The application period is now open for Oregon’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, a $10 million grant pool that is intended to go toward small community and tribal projects.

The program is open to local governments and tribes with populations of less than 25,000. The funding was created by House Bill 5204, an economic development package that was passed by the Legislature and then signed into law in April.

Construction grants will range from $100,000 to $1 million. They can be used for site acquisition, infrastructure construction and related improvements.

Planning grants are also available, from $25,000 to $250,000. They can be used for land-use planning, engineering, feasibility studies and project research.

“The Regional Infrastructure Fund is designed to meet our small, rural, and tribal communities where they are, whether that means supporting the engineering work that gets a project shovel-ready or helping move construction forward.” Gov. Tina Kotek stated in a news release issued on Monday.

The program is administered by Business Oregon, the state economic development agency. Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Sept. 16. Notices of awards are expected to be issued on Oct. 30.

Applications will be evaluated on criteria such as project readiness and alignment with regional community and economic development priorities. A scoring matrix and eligibility details are available in the Request for Grant Applications.

An informational webinar for applicants is scheduled for Aug. 18. Details will be posted on the Business Oregon website.

To learn more and submit grant applications, visit .

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The deal to create a $150 million mixed-use hub at the former home of Truitt Bros. Cannery fell through, but the developer helming the project said his company hopes to revisit the contract if Salem can prove its worth as an investment.

Aaron Stickney, co-founder and managing member of SilverSphere Capital, previously told the Statesman Journal that the purchase was under contract and expected to close this summer, with demolition following shortly thereafter.

Stickney and SilverSphere stepped in after the plan to transform the former cannery north of downtown stalled under previous leadership. The deal fizzled because the seller wasn’t willing to extend the contract, Stickney said.

Almost 800 apartments, a grocery store, an automatic parking garage, a wine bar, and restaurants were planned for the site.

Jordan Truitt, who acted as the property’s listing broker along with Josh Kay of First Commercial Real Estate, confirmed that the purchase and sale agreement had expired.

“The buyer and seller have been unable to reach reasonable terms for any further extensions of the agreement,” he said. “The Truitt family has been a thoughtful and patient steward of this property for generations and remains fully committed to the redevelopment of the cannery site.”

Stickney said he was hopeful they could return to the table and close the deal, but he expressed serious concerns about investing in Salem.

“Several things are stalling any progress in Salem: the growing homeless situation that no one seems willing to address, ongoing City Council infighting, and no real support at the city level for changing anything,” he said.

Stickney recently crafted a white paper �پ��ٱ������“Economic Development & Growth Plan” for Salem City Council and City Manager Krishna Namburi. The proposal calls for introduction of a “Prosper Portland”-style model to spur economic development in the city that could generate $13 million to $34 million in revenue over the next five years.

The proposal also could bring in more than $100 million in private investment and up to 2,600 new jobs without new taxes or bonds, he added.

Stickney told the Statesman Journal in June that a private-public partnership between city leadership and businesses like his could turn Salem around.

“We’re at the point economically that Salem could be the next emerging market,” he said at the time.

He said city leaders showed little interest in his proposals, and he’s yet to see action on any of them.

“I’m surprised that Mr. Stickney is saying that a lack of public-private partnership is his reason for not moving forward with the project,” Community Planning and Development Department Director Kristin Retherford said. “We have had two very productive meetings with Mr. Stickney since he stepped into the lead development role this spring.”

The cannery is a very complex site, Retherford said, with river and creek frontage, potential historic and archaeological impacts, and a rail line running down Front Street. Salem is moving forward with creation of an urban renewal area to pay for infrastructure needed to support the project, and the city has obtained a federal grant to design the long-term improvements to Front Street for redevelopment in the area.

“We have been very excited about Mr. Stickney’s ideas and development experience and the opportunity to collaborate with him on the project,” Retherford said.

When talking to residents and business owners, Stickney said he hears that people want change. They want to clean up encampments, fill vacant storefronts and attract commerce. He said he doesn’t see that same desire to change among city leaders.

