Around the State this week: A few unfortunate announcements, but still some good news!

We saw a few more business contractions and closings this week than we've seen in a little while. Some of the unfortunate announcements from the latest Around the State included:

• Deschutes County will lay off two employees in the Solid Waste Department and close the county landfill and Redmond transfer station one day per week. Bend Bulletin, 3-30-10

• The Salvation Army will close its White City thrift store on April 30, and the future of the Phoenix store is uncertain. The White City store employs three people, and three more jobs would be lost if the Phoenix store closes. Ashland Daily Tidings, 3-30-10

• Seaside School District will cut an additional six staff next year in addition to 11 already planned. Daily Astorian, 4-6-10

But there was also quite a bit of good news. We heard about a couple of new pizzerias, for instance:

• Rovente Pizza opened at the Streets of Tanasbourne in Hillsboro. In addition to pizza, it offers lasagna, sandwiches, hot wings, salads, and desserts. The Oregonian, 3-27-10

• Church Street Pizza opened in downtown Salem. Statesman Journal, 4-7-10

Promising expansions included:

• Nyssa Co-op Supply has merged with two Idaho cooperatives – Producers Supply Cooperative and Valley Wide Co-op – to form a new chain of farm supply businesses that stretch from eastern Oregon to eastern Idaho. The new entity has taken on the Valley Wide name. There were no layoffs as a result of the merger. Argus Observer, 3-9-10

• Coquille Valley Hospital will under go a remodel and expansion. The $22-million project will include adding a second floor to the 32,000-square-foot building and a new parking garage. Completion is scheduled for the fall of 2011. To accommodate the city’s growing and aging population, officials estimate it will be necessary to hire five to eight physicians over the next five years. The World, 4-7-10

Find out more in the complete issue for this week.
Older issues also available.