When Rural Oregon Came Together

The Transformative Impact of the Economic Equity Investment Program

Most tales of rural transformation start with grassroots efforts, not government grants. But in Eastern Oregon, a Business Oregon EEIP grant to High Desert Partnership sparked something special. This $400,000 investment didn't just support another program – it ignited a movement, bringing together eight organizations across Oregon's frontier communities and proving that sometimes, the right support at the right time can transform a region.

The numbers tell a compelling story of rural entrepreneurship in action. Over the past 15 months, over 240 rural small business owners expressed interest in receiving assistance through EEIP, with 138 qualifying for services. Forty-nine small business owners received grants that invested $183,687 directly in rural businesses in 8 Eastern Oregon counties. Hundreds of hours of classes, workshops, and one-on-one technical assistance were offered.

EEIP, established through Senate Bill 1579 in 2022, represents Oregon's commitment to building economic stability, self-sufficiency, and wealth in rural and underserved communities. Three key focus areas were Ownership of Land and Principal Residences, Entrepreneurship and Business Development, and Workforce Development.

For High Desert Partnership and its partners, the focus was on entrepreneurship and business development. The partners adopted a comprehensive approach, offering three key support pillars: access to classes and workshops, individualized technical assistance, and direct grant funding. Through partner organizations, entrepreneurs access free courses, receive business counseling, and apply for small business grants – creating a complete support ecosystem. The program's momentum helped leverage an additional $197,964 in small business funding, demonstrating how small grants spark broader economic activity.

The real-world impact on employment was significant: 32 new full-time jobs and 9 part-time positions were created, bringing vital employment opportunities to rural communities. Each job represented not just a paycheck but a step toward more vigorous, resilient local economies.

35 EEIP recipients graduated from CO.STARTERS programs, including Core, a rigorous 10-week program that walked entrepreneurs through the proven process of getting their businesses unstuck and off the ground. CO.STARTERS is a cohort-based program that equips entrepreneurs with practical insights, valuable relationships, and essential tools to turn ideas into action. Participants learned to view their business from a customer-centric perspective, validate their ideas through real-world testing, and build sustainable business models.

Behind these numbers were real people and real dreams coming to life. Take Chef Alyson "Aly" Sedlock, who transformed the historic Hotel Condon into a culinary destination with her Wild Sage Restaurant. Named after her five-year-old daughter Sage, the restaurant isn’t just another eatery – it is a testament to sustainable dining in rural Oregon, featuring locally grown, seasonal ingredients and thoughtful accommodation of dietary restrictions. With an EEIP grant of $4,500 through the Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce, a Gilliam County Grant, and a $9,500 Kiva U.S. loan, Aly turned her culinary vision into reality. The restaurant's grand opening in June 2024 marked a new chapter in Condon's dining scene.

Or consider Lindsey Briggs, who breathed new life into Enterprise's historic downtown with River Street Market. Through a $6,000 EEIP grant from NEOEDD and a $12,500 Kiva U.S. loan facilitated by Foundry Collective and Kiva Oregon, Lindsey established more than just a store – she’s creating a community hub at 104 N River Street.

Keith Kennedy, a Burns Paiute Tribe member, received a $5,000 EEIP grant to cover installing a fire suppression system in his food trailer. Teku Nobi is a much-loved and tasty part of Harney County and beyond and could not operate without this required upgrade. As with many things rural, Keith had to make an overnight trip to La Grande, Oregon, to install his required equipment because service like that just isn't around the corner.

Lindsey, Aly, and Keith all graduated from the CO.STARTERS Core program and received significant one-on-one assistance demonstrating how technical assistance and funding combined create the recipe for strong and healthy rural businesses.

One of the most striking achievements of the program was its success in supporting female entrepreneurs. Women comprised 84% of fund recipients – a statistic that carries particular weight given the persistent funding gaps women business owners face. According to the Brookings Institute, 64% of women-owned businesses experienced funding shortfalls, making this program's strong support of female entrepreneurs especially meaningful.

High Desert Partnership assembled a powerful coalition of organizations committed to rural economic development, bringing together:

• BizHarney

• LaunchPad Baker

• Treasure Valley Community College Small Business Development Center (TVCC SBDC)

• NEOEDD (Northeast Oregon Economic Development District)

• Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce

• Euvalcree

• Burns Paiute Tribe

• Foundry Collective

By uniting these organizations with diverse strengths and local knowledge, High Desert Partnership developed a comprehensive approach to economic development that could effectively support rural entrepreneurs across Eastern Oregon and reach even the most remote communities.

