MEDP - McMinnville Economic Development Partnership

10/15/2026

☕ Big ideas start with good conversations!

Starting a business, growing a startup, or exploring an idea you can’t stop thinking about? Join us at McMinnville Coffee Club for Startups & Entrepreneurs to connect with others who understand the adventure of building something of your own.

Bring your questions, share what you’re working on, and make connections with fellow entrepreneurs in our community.

📅 October 20, 2026
🕘 9–10 a.m.
📍 Chemeketa Community College in McMinnville

Your next connection, fresh perspective, or spark of inspiration could be one conversation away. Join us—and invite an entrepreneur who should be in the room!

👉 RSVP on our Events Calendar: https://ow.ly/Oclj50ZYcax

Thank you Chemeketa Community College, Chemeketa Small Business Development Center, and MEDP!


The City of McMinnville, McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, McMinnville Downtown Association, Visit McMinnville Oregon

10/07/2026

🎉 Great makers. Inspiring leaders. McMinnville MADE.

Join us in celebrating our 2026 McMinnville MADE award winners!

🏆 McMinnville Maker of the Year: New Energy Works / Pioneer Millworks
From exceptional craftsmanship to sustainable innovation, these employee-owned companies are building more than beautiful spaces—they’re creating opportunities and investing in our community.

🏆 Kelly McDonald Business Leader of the Year: Jody Christensen
As MEDP’s first Executive Director, Jody helped lay the foundation for 20 years of business development. Her leadership, connections, and commitment have left a lasting mark on McMinnville.

Presented at the Chamber Annual Gala on October 2—National Manufacturing Day—these honors were especially meaningful as MEDP celebrates our 20th anniversary.

👏 Help us congratulate this year’s honorees and the people behind their impact!

Read their stories: 2026 McMinnville MADE Award Winners https://ow.ly/9Zl850ZVw4r

https://www.mcminnvillebusiness.com/medp-press-release-2026-mcminnville-made-award-winners



The City of McMinnville
McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce
Business Oregon

10/07/2026

A partir del 30 de octubre, el programa Level-Up de Unidos organizará eventos semanales de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral en McMinnville de 3:30 pm a 6:30 pm. La ubicación es 207 Ne 19th St, Suite 200, McMinnville, OR 97128

10/07/2026

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is extremely proud to be expanding our support for small businesses developing the technologies that could shape what comes next. Taking the lead in helping Oregon innovators turn big ideas into real opportunities.

Throughthe U.S. Small Business Administration Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program and support from Business Oregon, OEN will help Oregon entrepreneurs understand the SBIR and STTR process, strengthen their proposals, connect with the right resources, and move their technologies closer to market.

Think of it as more support for the hard part between “we have an idea” and “we’re ready to build it.”

OEN will be working with partners across the state to reach innovators in both urban and rural communities, with programming launching this fall.

And yes, FAST-supported services are available at no cost to eligible Oregon small businesses.

Find out more about the program and what’s coming next in today’s press release here >>> https://www.oen.org/2026/09/28/oregon-entrepreneurs-network-receives-sba-fast-grant-to-expand-support-for-oregon-innovators/

And submit your request for support at oen.org under Programs.

10/07/2026

Looking for capital to grow your small business? A few national grant programs are still accepting applications this fall:
→ Breva's Thrive Grant: $5,000 for businesses with demonstrated community impact, due 10/31
→ The Amber Grant: three $10,000 awards monthly for women-owned businesses
→ NSF America's Seed Fund: R&D funding for startups with big ideas

More info: https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2026/08/02/small-business-grants-august-2026-sba-verizon.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=ae&utm_content=PO&j=47202249&senddate=2026-08-25&utm_term=ep5&empos=p5

And if you're an Oregon business weighing your options, our team can help you sort through what fits. Find the contact info for your Regional Development Officer, here: https://www.oregon.gov/biz/aboutus/regions/Pages/default.aspx

10/02/2026

Small parts. Big ideas. McMinnville MADE. 🙌

What do aircraft components, protein bars, precision dental products, electron emitters, timber frames, grn steel, and your favorite local beverages have in common?

The talented people making them right here in McMinnville!

