2025 Awards of Excellence Recipients

The Sprout Summit was held on March 20, 2025, at Nicholson Library, Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. This event brought together government, nonprofits, and business leaders to advance sustainability and circular economy initiatives. Sprout Summit was a partnership among public and private organizations focused on sustainability, economic development, and innovation. The event provided opportunities for professionals in manufacturing, agriculture, the built environment, and circular supply chains to exchange ideas and develop solutions for the future of the Willamette Valley economy.

The South Coast Accelerator became a reality in 2024 through a grant from the Economic Development Administration and partnerships with Southwestern Oregon Community College, the Cities of Coos Bay and North Bend, and the South Coast Development Council, which manages the project. Opening with its first tenant, Willis Aerial Imagery, in July 2024, the accelerator reached full capacity in less than a year. Today it houses ten diverse businesses including Little Mill Media, Coos Tech Ninja, Rangel Digital, and SeaLab, alongside the Regional Development Officer from Business Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians’ Blue Earth Federal Corporation. Located in the same building as the Small Business Development Center, Oregon APEX Accelerator, CCD, and SCDC, tenants access advising, financing, and procurement support in one hub. The accelerator shows how collaboration drives measurable impact, grows the tax base, and builds lasting resilience.

Nova Apartments: a motor lodge motel conversion into a 26-unit micro apartment building at the entrance downtown Redmond at the intersection of U.S. Highway 97 and Oregon Highway 126 as the former home of the blighted Village Squire Motel.

The creation of this project catalyzed development on the property across the street (a former gas station) now planned as a 25-unit mixed-use apartment building.

The prime objective of the project was to remove the blighted use and create positive activity on the property. Nova Apartments immediately leased up with the expected demographic as well as other professionals searching for a small living space.

The property has transformed from hosting regular police visits to hosting downtown workers entertaining their guests in common kitchen, workout, and activity spaces in the former motel manager’s suite.

The developer stated if not for the City support, the project would have not proceeded. The $3.5 million project included $75,000 of City incentives.

The community helped push this easily repeatable project to be developed as the previous use had negative impacts on surrounding properties.

A series of documentary videos for the City of Woodburn, Oregon, that tell the stories of the lives, hard work, struggles, and successes of six business owners from their community, in their own words. Our work on the series included connecting with the individuals, interviewing them, filming, and editing the videos. Woodburn is such a special place, with a beautiful, culturally diverse population and well-loved and preserved history. It’s a wonderful community of individuals who care so much about each other and their town. It has been such a joy to get to know the members of the community and to create with the City to bring their vision, the American Dream series, to life.

Abisha Stone is SEDCOR’s Business Retention and Expansion Manager for Yamhill County. However, her impact goes much beyond the borders of Yamhill County and has made a significant difference in how SEDCOR approaches our work throughout our region. What further differentiates her work is the amount of heart and passion she brings to each project.

With Abisha’s leadership, SEDCOR has gained valuable experience in areas of day care and workforce housing, issues shared with her by businesses during routine outreach calls but not traditionally addressed by economic development organizations. In fact, we’ve seen the State of Oregon launch economic development programs targeting these areas in recent years, but quite frankly, with Abisha’s engagement, SEDCOR was years ahead in making a difference in both arenas.

She approaches her job with passion and creativity, which has resulted in significant economic impacts in several Mid-Valley communities and the entire region.

Jamie Johnk has devoted over 25 years to the field of economic development, with a career that spans local, regional, and state-level impact across Oregon. She began her journey with the Canby Business Revitalization Program, followed by roles at Business Oregon, and served as an economic development leader for the cities of Silverton and Molalla. She later joined Clackamas County, where she served as Economic Development Coordinator for nearly a decade, overseeing major initiatives in infrastructure, business retention, and Main Street revitalization.

Since joining the City of Woodburn in 2015, Jamie has built the city’s economic development program from the ground up, transforming it into one of the most successful in Oregon. Her career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive growth, regional collaboration, and long-term impact. She has consistently demonstrated leadership, innovation, and a passion for uplifting communities through economic opportunity.