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SAVE THE DATE: Nov. 8  |  10:00 AM–11:00 AM Facebook is offering a virtual event for Central Oregon businesses that will bring together small business owners, entrepreneurs, job seekers and community groups to enable them to learn how to use technology to grow their business to learn new skills. Registration link coming soon.   In 2011, Facebook launched the Boost with Facebook initiative to help educate small business owners about the tools that can help them find success on our platform. We’re inspired by what small businesses have been able to do using Facebook, but we want to do more—particularly for those who are transitioning to careers that require more digital skills, and for those that are now taking their business completely online. That’s why we have launched the digital Boost with Facebook program, which services cities across the US in an effort to help US small businesses grow, and to equip more people with the digital skills they need to compete in the new economy. WHAT YOU’LL LEARNJoin us for a virtual event that will bring together small business owners, entrepreneurs, job seekers and community groups to enable them to learn how to use technology to grow their business to learn new skills. TOOLS YOU CAN USELearn about the tools available (Business Pages, Messenger, Instagram and more!) to help you connect with customers, manage your digital presence, and grow your business. ADS YOU CAN CREATEWhether you want to increase conversions on your website, drive more people into your store, build awareness of your brand, or something else–advertising on Facebook and Instagram can help you achieve your unique business goals. WAYS TO BE CREATIVEBehind every business is a story. Learn how to tell yours on Facebook and Instagram with just a phone, creative apps, and great lighting! Every business can create beautiful content and we’ll show you how. For more information, including registration and a detailed schedule of events, please visit: www.boostwithfacebook.com. Registration link for the Nov. 8 event coming soon.

Central Oregon Community College (COCC) is offering a unique and tailored series of leadership development training courses for employees in the manufacturing and construction industry, per recent requests from manufacturing employers. Thanks to generous support from COCC and COVID relief funding, courses are being provided at a 75% discount, so the one-time fee is only $250 per person. Please download the flyer for more details and registration information. A January start date is required, with registration needing to occur ASAP. Rachel Knox from COCC will be attending the 10/13 Construction Collaborative meeting and will be able to answer some of your questions, and make note of those who might be interested in participating. Please share this terrific opportunity with your team and consider participating. This leadership development training will: Give new and experienced leaders tools to succeed in their role overseeing others. Contribute to retaining the employees you have now. Provide a professional development path for emerging supervisors and leaders. Build confidence in supervisor/employee communication. Translate to more time being productive, getting the work done for your business to succeed.

 Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announces the Growth Stage finalists presenting at the 18th Annual Bend Venture Conference(BVC) taking place Thursday, October 21 – Friday, October 22, 2021. The Bend Venture Conference, the largest Angel conference in the West, is an annual celebration of entrepreneurship, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders, both virtually and in-person in Bend, Oregon. Companies in the Growth Stage have previously won investments ranging from $100,000 to $2,500,000. The below companies join the finalists previously announced in the Impact and Early Stage categories. In alphabetical order, the five Growth Stage finalists are: DeepSurface (Portland, OR) – A risk-based predictive vulnerability management platform that contextualizes vulnerabilities within a business’s digital infrastructure. Lora DiCarlo (Bend, OR) – Sex tech products using advanced technology to mimic human touch and movements. Portl – (Eugene, OR) An innovative tech platform dedicated to empowering creators with equitable tools for monetizing content and building community. PupPod – (Hood River, OR) – A multispecies gaming platform that provides dogs with software-driven, positive reinforcement games and humans with a powerful tool to be great pet parents. The Run Experience (Bend, OR) – A daily fitness app with daily audio runs and training programs designed to build a healthy running habit. Ticket SalesTickets to the 18th Annual Bend Venture Conference are on sale now and are available here. About Bend Venture Conference (BVC)Now in its 18th year, BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past five years, more than $10 million has been invested in 40 companies as a result of the conference. This year’s conference will take place October 21-22, 2021, gathering entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders. bendvc.com About Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO)EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. edcoinfo.com

The Bend City Council approved amendments to the Bend Development Code and the Bend Comprehensive Plan that will implement House Bill (HB) 2001. The updated code will go into effect in November 5, 2021. Housing is a statewide issue and the state is taking action that the City is required to comply with. The Oregon State Legislature passed HB 2001 in 2019 which requires cities over 25,000 population to allow the development of “middle housing”, such as duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, cottage cluster developments and townhouses in more Bend neighborhoods citywide. Here’s what people might notice once the new code is in effect: Middle housing in areas of Bend it wasn’t previously permitted. Bendites need a variety of housing choices to fit their lifestyles, and not everyone needs or desires a large home. The new code allows middle housing in all residential areas of Bend, regardless of zoning, with the exception of areas with existing covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) that prohibit these types of housing. Housing prioritized over development standards. Middle housing is designed to be more affordable. Affordability is impacted by building requirements such as parking, height, and distance from the road and other structures. The new code reduces many of the requirements previously limiting the development middle housing, helping to prioritize more units that are likely more affordable than large homes. More housing for community members who live and work in Bend. The new code limits permitted short-term rentals for developments that have more than one unit. Previously there was no restriction on the number of short-term rentals units by property. Now, the code will allow only one short-term rentals unit per property in residential zones, as long as the property complies with all other requirements for short-term rentals. This change will further the goal of supporting the use of middle housing for people who live and work in the City of Bend. The approved code was drafted by the HB 2001 Stakeholder Advisory Group, which was comprised of members from the City Council, Planning Commission, Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, Neighborhood Leadership Alliance and others. To view the proposed amendments and for more information on Bend’s HB 2001 implementation, visit bendoregon.gov/HB-2001.