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Thursday, July 16, 2009

Many Business Changes Around the State This Week

The last several Around the State reports have shown mostly business openings. This week was a little different. There was still a diversity of businesses opening and expanding, including:

· Hospice Unique Boutique, a secondhand store where the profits support hospice care at Ashland Community Hospital, has opened. Ashland Daily Tidings, 6-12-09

· Kirsti Wolfe Designs, an interior architecture and design firm, opened in Bend. Cascade Business News, 6-17-09

· Elkhorn Biomass, a firewood processor in Baker City, is planning a $2 million expansion that will allow it to turn logging slash into wood logs and briquettes. It employs six people but may add as many as 10 more. Baker City Herald, 7-8-09


... But this week also saw a few more reports of businesses contracting or closing. Many of these changes were in the public sector (especially in education), such as:

· The Lincoln County School District in Newport will close an elementary school and eliminate about 15 teaching positions next year. News Times, 7-10-09

· The president of Oregon State University approved recommendations to deal with budget cuts this biennium, including the elimination of as many as 225 to 300 full-time jobs. Corvallis Gazette-Times, 7-16-09

· The Marion County Sheriff’s Department reduced the number of beds for inmates in its work center and eliminated more than 15 full-time-equivalent positions. Statesman Journal, 7-10-09

In the private sector:
· Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. will shut down its 56-store Smith & Hawken chain – including one in northwest Portland – by the end of the year. Portland Business Journal, 7-10-09


For the full list, check out this week's issue. As always, older reports are also available.

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