SCDC, Inc. Embarks on Modern Initiative with the Southwest Oregon Innovation Network Grant Application

COOS BAY, Oregon (March 7, 2024) - The South Coast Development Council, Inc. is excited to announce its submission of a grant application for the establishment of the Southwest Oregon Innovation Network (SOIN) through Business Oregon’s Regional Innovation Hub – Groundwork program. This application is the culmination of a yearlong process which involved approximately one hundred businesses and partners. Project partners include the Small Business Development Centers at Southwestern Oregon Community College and Umpqua Community College, the Umpqua Economic Development Partnership, CCD Business Development Corporation, Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board, cities of Coos Bay and North Bend, and private businesses such as Blue Ridge Strategies, Engles Furniture, and Pacific Power. This project aims to foster growth and innovation across Southern Oregon.

The proposed grant seeks to introduce a regional innovation hub, designed to enhance collaboration and communication among economic and small business development agencies. If awarded the funding, it would include the hiring of a full-time program manager to coordinate the program, which will unite innovators and entrepreneurs, offering them a platform for collaboration and access to resources essential for their success.

The initiative will feature several key programs such as Region-wide Design Sprints, Innovators Roundtables, and Growth Talks. These programs are tailored to bridge the inspiration gap, facilitate meaningful connections, and provide a launchpad for entrepreneurial ventures and small business growth.

Region-wide Design Sprints are interactive workshops aimed at closing the inspiration gap through practical skill development. Participants tackle real-world problems faced by local businesses, creating solutions while learning cutting-edge approaches like design thinking and Lean startup principles. The goal is to foster and develop promising ideas into viable business ventures.

The Innovators Roundtable is a quarterly meetup for entrepreneurs to network, share experiences, and collaborate. Held across various regional venues, it broadens the opportunity for connections.

 Growth Talks builds upon on the success of the Umpqua Growth Talks, offering small businesses and entrepreneurs a platform to pitch ideas, potentially secure funding, and engage in valuable networking and learning opportunities with the business community.

SCDC, with its diverse non-profit board, continues to lead the way in fostering a culture of cooperation and partnership among public and private entities on Oregon’s South Coast. This grant application marks a significant step towards creating a supportive ecosystem for innovators and entrepreneurs in the region.

For further information, please contact:

 Lexie Woodward, Executive Director

South Coast Development Council, Inc.

(541) 808-7774

lexie@scdcinc.org

#southernoregoncoast #economicdevelopment #smallbusiness #entrepreneurs #innovators #success

New Economic Development Technician

On January 30, 2024, the South Coast Development Council, Inc. welcomed their newest staff member, Economic Development Technician Courteney Halstead. An Oregon native, Courteney was born and raised in Monroe (South of Corvallis). She is the youngest of four children and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Western Oregon University.

Upon graduation, Courteney worked in various law offices throughout the Willamette Valley and relocated to the Southern Oregon Coast in 2020. Most recently, she established her own small business writing grants for local non-profits and government agencies and spent three years with the City of Reedsport as the Deputy City Recorder.

Courteney takes advantage of Oregon’s beautiful landscape through hiking and daytrips with her 9-year-old Newfoundland, Sunday. When Courteney is not outdoors or in the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Welcome Courteney!

SCDC, Inc. Submits Regional Grant

In partnership with Beacon Broadband, Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc., and Douglas Fast Net the South Coast Development Council (SCDC) submitted a regional grant application through Business Oregon's Broadband Technical Assistance Program (BTAP).

Coos County, Oregon and Curry County, Oregon represent a true paragon of the digital divide. Some communities have access to multiple fiber providers while some have no access to broadband whatsoever. Some residents and businesses believe they have no use for online services while others are dependent on it for their personal and/or professional lives. If awarded, the BTAP grant will provide up to $267,330 to supplement $432,400 in matching funds. The objective is to bring stakeholders together to build and execute a regional plan extending internet access to unserved and underserved populations.