“If nothing changes, we may just take out money and go to Portland,” he said. “It’s been really disappointing. We had high hopes for Salem.”

Portions of the cannery were first constructed in 1914 and owned by various food processors until the Truitt Bros. Cannery began operating there in 1973. The business started by brothers Peter and David Truitt canned local pears, green beans and cherries. In peak season, the cannery would employ 800 people.

When the property went up for sale with a $13 million price tag in 2021, Peter Truitt said he had high hopes for the site. He wanted a seller who would honor its history while investing in the community and revitalizing the area north of downtown, he said.

“The lasting legacy of the Truitt family is to leave the property better than when they found it,” he said.

The city, neighbors and the Grant Neighborhood Association have been very supportive during the process, Jordan Truitt said.

“The site carries approved land use entitlements, strong interest from the development community and the continued support of city leadership and the community at large,” he said.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Statesman Journal and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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News that a tech company wants to build a $5.1 billion data center on 75 acres of industrial land in southeast Salem drew immediate community outrage and support.

Salem leaders are stressing that the Oakline at Mill Creek project by Verrus is still in its infancy and they want residents to voice their concerns and be included in the public development process.

“There is a misconception that the negotiations have already been done,” City Manager Krishna Namburi told the Statesman Journal.

Verrus has not submitted a land use application for the spot on the Mill Creek Corporate Center campus at Turner Road and Deer Park Drive.

“It’s not a done deal,” Namburi said.

Tentative timelines for the project show the land use process taking up the bulk of 2026. A public input period would take place before plan review and permitting in 2027. Construction would last into 2029.

Supporters said the project would bring in high-paying, yearslong construction, carpentry and electrician jobs. Also, expectations are that the development would add $9 million per year to Salem’s General Fund and $1.5 million to the city’s livability levy that funds the library, parks and senior center.

City officials confirmed that Verrus received approval for a standard three-year state Enterprise Zone property tax exemption from Marion County. Council approval was not required.

After that exemption expires, taxing districts would begin receiving property-tax revenue from the development.

Project opponents spoke out against the data center’s potential water and electricity use as well as the environmental impact.

A team collected 8,636 signatures within a week for a Change.org petition to stop the development of the center. Calls for action spread among local organizations, encouraging residents to protest before the July 27 Salem City Council meeting and testify in opposition.

Verrus CEO Nelson Abramson said he understands that Salem residents have questions about the project’s water use, noise and environmental impacts, and his team welcomes that scrutiny.

“While Oakline is still early in the process and we have not yet submitted a formal application with detailed building schematics or drawings, our next-generation data center is designed from the ground up to minimize water use, maximize energy efficiency and support power grid reliability,” he said.

Namburi said the city is committed to keeping community members as informed and engaged as possible throughout the process. Some opponents criticized the city for entering into a nondisclosure agreement with Verrus for over a year.

Namburi said the city entered into that agreement through the Salem economic development group SEDCOR in March 2025 when potential project locations in the city were floated. Such agreements are very common when companies are exploring the possibility of developing or expanding into new cities, she said.

The nondisclosure agreement was lifted in early July.

Verrus chose to begin this public conversation before the design is final because it wants to work directly with the city and community to help shape the project, Abramson said.

“We are going public earlier than most others would to demonstrate what makes Verrus different,” he said. “The Salem community should expect developers like Verrus to be accountable to what we say at each stage of the process. Know that our core beliefs start with building a new kind of data center that’s better for the grid and a far more efficient user of our natural resources like water.”

Namburi and Community Planning and Development Director Kristin Retherford stressed that the city’s role is to follow the legally required land-use and permitting processes, which require an application, reviews and public input, rather than advocate for or against the project.

The proposed site is zoned for industrial use and a data center is one of the permitted uses, Namburi said.

Preliminary renderings for the project show a substation and two-story buildings that could have a footprint of up to 1.8 million square feet.

