Investing in Infrastructure from Ground to Grid

The REDI 2025 Annual Luncheon brought together key stakeholders from across Central Oregon to discuss the region’s robust economic growth, business climate, and future infrastructure needs. With a diverse panel featuring leaders from local government, education, utilities, private industry, and economic development organizations, the event provided both reflection on current achievements and a candid look at challenges and opportunities.

Event Kickoff and Welcomes

The luncheon began with lighthearted camaraderie among attendees, as evident in the personal banter and anecdotes about family, local history, and generational changes in Redmond communities. Rick Bailey, REDI’s Board President, officially opened the event, expressing gratitude for the impressive turnout and acknowledging board members, past board members, and local elected officials for their support and commitment to REDI’s mission. Central Oregon Daily News’s Chief Meteorologist, Dorrell Wenninger, as event host, seta welcoming tone for the day.

Focus on Community and Workforce Development

Title sponsor, Dr. Laurie Chesley, President of Central Oregon Community College (COCC), shared exciting news regarding COCC’s ongoing partnership with REDI and local manufacturers. The college has secured $4million in state funding and matched it with an additional $4 million for the revitalization of its Manufacturing and Applied Technology Center. This project will update curriculum, equipment, and facilities, with completion set for Spring 2027 and a formal opening that fall. Chesley honored Amy Ward, Program Director for COCC Redmond campus and also, emphasized COCC’s intention to keep stakeholders informed throughout the process, underscoring the college’s role in preparing the future workforce to sustain local industry growth.

Business Environment: The Study on Business Attraction and Retention

A central segment of the luncheon featured Steve Curley(REDI Executive Director) and Michael Held (Regional Manager, Business Oregon),who outlined findings from a recent statewide study on external business recruitment and retention. Key takeaways included:

• State  and Local Disparities: While Oregon’s statewide job and population growth is sluggish, Central Oregon — and Redmond in particular — are outpacing state metrics with significant population and job growth  over the past five years. Redmond alone has experienced a 16% population  increase since 2020.
• Business   Retention Risks: 25% of high-level Oregon manufacturing  executives surveyed had been approached by out-of-state entities to relocate or expand, a higher figure than expected. This highlights ongoing  competition for business retention as other states ramp up incentive  offerings.
• Challenges   and Opportunities: State-level headwinds include an aging  workforce, slow in-migration, federal trade issues, and sectoral vulnerabilities, especially in manufacturing, agriculture, and outdoor equipment. Local agencies like REDI have fostered stronger ties with businesses, maintaining open communication to understand and mitigate factors that  might push companies to leave.

The speakers discussed both push and pull factors: common local concerns include regulation, tax environment, and land availability, while amenities like local leadership, innovative city planning, quality of life, and a cooperative business climate serve as major retention anchors.

Investor Perspective: Nosler, Inc.

Mark Roberts, Vice President and CFO of Nosler, offered a firsthand account of what REDI’s partnership means from a manufacturer’s viewpoint. Nosler, a company with deep local roots, was able to expand and consolidate operations in Redmond thanks to REDI’s assistance in navigating incentives, dealing with city officials, and securing land. Roberts credited REDI for facilitating access to grants, the Enterprise Zone, and reliable local partnerships, which made growth and community investment possible. He encouraged local businesses to consider investing in REDI due to its tangible impact on business prosperity and community vitality.

Panel Discussion: Infrastructure as the Foundation for Growth

A panel of resource experts moderated by Roger Lee, VP and Business Relations with Summit Bank, examined the adequacy and future needs of Redmond's infrastructure in the context of rapid growth. Some key insights from the panel include:

1. Land  and Development Pressures: Dan Kemp of Compass Commercial highlighted escalating land and construction costs, soft costs, and financing pressures that challenge project feasibility. Despite rising land prices and construction costs, local demand for industrial land remains robust, and panelists stressed the need for more shovel-ready land.
2. Electricity  and Energy Supply: Elisa Dunlap (Pacific Power) and Brad Wilson (Central Electric Cooperative) addressed capacity issues in the local and regional grids, noting that Redmond’s high growth rate is straining existing electrical infrastructure. Both utilities detailed major substation, transmission, and generation projects — including investments in renewable and battery storage and a new 500kV transmission line — designed to keep pace with regional needs.
3. Natural Gas: Marcus McCloskey of Cascade Natural Gas explained how the company is investing in system expansions and pilot programs incorporating renewable natural gas and hybrid systems but also stated that regulation and pressure for electrification present operational and cost challenges.
4. Broadband: Patrick     Murphy from TDS Telecom outlined how broadband infrastructure in Central Oregon has evolved rapidly, with large investments made to keep up with "work from home" growth, surges in business demand, and the need to future-proof networks.
5. Municipal Water, Wastewater, and Roads: Jessica McClanahan summarized city-led projects highlighted by the $83 million Redmond Wetlands Complex (wastewater treatment), water well and network expansions, and the east side arterial corridor project, all of which represent proactive steps to guarantee long-term capacity for both residents and businesses.

Regulatory and Innovation Challenges

Nearly all panelists agreed that regulatory uncertainty —ranging from hurdles in federal permitting (especially with land use and transmission projects) to evolving state energy policy — hampers timely response to growth. However, there were also successes in leveraging innovative project delivery, cross-sector partnerships, and community engagement to accelerate progress.

Looking Ahead: Lessons and Opportunities

The meeting concluded with candid discussion:

• The importance of early communication between developers and utility providers.
• Best practices in phasing large projects to moderate investment and adapt as needs evolve.
• Opportunities to increase local generation, particularly through innovation in  renewables and potential adoption of small modular nuclear reactors, even as technology and policy remain in flux.
• Broad agreement that quality of life, natural amenities, and collaborative public-private partnerships are critical to business attraction and retention.

Closing

A common theme throughout the event included reminders of REDI’s pivotal role in building the region by design, not by default. Participants left with a deepened sense of shared responsibility for making Redmond and Central Oregon not just business-friendly, but truly business-ready for decades to come.

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