(Gold Beach Lumber was awarded a $500,000 grant to fund new location in Madras | Photo courtesy of Gold Beach Lumber)
“It really bothered me to see some of my neighbors go out of business after years of severe drought,” said Mark Wunsch, a lifelong Jefferson County resident who grew up working on his family’s cattle ranch and today continues that tradition by raising Angus beef.
Long active in local farming organizations, he decided to run for the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners in 2022 after learning that “there had not been a commissioner representing the agriculture/ranching industry for more than 20 years. That’s ridiculous,” Wunsch thought. “I’m going for it.” And won the election after garnering 60% of the vote. (He was reelected in May 2026.)
Currently serving as board chair, Wunsch said that a top focus for all board members is “opening up the community to general retail businesses to make up for their limited number – restaurants being one example. We want to encourage this type of investment, knowing that it will be recouped.”
Incentives for Retail Business Development
Wunsch cited a $1.2 million construction loan awarded by the Madras Redevelopment Agency (MRC) to Andre Jackson, owner of The Spot, that has “quite a lot of action, especially during the summer. The venue is definitely helping to revive downtown through increased foot traffic,” he said.
Encouraging the establishment of new retail businesses is in line with several programs developed by the MRC to assist in the renovation, preservation, and rehabilitation of existing commercial properties to upgrade the city’s physical characteristics and enhance the vibrancy of its downtown commercial core.
As an example, grants and loans are available to upgrade physical characteristics, enhance storefront appeal, and for structural upgrades and reuse of older buildings.
In addition, a $42 million ODOT and City of Madras project (2025-2027) will repave 4th and 5th streets, improve stormwater systems, and add pedestrian-friendly features like curb extensions to improve safety and aesthetics.
Retail Revitalization Program & Partnerships Bring in Gold Beach Lumber
Wunsch honed in on the importance of “spending local.” For instance, he said, “each dollar that farmers or ranchers make turns over six or seven times within the community in terms of buying supplies and groceries from local businesses.”
A challenge to “spending local” was posed by the fact that “we used to have three local home improvement/supply stores – then there were none, So all those dollars were being spent outside of Madras.”
However, Wunsch continued, “thanks to our Retail Revitalization Grant Program, a new funding opportunity designed to attract and expand retail businesses that address key service and amenity gaps in the region, Gold Beach Lumber was awarded a $500,000 grant to fund a new nine-acre location off U.S. 97 that will enable people to shop locally for their hardware and building materials. It’s an investment in our future.”
Madras’ former City Administrator Will Ibershof praised the Retail Revitalization Grant Program – a collaborative effort between Madras and Jefferson County launched in 2025 — by saying, “If we want to see (these areas) succeed, we need to put some skin in the game.”
Ibershof also credited EDCO’s Brenna Fulks for her role in bringing the endeavor to fruition. “We would have never gone down this path if Brenna hadn’t been part of the team here,” he said. “Economic development is an idea. But ideas float around all the time. Actually putting an idea into action is where Brenna has been able to really help us.”
Fulks responded: “This project is indicative that you’ve got a county and two cities willing to do something to spur revitalization and growth. An awesome group of people came together, providing an example of what makes this community so successful.”
“Setting the Table” With Long-Term Investment Incentives
Wunsch described efforts like this as “trying to set the table” with incentives that attract investment. The expansion of Madras’s Urban Growth Boundary that adds 196 acres of land for future industrial development is a key step in Jefferson County’s economic advancement, he said.
“The new site will allow private developers to purchase land outright, rather than being restricted to lease-only options — a key incentive for attracting larger, long-term investments, and creating sustainable jobs, particularly in manufacturing and technology.”
The impact of these long-term investments is also reflected in the area’s tax base. As Wunsch pointed out, “Portland General Electric (PGE), a major power provider in the region, is a significant taxpayer – contributing approximately $3.4 million in annual property taxes to Jefferson County.”
“Support of the tax base by companies such as PGE is crucial to the local economy,” he said, “as they bring dollars back home and enable the community to fulfill an increasing need for services such as bringing in more law enforcement, and remodeling the 30-year-old Madras fire house.”
Jefferson County Ranking Improves From #8 to #3
“Thanks to years of disciplined work and strong partnerships,” Wunsch emphasized, “Jefferson County has made significant progress in strengthening its local economy — improving its ranking from the most economically distressed county in Oregon to number eight.
“This milestone shows that community investments in economic development, workforce, and infrastructure are making a real difference for our residents and businesses,” he said. “And although we’re not quite there yet in terms of securing and bringing in outside dollars, this is a time to stop and appreciate where we’ve come – knowing that we’re on the right path moving forward.”