The location is near Corban University, the Dollar General Distribution Center, the Genesco warehouse and the former Mill Creek Correctional Facility.

The Mill Creek Corporate Center and zoning framework were established in 2005 to prepare the land for industrial development, Retherford said. Salem’s code was updated in 2014 to allow data centers in employment center zones.

State, federal and city law requires Salem to evaluate projects according to established guidelines.

“We’re not at a point where we can say no data centers in Mill Creek,” Retherford said.

Council could make a motion to rezone properties to not allow data centers going forward.

But the city and public can voice concerns about the environmental and water impact through the lengthy land use and development process.

If a formal application is filed, a public notice would be sent to neighboring property owners and the Southeast Mill Creek Association. A 14-day public comment period would occur, and any appeal would trigger a public hearing.

“We will be evaluating a very long list of community impacts,” Retherford said.

Jeff Bladen, head of energy and policy at Silicon Valley-based Verrus, said the company specifically seeks communities that already have land designated for industrial use. He also cited Salem’s skilled workforce, apprenticeship programs and potential partnerships with local colleges as additional factors drawing Verrus to the city.

“Data centers need to do better,” he said. “Verrus was really the first company coming along to try and build a truly new and better kind of data center.”

Company officials said the development’s water consumption would be low, and Namburi said staff would carefully evaluate water consumption projections to ensure the city’s long-term water needs would not be put at risk.

Retherford said measures are in place with the city and agencies like the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to hold companies accountable if they do not follow through on their water consumption and environmental impact promises.

Verrus leaders said that the data center in Salem will be different. Unlike legacy data centers, it is designed to support the local power grid, conserve water with a closed-loop cooling system, minimize noise with large-scale batteries instead of diesel generators, and contribute meaningfully to the community and economy over the long term, Bladen said.

Company officials claim the water use will be significantly less than that of an 18-hole golf course.

“I think it’s important to recognize that people’s concerns are valid,” Bladen said.

The proposed Salem facility, which would take multiple years to permit and build, would be one of Verrus’ first. The company’s quest to build a data center in Lyon Township, Michigan, has received substantial community pushback but is nearing final approval.

Verrus leadership said community engagement will be a key part of the process going forward. Already, the company’s conversations with city leaders led them to commit to preserving a grove of heritage oak trees on the property.

“We look forward to customizing our approach for Salem addressing common concerns raised and showing how community input is influencing the final design,” Abramson said.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Statesman Journal and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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By Alan Torres
Eugene Register-Guard
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Elected officials representing the Eugene area said they will push for state and federal funding to expand the Eugene Airport at an airport-hosted showcase on July 7.

Officials with the airport, the city, state and federal governments and both universities made a case for expanding the airport to accommodate more planes and as an economic development tool.

The airport is already expanding concourse A to offer more seating and better passenger flow. Redesigning the baggage claim is also in the works.

Airport officials want to add a third concourse, which would double the airport’s capacity. Airport officials believe an expansion would result in more destinations being offered, ridership increases of at least 30% and a boost to the southern Willamette Valley’s economy by 13,000 jobs and $2 billion.

The expansion is projected to cost $240 million. Airport officials have not identified funding.

Lawmakers plan to champion expansion plans

U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, and State Rep. Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, both said they would push their respective legislatures to contribute a share in upcoming legislative sessions.

Nathanson told the Register-Guard she’s talking with city of Eugene officials to work out an exact dollar ask, which she plans to forward to the legislature in 2027.

Nathanson was optimistic the project would get support in the legislature. She said many lawmakers are interested in investing in economic development outside of the Portland metro area, and the Eugene Airport is an opportunity to do that.

“I’ve indicated very strong support for this project,” she said. “The case is well made and it’s time and this state needs to invest in other regions and not rely on one main economic hub.”

Nathanson believes expanding the airport will spur economic growth for the region as a whole, pointing to the Southern Willamette Valley Innovation Corridor proposed by Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson as an example.