What was particularly striking was the diversity of businesses supported. The program reached entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey – 37% were established businesses with one or more years under their belt, 22% were in the launch stage, and 28% were brave souls just starting up. 10% were ready to take their business to the next level, and 3% were pivoting their business model. This mix of experience levels created a rich ecosystem where newer businesses could learn from established ones while fresh ideas helped invigorate the local economy.

The program's reach across communities was noteworthy. 73% of recipients identified as white, 22% as Latino, 2% as Asian, and 2% as tribal. This diverse representation showed how the program was helping to build a more inclusive rural economy.

BizHarney Opportunity Collaborative set the tone with their mission to help rural businesses "start, grow and succeed while also helping to build a thriving business environment." This wasn't just about handing out money but building sustainable futures.

The Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD) played a key role in the program's success, offering three distinct CO.STARTERS Programs across Northeast Oregon. In Baker City, Enterprise, and La Grande, NEOEDD provided targeted entrepreneurship support that helped local business owners refine their ideas, develop sustainable business models, and connect with critical resources. These programs went beyond traditional business training, creating a cohort-based learning environment where entrepreneurs could share experiences, challenge assumptions, and build meaningful networks.

This program increased entrepreneurs' access to often scarce resources in places like Baker County, where LaunchPad Baker operates. LaunchPad Baker distributed a little over $21,000 in EEIP grants and leveraged those grants for an additional $77,655.

In the communities the Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce served, almost $30,686 in EEIP grants were awarded, and nearly $55,000 in additional funds were leveraged.

Foundry Collective took on the challenge of managing the intake of applicants and ensuring they met the requirements to receive benefits. In addition, Foundry Collective coordinated CO.STARTERS programming in the region and provided one-on-one technical assistance to many eligible applicants. Foundry Collective also operates Kiva Oregon, the first rural-based Kiva Hub in the United States. Offering access to 0%, $0 fee loans, EEIP recipients successfully raised $42,500 in much-needed funding.

Senate Bill 1579 created EEIP in 2022. At the time, there were questions about how it would impact frontier rural communities. The HDP collaboration proved how valuable this program is in transforming economic development in Oregon's small towns and rural communities. EEIP's goal to support economically disadvantaged individuals found particularly fertile ground in rural areas. This funding helped uncover a fundamental truth: rural Oregon's future lies in the hands of its small business owners—the dreamers and doers who transform Main Street storefronts into engines of local prosperity. These small business owners face the significant challenges of operating in remote locations with few startup resources and a lack of access to capital.

An emphasis on the traded sector in Oregon has ignored the soul of our small towns. Often overlooked have been the artisans who shape wood into wonder, the makers who turn raw materials into masterpieces, the creators who breathe life into empty spaces, and the growers who coax abundance from Oregon soil. While EEIP served individuals across the state, its impact in rural areas was transformative.

The real story wasn't just about a $400,000 grant. It was about what happens when we trust local organizations to know what's best for their communities, about the power of collaboration over competition, and, most importantly, about believing in rural Oregon's potential to create its own success stories.

The success of the initial EEIP program has led to even more support for rural Oregon entrepreneurs. High Desert Partnership has secured an additional $350,000 in Round 2 funding, with over $195,000 earmarked for direct grants. This new funding will also support expanded CO.STARTERS programming, more workshops, and one-on-one technical assistance, creating even more opportunities for rural entrepreneurs to access the training and support they need to succeed.

This continued investment shows that the program isn't just a one-time effort—it's part of a sustained commitment to rural Oregon's economic future. As we've seen with entrepreneurs like Aly Sedlock and Lindsey Briggs, combining direct funding with comprehensive business education and community support creates the conditions for sustainable success and the launch of valuable Main Street businesses. When we help a small business owner like Keith Kennedy purchase required equipment, we remove roadblocks that can stall or stop a rural small business from operating.

In rural Oregon, we're not just building businesses – we're building futures. And with this additional round of funding, those futures are looking brighter than ever. The story of EEIP isn't just about grants and numbers – it's about communities coming together to support their own, about dreams becoming reality, and about the power of believing in rural Oregon's potential.