For three decades, Economic Development for Central Oregon has led the strategic planning and implementation for economic growth and diversification in Central Oregon.

In the ashes of the 1982 recession, concerned community leaders in Central Oregon realized that economic development doesn’t just happen — it takes broad community support, hard work and, most importantly, a focused set of achievable recruitment targets. At the time, Central Oregon was heavily dependent on one industry with two of every three manufacturing jobs in wood products. Recognizing the need for a stronger, more diverse economic base, those leaders formed a regional organization, Central Oregon Economic Development Council, to spearhead business recruitment efforts.

Twenty-eight years later, we are recovering from another long and painful economic trough. The same organization, now called Economic Development for Central Oregon, has been successfully working behind the scenes to make a diversified economy a reality. Small but growing clusters of companies exist in high-technology, software/IT, medical devices, recreational equipment and renewable energy. Now, roughly one of every four manufacturing jobs in the tricounty area is in wood products.

The list of successful EDCO projects during this period is long and encompasses small and large companies, including T-Mobile, Idatech, PV Powered, O’Keeffe’s Company, CLS Fabrication/Baldhead Cabinets, PCC Schlosser, Breedlove Guitar, ODS Companies, Suterra, Michi Designs, APCO Swiss and Altrec.com.

Despite recent employment losses led by construction, manufacturing and services related to the real estate industry, Central Oregon still has experienced a net gain of more than 13,000 jobs over the past 10 years. Meanwhile, Oregon, along with most of its metro areas, is facing the grim prospect of a jobless decade.

Just this year, EDCO has launched a new program, the Venture Catalyst, to play an even larger role in helping Central Oregon’s most promising entrepreneurs and early-stage companies. Even today, in the midst of a severe economic downturn, EDCO’s staff of nine individuals in four regionally dispersed offices are working on more than 70 current projects. Those projects represent companies in various stages of planning a move or expansion in Central Oregon.

EDCO is guided by a three-year strategic plan that helps chart the course of economic development efforts for Central Oregon. This plan is developed collaboratively by the EDCO staff, its board of directors (34 members) and six advisory boards across the region that represent individual communities. Development of the 2010-12 strategic plan was the primary focus for both the board and staff for the last four months of 2009.

Targeted industries — those sectors with the greatest future promise in which Central Oregon has a strong competitive standing — include renewable and alternative energy, aviation and aerospace, recreational equipment, software and information technology, biosciences and medical device manufacturing, data centers, higher education and training facilities, and word products. EDCO is now in the process of developing detailed, tactical annual plans for each of the industry targets mentioned above.

As part of the planning process, the EDCO board invited local leaders in each community to spend a month considering what they believe is necessary for their community to move forward with economic development. At EDCO’s October board meeting, each community presented its priorities for key projects, targeted industries and initiatives to the board. Many of the challenges and opportunities surfaced by individual communities were common to the region and have been incorporated into the overall 2010-12 strategic plan for Central Oregon. Other opportunities specific to Redmond, Madras or Prineville became part of the local initiatives managed by EDCO staff and local advisory boards.

No, economic development is decidedly not a spectator sport. It is the result of concerned and engaged citizens, drawn from across the region, who have a deep understanding of local trends and challenges. The strategic plan that will guide EDCO’s efforts for the next 36 months was crafted based on the needs and desires of the citizens of Central Oregon.

As we continue the efforts of diversifying our regional economy by attracting new investment and jobs, we will check to see what works, what needs changing and what we can do better. If this sounds interesting, learn more about Economic Development for Central Oregon by visiting our Web site at www.edcoinfo.com, attend a monthly board meeting or call us at 541-388-3236.