by PAMELA HULSE ANDREWS Cascade CBN Editor
If the recent Made in Redmond Tour organized by Redmond Economic Development Inc., (REDI) is any indication, Redmond is on a fresh path to promoting its economic opportunities. In addition, its new City Manager Keith Witcosky and interim Airport Manager Bob Noble bring innovative perspectives to expanding Redmond’s economic potential.
Last month REDI invited community members, business owners, educators and government leaders to tour several unique businesses. Four companies were showcased that manufacture unique products in Redmond including Key Technology, CIES, McConnell Labs/Light Elegance and Central Oregon Truck Co.
Jon Stark, manager of REDI, says the companies selected are successful examples of the progress that has been made in economic development. REDI and Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO) have collaborated extensively with city, county and state leaders in cultivating a fertile climate for business to be successful in Central Oregon.
While acknowledging the success of current Redmond companies, REDI is looking at soon-to-be newly zoned 465 acres of industrial land, some private and some airport owned, that will include parcels from 30-50 acres for attracting larger scale industrial and manufacturing companies.
Redmond may not be as sexy as Bend with its appealing high end retail and boutique shopping, numerous restaurants and cultural events, but companies wanting to move to our region will find Redmond a very favorable place for reasonably priced site and development costs, a competent workforce, affordable labor costs for their business and transportation access including a world class airport.
Redmond gets high marks, too, for paving the way for development, resolving zoning issues and mitigating important site or expansion matters.
Central Oregon Truck is a great example of a growing Redmond company that recently completed a new 26,000 building. Rick Williams, CEO of Central Oregon Truck, gives credit to the success of the project via the help of REDI, EDCO, ODOT, city and county officials.
Williams’ company operates in 48 states and Canada with a fleet of 220 Kenworth flatbed trucks. The company has 270+ employees, 220 of them drivers.
Jim and Lezlie McConnell, who are founders of two startup businesses, Light Elegance and McConnell Labs that moved to Redmond from Eugene, suggest the reason for their move was, “the convenience of working with the City of Redmond compared to the City of Eugene. Redmond has chosen to use the Enterprise Zone program and we have benefited from being in that program.” They plan to expand their warehouse another 6,000 square feet in 2014.
Light Elegance sells and uses polymer nail formulations. Years of testing and product development led them to establish McConnell Labs to formulate and produce the polymer nail products sold by Light Elegance.
Their product line has grown from five to 500 additional items and McConnell Labs now produces high quality UV curing lights for solons and custom product formulation for other companies.
Another Redmond company, Creative Individuals Engineering Safety (CIES), provides reliable fuel sensors for aviation. CEO Scott Philiben says, “CIES employs mechanical and electrical engineers and high quality skilled workers. We make about 3,000 devices a year and have recently added six jobs to the Redmond economy. We will grow at 50 percent per year for the next several years.”
CIES has improved on a patented fuel sensor technology and produces systems that are designed to provide exceptional fuel level accuracy in the harshest conditions imaginable. The company is successful in the world aviation market and is leading the technology for additional liquid fuel markets in the U.S. and Europe.
Key Technology manufactures large scale food processing equipment and is now in its new 30,000 square feet building. Mark Olson, supervisor for the Redmond location says it wasn’t easy to find a larger location that fit Key Techs expansion plans, “finding a building that allowed for a 100 foot space run for assembly wasn’t easy. In the future we will be assembling a machine of that size in this location. All agencies, landlords and others involved made it possible.”
Key Technology is headquartered in Walla Walla, Washington and the Redmond location manufactures a variety of high quality machined parts in steel and plastic including mechanical processing machines for the food industry.
These companies, along with the entire Central Oregon region, depend on the Redmond Airport, some for shipping products, all for business travel. With a steady increase over the years in passenger flights and upgrades and expansion of facilities the Redmond Airport has positioned itself to be the central hub for transportation in Central Oregon.
Redmond’s new city manager lured Nobel, an experienced airport manager, to help him guide the direction of this significant ecnomic asset. Nobel has more than 18 years of experience in numerous public aviation leadership roles across Oregon.
Given the importance of the airport to the region’s growing economy and transportation needs, Nobel has been charged with working on long term airport goals including assessing the current airport environment, identifying critical issues and developing the processes for implementing changes.
Witcosky is looking ahead and says he wants the Redmond Airport to become known as the best airport of its size in the nation. “That means it will be the preferred choice for commercial air carriers and general aviation clients based on the best services, infrastructure and facilities of any airport of similar size in the country. Clients will recognize this value by investing through leases and other contracts which allow the airport to be a self-sustaining and continually improving community asset.”
Redmond has a vision and summarized by its new city manager: “Our vision is that aviation, aerospace and other traded sector industries continue to invest and cluster around the airport. Partners such as Redmond Economic Development Inc. (REDI) and Economic Development for Central Oregon are working with us to create jobs and attract private sector investment.”
