Over the last 15 years, the City of Bend has worked hard to enhance its services to foster an “entrepreneurial ecosystem” within the community.

In a recent guest blog, Bend based business and entreprenerial advisor Jim Schell shared his thoughts on  the evolution of Bend’s “entrepreneurial ecosystem”.

It started with an evaluation of Bend’s existing businesses, the foundation for the growth of the city in the 90’s and earlier (real estate developers, attorneys, CPA’s, service and retail merchants, utility businesses, etc.),  and then looking closely at the regional supporters vital to the growth of the business community (the Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center, Rotary Clubs, Opportunity Knocks, Economic Development for Central Oregon, and the City of Bend’s Economic Development Advisory Board).

They city then examined features of what the “traded sector” businesses included, (those industries that serve areas beyond Bend ) such as the tech, bio-science, outdoor, and micro-brewery businesses, and the identified needs and services that could support the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem and give reason for traded sector companies to the Central Oregon town a serious look.

Read more of Jim’s 30,000 foot view of how Bend has advanced its vision with the support of its “bias-to-action” culture in the Oregon Business blog, “Does Your Community Have an Entrepreneur-Friendly Eco-System? Mine Does.”