SCDC is a regional economic development organization and private non-profit that exists for the purpose of fostering communication, collaboration and partnership among the various collateral public and private entities on Oregon’s South Coast. We believe that promoting regional broadband access and quality aligns with fostering economic development and are excited about the possibility of being awarded this grant.

Appointment of Executive Director

COOS BAY, Ore. (December 27, 2023) – The South Coast Development Council, Inc. (SCDC), a leading economic development organization in Oregon, is excited to announce the appointment of Lexie Woodward as its new Executive Director, effective January 8, 2024. Woodward brings a wealth of experience in economic and community development, making her an ideal leader for SCDC's mission of promoting economic growth and vitality across Oregon's South Coast.

"We are thrilled to welcome Lexie to the South Coast Development Council. Her impressive track record in economic and community development and her deep roots in Oregon make her the ideal choice to lead our organization,” Board Chair David Milliron said. “Lexie's unique blend of local insight and broad experience is what we need to drive forward our mission of promoting economic growth and vitality across the South Coast. Her ability to hit the ground running and her commitment to fostering collaboration and partnership will be instrumental in expanding our economic development efforts. We are confident that under Lexie's leadership, SCDC will reach new heights in enhancing our communities' prosperity and quality of life on Oregon's beautiful South Coast."

Born and raised in the Portland suburb of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Woodward's appointment marks a return to her home state, bringing her extensive experience across the United States and international arenas. With a Masters in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University and a notable tenure with Peace Corps in Nicaragua and AmeriCorps in Illinois, Woodward's diverse background aligns perfectly with SCDC's vision.

Previously, Woodward has held significant roles in economic development, ranging from Economic Development Coordinator in rural Page, Arizona, to Manager of Economic Development in burgeoning metropolitan Mesquite, Texas. Her leadership in her roles has been marked by successful growth management, business retention, expansion initiatives, and innovative redevelopment projects.

As SCDC's Executive Director, Woodward will oversee efforts to foster collaboration and partnership among public and private entities on Oregon’s South Coast. SCDC, headquartered in Coos Bay and operating from the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus, serves a 158-mile range from the City of Florence to the Port of Brookings-Harbor. Woodward will provide technical assistance to retain, expand, and attract living-wage companies and grow them from within the region.

Woodward will be strategically involved in the $300,000 Economic Development Administration grant recently awarded to the SCDC to accelerate technology entrepreneurship on the South Coast by increasing access to entrepreneurial support and startup capital. The SCDC is leading the South Coast Incubator Technology Industry Ecosystem Development project with support from Southwestern Oregon Community College and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend.

The Board of Directors at the South Coast Development Council extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Judith Ann Mogan Foundation and the Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation for their invaluable financial contributions. These organizations played a pivotal role in successfully recruiting and hiring our new executive director. “Their generous support facilitated a thorough and wide-reaching search and underscored the vital importance of community partnerships in advancing our regional economic development goals. This collaboration serves as a testament to the power of united efforts in shaping a prosperous future for the South Coast,” Milliron said.

About the South Coast Development Council, Inc.

The South Coast Development Council, Inc. is a regional economic development organization and private non-profit that exists to foster communication, collaboration, and partnership among the various collateral public and private entities on Oregon’s South Coast and to promote economic development, job creation, business retention, and expansion, encouraging new investment, and enhancing the economic vitality of the region. SCDCinc is centered in Coos Bay, Oregon, and has offices on the Southwestern Oregon Community College campus. We serve the southern half of the Oregon coast from the City of Florence to the Port of Brookings-Harbor, working to enhance partnerships and provide no-cost technical assistance to retain, expand, and attract living-wage companies and industry to our communities. The southern Oregon coast is home to approx. 110,000 residents, four counties, 12 cities, seven port districts, the Coos Bay Rail Line, and the only commercial airport on the Oregon coast. The region is surrounded by outdoor adventure and is home to the world-class Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, hundreds of outdoor recreation opportunities, and an exceptional quality of life.

Media Contact: Rick Osborn, Board Vice-Chair, South Coast Development Council, Inc., 541-908-6384 or rick@blueridgestrategies.net