“You can’t expect to have rapid and large growth in research and innovation and startup businesses if major investors, researchers, faculty … they’re spending several hours driving up to Portland to catch a flight to return.”

Hoyle said she’s doing similar work at the congressional level. Hoyle is a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and was optimistic she could make the pitch that the Eugene Airport is a worthwhile investment to the others on the committee.

“We recognize that we have a job to do in investing taxpayer dollars into our infrastructure,” Hoyle said. “We have to invest wisely. We do not want bridges to nowhere. What this right here is, is our bridge to the world. And more importantly, the world’s bridge to us.”

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After serving more than 18 years as the chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors‘ Oregon-Columbia chapter, Mike Salsgiver is preparing to retire next January. But he has already begun taking on a new challenge.

Common Sense Institute (CSI), a nonpartisan research organization, announced last week that Salsgiver will serve as its executive director, bringing more than four decades of leadership experience in public policy, economic development, and government affairs to the organization.

Salsgiver has led AGC’s Oregon-Columbia chapter since 2008. Prior to taking that role, he worked in government affairs, public affairs, and economic development. He served the Oregon Department of Economic and Community Development, Intel in Oregon, and U.S. Senator Mark Hatfield.

Though Salsgiver announced his retirement from AGC in January 2025, he is under contract through January 2027.

On Monday, the AGC chapter announced the selection of Josh Tompkins as its next CEO. Tompkins is expected to join the organization in May and then work with Salsgiver during a structured transition period through the remainder of the year.

“My time at AGC has been very gratifying,” Salsgiver said. “Almost 20 years is a long time in a role like this, and I feel very good about the association handing off to my successor.”

Brandon Flint, president of the Oregon-Columbia chapter’s board of directors, said the group is sad to see Salsgiver go and that he has always been a steadfast leader for the construction industry in Oregon.

“He will be dearly missed,” Flint said. “He is a hard person to replace.”

Flint added that his longtime friend has clearly impacted the construction industry.

“You talk construction in Oregon, Mike’s in there somewhere,” he said.

The AGC chapter’s board believes it has found the right person to fill the executive director role and is looking forward to the next generation of leadership, Flint said.

CSI asked Salsgiver whether he would be interested in doing some work for the organization when he retires from AGC, he said. CSI is dedicated to advancing economic opportunity and prosperity through data-driven analysis. He said that AGC has been supporting CSI for a couple of years.

“We’re trying to grow their footprint and establish them more firmly in the Pacific Northwest,” he said.

In his new role, Salsgiver will lead CSI’s efforts to expand its impact through rigorous, data-driven research and analysis, helping inform policymakers, business leaders, and the public on the economic issues shaping Oregon’s future. His background in economic strategy, regulatory policy, and industry leadership positions him to further advance CSI’s mission of promoting economic vitality and free enterprise statewide, the CSI press release states.

Salsgiver will contract work with CSI under his new consultant company Forward Strategies.

“Mike brings a rare combination of public policy expertise, private sector leadership, and deep knowledge of Oregon’s economic landscape,” Cinamon Watson, CEO of Common Sense Institute, stated in the press release. “His experience working across industries and at every level of government will strengthen CSI’s ability to deliver high-quality research and expand our impact in Oregon. We are very excited to have him on board.”

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. — The Mount Pleasant Village Board unanimously approved site plans for two Microsoft developments that include 15 data centers.

Comments for and against the developments were delivered by residents and union workers during the Jan. 26 meeting.

Village President Dave DeGroot thanked the commentators for being civil but took exception to one speaker calling the jobs at the data centers temporary.

In addressing the union members present, DeGroot said, “It’s my understanding that you’re going to be out there on those sites for the next 10 years doing your job, applying your trade. And I don’t see anything temporary in 10 years.”

He also addressed concerns about data centers in general, and particularly in the village.

“We understand that you want us to go with caution, but I’d like to take you back to 2017 when we first put this TID together,” DeGroot said. “This tax increment district is the mother of all tax increment districts because of the opportunity at the time — Foxconn.”

