Bright spots in the area

Moving into 2011 there are a number of bright spots in Bend/Central Oregon to counter the steady drip (gusher?) of negative news that has swept across the region in the past few years.
 --Well-capitalized and experienced Northfield Hotel Group, with funds from Oakmont Capital, purchased long-time Jeld-Wen owned resorts Eagle Crest near Redmond, Running Y in Klamath Falls and the company’s fledgling Brasada Ranch, east of Bend, which came to market just before demand for resort properties collapsed. Northfield announed plans to upgrade convention facilities and lodging at Eagle Crest and to resposition Brasada. Some observers say it's a sign that investment capital is looking for long-term values in attractive locations that show substantial promise in a recovery.
-- Bend has gained a  reputation as one of the best towns to quaff a pint in the West. Deschutes Brewing Company, one of the West's leading craft brewers, is expanding its home base pub-restaurant to a new facility adjacent to its present downtown Bond Street site. Several other smaller craft breweries have opened in the past two years. One of the newcomers, 10 Barrel brewing, announced in early 2011 that it would embark on an ambitious expansion that would more than quadruple it’s brewing capacity.

--Sunset magazine's December issue highlighted the "10 Best" western ski towns, crowning Bend the best the “foodiest” among the group.”Bend is seeing a post-downturn recovery spurred by locavore dining and noveau food carts.” Sunset observed.

--Several technology based companies have emerged or expanded with products and services for national markets. GL Solutions announced in late 2010 plans to increase hiring as the result of a contract for its data processing software for a North Carolina state agency.

--Lodging revenue was on the upswing in 2010, with room taxes collected rising in Bend for 12 consecutive months through November and eight of 12 months for the county. For the fiscal year that kicked off July 1 Bend’s lodging tax collections rose nearly 13 percent over the same period of the previous period of 2009-2010.

--In early 2011 Cascades Bancorp, parent of Bend-based Bank of the Cascades, reported an infusion of capital from investors that raised the company’s capital ratio to a level meeting FDIC requirements, after suffering  loan losses tied to the bank’s heavy exposure to the local housing market.

--The Deschutes Economic Alliance bringing together business, government and other interests, announced in January an ambitious three-step plan aimed to “jumpstart” the region’s econmic recovery, develop marketing strategies to reposition the region and achieve an economic “transformation.”  The effort recognizes the areas strengths in building and construction, among others, and recommends leveraging those strengths beyond the region to attract talent and trading partners. The plan also suggests establishing an incubator-like entity for new businesses that would offer equity compensation for  professionals who provide expertise to help launch startup companies and new products.

--The social network giant Facebook has chosen Prineville in Crook County as the site of its first company-owned satellite data facility. The immediate effects will be hundreds of jobs during the construction phase in 2009 and 2010 and related multiplier effects for wholesale suppliers and retailers. Economic development officials will also have a “name dropping” tool when promoting Central Oregon to companies considering a relocation or expansion to the area.
--Downtown Bend Business Association reported that leased retail and restaurant occpancy in the business core held at 93% in early 2011 with the addition of eight new firms arriving to take over vacant space. Turnover, especially in restaurants--has been notably high in recent years.