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Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, San Francisco, and Portland are just a few of the Pacific Northwest communities hit hard by COVID-19 and the regulations put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. In the region’s urban cities restrictions have been severe and the economic losses high. In the wak...Continue Reading

Electric Cooperative Uses PlaceVR Immersive Technology to Attract Future Visitors with Virtual Reality Tours BAKER CITY, OR -- When you experience the opening of the new 360-degree video released by Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative to promote economic development in Baker County, your brain is going to think that you’re sitting i...Continue Reading

Eastern Oregon is recreation abundant with plenty of space for lovers of the outdoors. Thousands of acres of public land in Grant County alone provide access to backpacking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, horseback riding and scenic road trips.  The Strawberry Mountain Wilderness area in Grant County boasts miles o...Continue Reading

The recreational opportunities in Eastern Oregon are endless. Golf is a popular activity for many residents. Eastern Oregon is home to seven golf courses. Grant County alone has three popular golf courses, one located in John Day, one in Seneca and one in Dayville. Baker City boasts the Quail Ridg...Continue Reading

The attractions and recreation in Eastern Oregon make it a great place to live and work. Living in the region could even lead to a healthier and more active lifestyle since there are four seasons worth of outdoor activities to enjoy. Driving in Eastern Oregon alone is an exciting endeavor...Continue Reading

The climate of Eastern Oregon is ideal for year-round outdoor fun! The region’s seasons each have their own special appeal, with all of them bringing new adventure. Winter welcomes plenty of snow for the ski and snowmobile enthusiasts. Spring brings lovely, moderate temperatures in the fifties and sixties, perfect fo...Continue Reading

Eastern Oregon University (EOU), an acclaimed four year university located in Eastern Oregon, has a wide variety of educational programs. In addition to Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs, the college offers online classes, military programs, certificates and workforce training programs. EOU also accepts transfer credits from other schools. Affordabl...Continue Reading

Education in Eastern Oregon is focused on helping children thrive mentally, emotionally and physically. The school system encompasses K-12 and hosts a variety of opportunities for growth. The educators have a sincere interest in the needs of each student and are passionate about growing the next generation into well-rounded, intelligen...Continue Reading

The Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Website is a valuable resource for small businesses. Eastern Oregon is the ideal location for starting or expanding a business. The supportive and collaborative community atmosphere welcomes new businesses and professionals moving from nearby Boise, Bend, Portland and other cities. In addition, the low cost...Continue Reading

Videos Utilize Golden Shovel Agency’s PlaceVR Technology to Fill a Gap and Save Lives (Baker City, Oregon – April 06, 2020) The Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative is furthering their public safety training with the launch of a training video in 360-degree format. When accessed with virtual reality goggles, viewers are abl...Continue Reading

WorkSource Oregon, a network of public and private partners, offers high quality services to individuals and businesses that results in job attainment, retention and  business advancement. The organization provides access to information about local careers and industry profiles, tax credits, incentive programs and economic statistics to assist individuals and businesse...Continue Reading

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative partners with the economic development agencies and municipalities and County leadership of Baker County, Grant County, Harney County and Union County as well as other community members to provide technical assistance that grows the economy and enhances life for residents of Eastern Oregon.  These partnerships with economi...Continue Reading

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative offers low-cost energy to local businesses. Additional regional incentives make transitioning business to the area a positive move all around. Area economic development agencies and city and county governments in the region offer a long list of grants, funding, rebates and temporary tax exemptions to foste...Continue Reading

The state of Oregon encourages the building and expansion of businesses through several incentive programs. Local property tax exemptions, tax credits for hiring individuals from target groups, solar energy development incentives, media incentive programs and loans for the expansion of small manufacturing businesses are only a few examples of th...Continue Reading

Eastern Oregon is home to a wide variety of successful industries. The region has been defined by mining, timber, manufacturing and tourism historically, but these industries and more still thrive today. New startups are moving to Eastern Oregon every day, finding a supportive community and a low cost of livin...Continue Reading

La Grande, OR -- Each fiscal year, the La Grande Urban Renewal Agency (URA) has a limited amount of funding to allocate toward public/ private development projects within the Urban Renewal District. For the 2020-2021 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020, the Agency will be accepting applications for project fundin...Continue Reading

A family-friendly environment, easy access to an assortment of outdoor activities and affordable living make Eastern Oregon the ideal place to relocate. Educational opportunities abound, providing residents with a supportive school system from kindergarten through college. Small towns and cities make growing a tight-knit community simple. The cost of livin...Continue Reading

Community theatre productions, festivals, fairs and other celebrations provide the opportunity to attend events in the region year-round at almost any given time. Live performances take place regularly at Eastern Oregon Regional Theater and the Elgin Opera House. Alder House Museum, Baker Heritage Museum, The DeWitt Museum and the Nationa...Continue Reading

Natural beauty, a bounty of outdoor amenities and economic promise combined with affordability make housing in Eastern Oregon a desirable alternative to high-priced areas like Portland, Bend and Boise, Idaho. With housing prices lower than National Average, it is easy to find the home you want at the price yo...Continue Reading

The opportunity for higher education is one of the many attractive features of Eastern Oregon. Located just off I-84 in the heart of the Blue Mountain range between Boise, Idaho and Portland, Oregon is Eastern Oregon University. The public college in La Grande, Oregon is a four year university offerin...Continue Reading

By hiring from diverse and underserved communities, a company can boost innovation along with its bottom line. The current U.S. labor market bodes well for workers: unemployment has been consistently low and demand for talent remains high. But this wreaks havoc for companies who face a talent shortage to fill vacan...Continue Reading

With record-low unemployment numbers continuing, many states are engaging in creative tactics to draw in new residents and workers — and keep the ones already there. When it comes to employment, the U.S. economy has continued on its roll, according to a variety of statistics. That is, of course, excellent new...Continue Reading

BAKER WEB ACADEMY BWA offers (at no cost to Oregon families) a full selection of online classes, online guided textbook-based classes, teacher support, technology, and face to face learning/support opportunities.  Our program is based on a philosophy that students need options and personalization in their education, and we are experts i...Continue Reading

Although the number of jobs lost during the Great Recession have been regained, not all regions or industry sectors have experienced the same recovery.   Where are the best job opportunities, and in what sectors? The research from market analytics consultant Emsi suggests that some of the most attractive sectors in term...Continue Reading