In 2017, the Foxconn Technology Group, along with the help of the Wisconsin Legislature, came to Mount Pleasant to build a giant advanced manufacturing campus. However, after a few years, Foxconn amended its plans, and land was left vacant after the village and Foxconn bought out the previous property owners.

But in 2023, Microsoft stepped in to buy the land and build its first data center. The company announced in 2025 that it would add a second data center. In total, the company has committed at least $7.3 billion to the area.

Microsoft did not comment on the timeline for construction, but a spokesperson said, “Microsoft is excited to have completed the next step in our development process and look forward to sharing more about our specific expansion plans in Mount Pleasant as we go forward.”

Foxconn “didn’t turn out quite the way we thought it would,” DeGroot said, but added that the village’s vision at the time was for the area to become a technology park.

“We got laughed at for that,” he said. “‘Oh, come on. Technology? That goes to California. That goes to Texas. That goes to the East Coast. How on Earth do you think you’re going to bring it to Mount Pleasant? Well, we did.”

DeGroot said he understands that some residents might feel that the project is “out-scaled, and it is truly the largest project in the state of Wisconsin by a large factor.”

“It’s coming,” DeGroot said. “It’s coming in stages. And as I mentioned, it’ll be building for the next 10 years.”

Mount Pleasant resident Jack Nehmer commented on the project information presented during public meetings.

“I do not feel as if … the community (members), who voted you into offices, understand the true impact of this proposal,” he said. “It’s on a scale that no one was prepared for when we heard about Microsoft initially building a data center. One or two data centers, we can all live with that. Fifteen to 20? That’s significant.”

Mount Pleasant resident Tony Martino called for village officials to pause the project.

“The raw truth is the jobs are short term,” he said, “and (much) of the labor is not from Mount Pleasant, Racine County or even the state of Wisconsin. The money leaves Mount Pleasant on payday.”

Martino also criticized a tax increase that could come from the project until the TID is closed.

“While there’s an increase in the tax base, it will actually prove to hurt the people of Mount Pleasant for the next eight to 10 years,” he said. “If Mount Pleasant does become the richest community in Wisconsin, it will be on the backs of hardworking residents, not Microsoft.”

Years of public hearings on Foxconn led to this moment.

At the start of the meeting, Chris Smith, an attorney for Mount Pleasant, attempted to quell anxiety about the project.

“For anyone who says ‘When did we do this? We didn’t know about this. (The village) did it behind closed doors. We did it without telling the public.’ Nothing can be further from the truth,” Smith said. “This land was rezoned in 2017 to allow industrial uses. That includes data centers.”

Smith reminded attendees of public hearings and meetings in 2019, 2020 and 2023 held “to make it abundantly clear in our zoning code that data centers could be built on this land.”

“As far as Microsoft’s right to construct data centers on the land it owns, that is a property right and that’s not something the village can legally take away,” Smith said.

Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki spoke in support of the project.

“What we’re looking at here is a generational and regional opportunity like we’ve never seen before,” he said. “Not just talking about the taxes or the union jobs. What we’re talking about is Microsoft — a very, very reputable company, looking to partner with our entire area.

“They’re looking at being a great corporate resident … the ripple effect throughout our area, not just Mount Pleasant, not just Racine County, but the region will be incredible.”

Microsoft’s first data center in Mount Pleasant is being finished. Plans call for breaking ground on a second data center this year. The company is on track to be Racine County’s largest taxpayer when it pays its bills in 2026, based on 2025 assessments.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The board that oversees the special property tax fund for downtown Corpus Christi has given a preliminary nod to using as much as $2 million to tear down the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse — but not without several city officials first expressing displeasure over the approach that was employed to push the issue.

The Nueces County Commissioners Court had vowed to exit an economic development program that relies on downtown property tax values, should the board deny the funding.

Corpus Christi City Councilman Gil Hernandez, also a board member, said during the Jan. 13 meeting that although he supported financing the teardown, he didn’t appreciate the county’s “methods that are being used for it.”

