News and Stories

Each May, National Small Business Week and Economic Development Week shine a spotlight on the people, partnerships and ideas that power local economies. We spoke with members of our Community Economic Development team about what it takes to support long-term economic vitality in rural communities and help families thrive.

Every child deserves a life filled with hope and love. We asked a few of longstanding partners to speak to the state of the child abuse prevention movement in Oregon.

New Children, Youth and Families program officer Samantha Herron holds years of experience as an award-winning rural teacher, with a keen focus on K-12 education-to-workforce pathways.

The story of Lillian Pitt as a professional artist begins when she, as a young hairdresser whose back pain wouldn’t allow her to continue that work, finds art classes at community college.

Creating easy-to-navigate transfer pathways from two- to four-year colleges and universities is not an impossible task. We need bold action to create the transfer system our students deserve.

A tribute to Carmen Ford Phillips, the only daughter of Kenneth Ford and Hallie Ford and former family representative on The Ford Family Foundation Board of Directors.

Jennifer Lindsey has lived and worked in many places, but when she moved back to Oregon a decade ago, it felt like a homecoming. The new communications director for the Foundation, Jennifer is responsible for all internal and external communication efforts.

Parents with lived experience of the child welfare system in Douglas County are now working with ODHS to improve outcomes for children and families.

Last month, we celebrated Child Abuse Prevention Month — a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to keep kids safe, especially in rural communities across Oregon where resources can be limited and families face unique challenges.

Launched in 2021, GRO currently supports a small cohort of rural communities to build a network — a community ecosystem — that wraps around in support of local entrepreneurs. Find inspiration for ways to support small business in your community from these standout examples.