(EDCO’s area director describes the Madras Municipal Airport as “the crown jewel” of the community” | Photo courtesy of EDCO’s Brenna Fulks)
When EDCO reestablished a local presence in Jefferson County in 2024 after a five-year absence, there were two active projects under development – now there are seven, reflecting rising business interest and economic momentum, according to EDCO’s Area Director Brenna Fulks.
“I’ve been struck by just how much is happening in Jefferson County,” she said. “While the community is deeply rooted in agriculture – which continues to anchor the region — diversification is also critical. That’s why the growing presence of innovation and advanced manufacturing that people may not immediately associate with a rural community is key to EDCO’s efforts.
Here, Fulks noted, “agriculture, manufacturing, research and innovation are not competing priorities. They exist side by side. The strength of this community comes from that mix – and from the willingness of people here to collaborate, adapt and think long term about what growth can look like.”
“For example, there are many cool things about the Madras community,” she said, “but the crown jewel is the Madras Municipal Airport – which offers so much potential given the availability of leasable property. This goes hand in hand with the Industrial Park that provides an opportunity to invest in the area as companies like Keith Manufacturing and Brightwood Corporation have done. Adding to the allure is the fact that the airport is right there.”
Together, the City of Madras currently has 780 acres of airport and industrial-zoned property with land available for lease and/or purchase.
“Much of the progress we anticipate this year builds on groundwork already laid,” Fulks said, singling out the 2024 Urban Growth Boundary expansion and two Enterprise Zone boundary expansions in 2025 that created new opportunities for industrial and commercial development.
“Together, these changes help ‘set the table’ for future recruitment by making more industrial properties eligible for incentives and better positioning the county to attract traded-sector investment.” In 2025, the Madras Industrial Site Readiness Plan was also launched, she added. “Once completed, it will identify infrastructure needs tied to emerging industries.”
Fulks, who came from an agricultural family in Northern California, has worked in rural communities in Montana, California, and Oregon. “I love their boots on the ground, direct on-site involvement,” she said. “The Madras community, for instance, has a ton of tenacity, with a willingness to try new things while also becoming more focused, as opposed to using a broad-brush approach. This focus is critical in pursuing growth, as well as enhancing livability, or the sum of factors that make an area suitable and enjoyable, and contribute to the overall quality of life and well-being for residents.”
Fulks emphasized that “In moving forward, and continuing to diversify and strengthen Jefferson County’s economy, our goal is to recruit companies that not only bring in new jobs and investment, but companies that support our vision: pursuing balanced growth while honoring the area’s distinctive history and culture.”