He initially used the word “extortion” and later described it in the subsequent City Council meeting as “coercion.”

“Ultimately, I agree that we can participate with tearing down the old courthouse — I know it’s been an odyssey for the county for many, many years,” Hernandez said. “I’m in support of the funding, but again, this could have been handled a little bit differently.”

Nueces County Commissioner Mike Pusley, also a board member, took exception to the county’s position being referenced as extortion. There is a partnership in improving downtown, and demolishing the old courthouse would serve as a benefit to the area, he said.

“Extortion is a terrible thing to say, and I’m just really disappointed in that,” Pusley said. “What I’m trying to do is salvage our partnership.”

The board that oversees the economic development program — known as a tax increment reinvestment zone (TIRZ) — approved amending a project and financing plan that outlines the uses of funding. The 11-1 vote was for the plan to include among allowable uses as much as $2 million for the demolition of government buildings.

The approval by the TIRZ board, and subsequently the Corpus Christi City Council, was not specific to the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse. A contract specific to the proposed demolition of the historic courthouse is expected to be brought to the board and the City Council for consideration on Jan. 27.

A TIRZ functions by taxing entities contributing to the program a portion of new or increased property taxes from a certain area, which would otherwise go to their respective budgets. The TIRZ revenue is then steered back into the area where it was collected for improvements.

TIRZ revenue cannot be used for purposes other than improving the area from which it was drawn. The idea is that reinvesting the funding will spur more economic development and thus increase property values.

The county, which joined the TIRZ in 2009, has contributed about $5.5 million during that span, said Arlene Medrano, executive director of the Downtown Management District.

The city has contributed about $12 million, she said.

Should the county withdraw from the program, the downtown TIRZ would stand to lose about $370,000 annually, Medrano said. Without renewal of a 20-year contract, the loss would total about $8.7 million, she added.

Some county commissioners have criticized how TIRZ funding has been used, contending that city projects, not county ones, are the primary beneficiaries.

Conversely, several City Council members have disagreed with the county’s assessment, instead suggesting that all projects provide a benefit to all participating taxing entities.

Funding to raze the crumbling, 112-year-old courthouse has been the only ask since the county joined the TIRZ, according to Pusley.

The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 but abandoned a year later when the county moved operations to a new building. Last year, the Texas Historical Commission removed the historical preservation easement from the old courthouse, allowing potential demolition.

While some observers have lamented the anticipated demolition of the courthouse, several commissioners have said it’s the only reasonable conclusion due to long vacancy and corresponding deterioration. Attempts over the years to rescue the building through sale and redevelopment have been unsuccessful and, at this point, infeasible due to the structure’s state, some officials have said.

Tearing down the building will mitigate blight in the downtown area, Medrano told the board.

“This has been an eyesore in the downtown, in our city, for 48 years,” she said. “This is the gateway into downtown, and so we receive millions of cars and traffic every year and that’s the first thing that they see.”

Several City Council members, all of whom serve on the TIRZ board, raised concerns about the future of the property and the lack of plans for immediate redevelopment.

The county intends to sell what Pusley believes will be valuable property, he said. However, a buyer has not been identified.

It’s unclear how much it will cost to raze the building. Pusley said contractors have estimated demolition to cost between $1.5 million and $2 million; however, that price doesn’t consider asbestos remediation that is being evaluated.

Under the county’s proposal, requested funding would be a reimbursement of as much as $2 million over a three-year period. Any additional costs for the demolition would be covered by the county, Pusley said. One potential source would be proceeds from a recent sale of property to the Port of Corpus Christi, he added.

There is a bigger picture to be considered for the area, Mayor Paulette Guajardo said.

“At the end of the day, this is a partnership … that maybe the communication kind of went astray,” she said.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and then was distributed on the USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.

