Oregon State Police
(OSP) recently announced that
a fictitious organization is so-
liciting money by phoning
residents and identifying
themselves as being associ-
ated with the OSP.
It’s reported that this
group states on the phone that
the money is being sought due
to the recent failure of Meas-
ure 28.
OSP noted in a news re-
lease that it does not solicit
funds from the public and is
not involved in this endeavor.
These actions constitute a
criminal act and it is requested
that any information pertain-
ing to the subjects identity be
reported to the OSP.
JoCo. office
seeks volunteer
The Josephine County
Sheriff’s Office is seeking a
new volunteer to take the
place of Dave Abbey, who
was with the office for 7
years. Anyone interested can
contact Deputy Rich McMil-
len at the sheriff’s office.
riculture (ODA).
He sees 2003 as a critical
year for the state agency and
the agriculture industry in
general, with economic viabil-
ity of producers the principal
desired outcome.
“You can call this a pre-
diction if you want, but I be-
lieve we are going to see our
export markets continue to
strengthen in 2003, and the
softening value of the U.S.
dollar will provide us more
access to the international
marketplace,” he said.
Ward’s optimism is tem-
pered with the reality of statis-
tics which show net farm in-
come this past year at a rela-
tively low point.
Even though Oregon’s
value of agricultural produc-
tion stands at $3.5 billion, low
commodity prices, high ex-
penses, and other economic
factors are keeping the farmer
and rancher from making a
substantial profit. Oregon’s
agricultural diversity allows
some sectors to do well, but
many others are still strug-
initiating some relatively new
services that will help give
Oregon agricultural products a
leg up in a competitive mar-
ketplace, beginning with a
branded marketing effort, the
Oregon Advantage Program.
Through the program,
ODA provides certification to
Oregon firms with products
that meet certain quality stan-
dards, processing standards,
and handling standards that
assure food safety, Ward said.
National retailers and in-
ternational markets are asking
for such certification from
those who produce and handle
agricultural products.
ODA also is looking at its
regulatory programs as service
to the agriculture community,
meaning that regulation sup-
ports the industry’s high stan-
dards for production and mar-
keting by keeping the playing
community, it can also play an
advocacy role on key issues
where it does not have direct
responsibility. Protection of
farm land and labor issues are
two examples.
Potential legislation in the
2003 session is expected to
include agricultural labor.
Ward said he sees the issue as
another critical component to
the industry’s survival.
“We understand there
might be some interest in
adopting a collective bargain-
ing act for agriculture in Ore-
gon,” he said.
“That is something that
deserves a careful look and
could have benefits for both
the farm worker and the farm
community,” he continued.
“ODA wants to make sure it
can assist in the deliberation
and fact finding process rela-
tive to these kinds of issues.”
$ WANTED: Local Entrepreneurs $
To utilize Low Interest Business Loans
Pick up an application & information at:
•IVCRT Office, 200-C Lister St.
•I.V. Library, 209 W. Palmer
•IV Family Coalition, 535 E. River St.
•Selma Video (next to Selma Post Office)
•O’Brien Country Store
Deadline for applications: Feb. 21
Illinois Valley Community Response Team
Prime Rib… $10.95
(with prawns, oysters or scallops…$14.95)
Prime Rib with Lobster… $17.95
Lobster Platter… $16.95
Reservations Recommended
Served from 2 p.m. to closing
Tuesday-Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
(Closed Monday)
Assorted Loin Pork Chops ... $1.27 lb.
Pork Half Loins ... $1.47 lb.
Boneless Pork Chops ... $1.87 lb.
Pork Shoulder Roast ... .99 lb.
Pork Steaks ... $1.27 lb.
Country Style Spareribs ... $1.27 lb.
Baby Back Ribs ... $3.47 lb.
Western Family Bacon 16 oz. ... $1.89 ea.