Industry Cluster Development

 

COIC has been designated by the federal Economic Development Administration as the region’s Economic Development District (EDD).  In this capacity, COIC engages in a variety of functions designed to help create a solid platform for sustainable economic development, including assisting communities in providing public infrastructure and  “industry cluster development”.

Industry clusters can be defined as concentrations of businesses or organizations with common or complimentary interests, often based on common needs for goods, services, infrastructure, workforce, and knowledge.  Typically, businesses within a cluster are linked through common customers, markets, suppliers, trade associations, and service providers.  Within Central Oregon, established industry clusters include tourism, secondary wood products, agriculture, and health care; while emerging clusters include renewable energy, aviation technology, and telecommunications.

COIC’s cluster development activities can and have included:

• Development of a cohesive message or trademark for the cluster and/or region;
• Collaboration on common policy or political goals;
• Development of education programs and opportunities, particularly for workforce development;
• Identification of niche market opportunities;
• Networking, data sharing;
• Development of specific infrastructure needs, such as roads, telecommunications, investment capital, electric grid, technology;
• Assisting in the development of research facilities, incubation and innovation opportunities;
• Development of local markets.

To date, COIC has taken a lead role performing “cluster development” activities in the following sectors: (to link to this sector click on the image below).

 

Agriculture

 

Forest Products

Reneable Energy