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Project name: The Spot

Location: Madras

Completion: November 2024

Size: 3,150 square feet

Owner/Developer: J and C 5^th Street LLC

Architect: Open Concept Architecture

Engineers: Eclipse Engineering, H.A. McCoy Engineering & Surveying, Solera MEP Design Services

General Contractor: O’Brien & Company

Submitting Company: O’Brien & Company

Other Key Participants: City of Madras, Madras Redevelopment Commission

Subcontractors: Bend Heating and Sheet Metal, Benham Falls Asphalt, Central Oregon Concrete, Central Oregon Garage Door, Elite Construction Contracting, Elite Electric, G.W. Paulson Co. dba Baptista Design, Gale Contractor Services, Johnson Resources, Joshua Hittlet Drywall, JR Fire, KYA Painting, Oleachea’s Fine Finish Cabinetry, Pearl Plumbing, Rain Water Diversions dba BR Continuous Guttering, Rock Solid Roofing, Solid Fab Works, Storjohann Inc. dba Bend Fencing

A first-of-its-kind community hub is breathing new life into downtown Madras, offering residents and travelers alike a place to connect over food, drinks and entertainment.

The Spot features a taphouse with a second-story covered balcony, food carts and a heated outdoor patio. It represents owner Andre Jackson’s vision for economic revitalization in this Central Oregon community. The project, built by O’Brien & Company, was intentionally developed to stimulate local economic growth while providing a flexible, year-round gathering place.

The building’s innovative design blends indoor and outdoor spaces with overhead garage-style doors with glass inserts. When fully opened, these doors connect the building to the patio, creating a bright atmosphere filled with natural light. The venue’s warm wood and clean modern details create a lively space designed for year-round enjoyment regardless of weather conditions.

Despite challenges from the site’s condensed nature and proximity to the highway, the design-build approach allowed for real-time adjustments to construction plans. Advanced building materials, including ZIP System Insulated R-sheathing, were incorporated to enhance efficiency and durability. The project also prioritized high-performance audio and internet infrastructure to support live entertainment.

The Madras Redevelopment Commission provided crucial financial backing for the project. The City of Madras and its building department guided construction to ensure compliance with zoning and safety codes.

Jackson, who relocated from Portland to invest in Madras’ future, has already purchased an adjacent lot to expand the community’s event space.

The Spot hosts live music, trivia nights and student performances, fostering cultural engagement and providing a platform for local artists. Middle and high school students are actively invited to perform, promoting youth engagement in the arts. Regular community events including bingo, karaoke and sports viewing parties transform The Spot into an interactive gathering space rather than just a dining destination.

By drawing foot traffic to local businesses and serving as an economic hub in an area largely influenced by highway traffic, The Spot strengthens downtown Madras’ ecosystem while encouraging walkability.

“The Spot is all about connection, both within the Madras community, and as a regional hub,” Jeremy Cogdill, Open Concept Architecture managing principal, said in the project submission form. “It’s a ‘living room’ at an important intersection between the east and west sides of the mountains, that aims to bring people together through food, music, and conversations around a fire pit.”

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The city of Madras has received approval to bring a 196-acre site inside the urban growth boundary for future industrial use, the Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) announced Wednesday. The OK, granted by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development, enhances Madras’ potential for economic growth, according to EDCO.

The collaborative effort to gain approval featured officials representing Jefferson County, the city of Madras and EDCO as well as business leaders and community members. Private investors will now be able to purchase and develop 196 acres of industrial property, thus presenting opportunities beyond the current lease-only options on the Madras Municipal Airport property, a press release states.

The site’s strategic location is adjacent to existing industrial areas near the Madras Municipal Airport. There will be easy access to essential infrastructure for development.

The site is poised to suit a variety of future uses, including high-tech and clean-tech manufacturing, advanced manufacturing, and IT infrastructure. The development of this site is anticipated to result in job creation and investment opportunities observed in nearby areas such as Prineville and Redmond, the press release states.

The city of Madras and its partners have begun planning to identify specific industry needs for development within the sites of the Large Lot Industrial Program and vacant industrial land, according to EDCO. The site will be reserved for large-scale industrial development in the long term.

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