Swipe through to meet some of the faces—and see some of the products—behind our diverse manufacturing community. From aerospace and advanced technology to food and beverage processing, metals, wood products, bioscience, and carbon sequestration, there’s a whole lot of ingenuity at work here. 🔧✈️☕🪵

Behind every product are people bringing skill, curiosity, care, and teamwork to the job: welders, machinists, scientists, brewers, fabricators, engineers, production teams, and the next generation of makers learning alongside them.

To our manufacturers and the people who power them: thank you for making things here, creating career opportunities, supporting fellow businesses, and sharing McMinnville’s ingenuity with the world.

As MEDP celebrates 20 years of supporting local business, we’re proud to celebrate YOU.

Celebrating Manufacturing Every Day. ❤️




The City of McMinnville
McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce
Business Oregon
Manufacturing Day

09/29/2026

Thank you Oregon Entrepreneurs Network!

Oregon Entrepreneurs Network is extremely proud to be expanding our support for small businesses developing the technologies that could shape what comes next. Taking the lead in helping Oregon innovators turn big ideas into real opportunities.

Throughthe U.S. Small Business Administration Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program and support from Business Oregon, OEN will help Oregon entrepreneurs understand the SBIR and STTR process, strengthen their proposals, connect with the right resources, and move their technologies closer to market.

Think of it as more support for the hard part between “we have an idea” and “we’re ready to build it.”

OEN will be working with partners across the state to reach innovators in both urban and rural communities, with programming launching this fall.

And yes, FAST-supported services are available at no cost to eligible Oregon small businesses.

Find out more about the program and what’s coming next in today’s press release here >>> https://www.oen.org/2026/09/28/oregon-entrepreneurs-network-receives-sba-fast-grant-to-expand-support-for-oregon-innovators/

And submit your request for support at oen.org under Programs.

09/25/2026

🚀 What does Oregon’s growing semiconductor economy have to do with McMinnville?

More than you might think.

Oregon’s semiconductor industry is entering an exciting new chapter—and McMinnville is already part of the conversation.

Through the Oregon State University-led FAST (Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology) initiative, nearly 100 partners are working to strengthen Oregon’s semiconductor ecosystem through innovation, workforce development, regional collaboration, and economic growth.

For MEDP, this connection has been years in the making.

And McMinnville already has some important pieces in place: specialized technology and advanced manufacturing companies, a growing workforce pipeline, strong regional partnerships, and future employment land being intentionally prepared for investment.

From Applied Physics Technologies and Chameleon Industries/Veolia to WIN – Workforce Integration Network, student manufacturing experiences and the future McMinnville Landing, there is a bigger story emerging about where McMinnville fits within Oregon’s innovation economy.

The goal isn’t to predict exactly what company comes next.

It’s to make sure McMinnville is ready when the right opportunity arrives.

➡️ Read the full story: https://ow.ly/QLAY50ZRx06

everyday

The City of McMinnville
Oregon State University
Business Oregon

09/21/2026

Great company!

Shape the future with Northwest UAV!

🚀 Ready to accelerate your career in aerospace innovation? Join Northwest UAV, where groundbreaking technology meets an inclusive workplace.

We’re hiring for exciting roles like Sr. Mechanical Engineer - Engines, Project Manager, CNC Programmer/Machinist, and Machinist I. Enjoy competitive benefits and the chance to be part of a legacy driving UAV advancements.

Don’t wait—turn your passion into progress. Apply today at www.nwuav.com/careers.html!

09/18/2026

🚗☕ Three stops. Six local businesses. A whole lot of entrepreneurial spirit.

This summer, Launch Mid Valley’s McMinnville Coffee Club hit the road—and instead of meeting around the usual conference table, we got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the people and businesses building what’s next in McMinnville.

From CenturyCafé + The Bohemian and the entrepreneurial connection between coffee and cycling… 🚲☕
to Village Provisions Market + Free Wild She and the realities of pivoting, growing a team and navigating the CPG world…
to + Summon Coffee where we explored everything from bringing a boutique hotel to life to growing a specialty coffee business in the face of changing costs and supply chains.

Along the way, one thing became clear: entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight line. Businesses evolve, pivot, grow, and sometimes take an entirely new turn.

👉 Read our summer road trip recap and get a glimpse into the people, ideas and behind-the-scenes realities that make McMinnville’s small-business community so interesting.

And a big THANK YOU to all six businesses for opening their doors and sharing their stories! 💚