Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI)

Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) is sponsored by Business Oregon. Rural Renewable Energy Development (RRED) Zone Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund (SDWRLF) < Category: Clean Energy.

Business Oregon : Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) : Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) : State of Oregon Translate this site into other Languages tag, as divs are not allowed in 's --> Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) The Rural Opportunity Initiative (ROI) is Business Oregon’s strategic effort to empower rural communities to support entrepreneurs and small business growth.

ROI helps strengthen and consolidate entrepreneurial ecosystems across Oregon’s rural communities, with an emphasis on diverse and low-income populations. At its core, the ROI Program is designed to create an economy that works for all Oregonians.

It is inclusive and community-driven, empowering local leaders to define and implement collaborative strategies that elevate the role of entrepreneurship in rural economic development, enabling entrepreneurs to create place-based enterprises that in turn buoy local economies.

In lieu of a “one size fits all’ approach with specific objectives to which each community must align, the ROI Program reflects community priorities and acknowledges that the best people to determine the right approach for a community are the residents themselves. For the 2025-27 biennium, Business Oregon awarded grants to 17 ROI projects across the state.

Although all 17 represent efforts to strengthen the local or regional ecosystem, each project is different and reflects the nuance of individual communities and their entrepreneurs. See below for a list of awardees and a brief overview of their ROI projects.

AGA is strengthening its ecosystem by convening and connecting rural and frontier entrepreneurs with resources and training, activating a local mentor network, hosting events and pitch competitions, and creating a sustainability plan for long term ecosystem viability.

Bohemia Food Hub is expanding its physical infrastructure to enable more pathways for food business development and scaling, facilitating connections to new market opportunities, and refining organizational and operational policies and procedures to support growth.

Cave Junction Farmers Market is expanding entrepreneurial support and technical assistance for small businesses in alignment with a community visioning process, increasing market opportunities for local makers and producers, and supporting youth entrepreneurship.

CCD is leveraging Coos, Curry and Douglas County’s localized expertise and regional connections to support entrepreneurs and small businesses with access to communication networks, financial resources, and specialized business technical assistance.

CRL will further develop and expand programming for rural land-based businesses by providing additional technical assistance and educational materials, increase access to mentors and on-campus incubation, and promote an entrepreneurial culture in rural Lane County.

EDALC is focused on scaling countywide ecosystem building efforts, including expanding proven programs and events, supporting creative economy entrepreneurs, enhancing access to resources, and sustaining core economic development services.

Friends of Family Farmers is expanding a system of programs and resources to assist farmer entrepreneurs in achieving the business planning and land security needed to start and expand farming operations in Oregon, including the establishment of a regional pilot project in Southern Oregon.

The Heppner Chamber of Commerce is expanding entrepreneurship programming and resources at the Willow Street Arts and Business Innovation Hub, supporting retailers at the Market 87 mercantile, and launching youth entrepreneurship courses.

High Desert Partnership is enhancing the Harney County entrepreneurial ecosystem by aligning partners and priorities, expanding support for food and agriculture businesses, improving place-based branding, and strengthening its “idea to ownership” entrepreneur pipeline.

Klamath IDEA is expanding youth entrepreneurship programming and increasing the availability of resources and communication networks across the county, while implementing an ecosystem sustainability plan that includes establishing a bench of mentors and pitch coaches to support homegrown entrepreneurship.

MCEDD is partnering with Maupin Works to convene and connect rural and frontier entrepreneurs with resources and training, activate a local mentor network, host events and pitch competitions, and create a sustainability plan for long term ecosystem viability.

MCLT is supporting coordination and decision-making among local nonprofits and commercial lot owners in Blue River to help advance economic and community development, including hosting events and low-barrier retail opportunities like food trucks and pop-up markets.

Nixyaawii Community Financial Services is creating an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem in Eastern Oregon that reduces barriers to capital, improves access to technical assistance and legal resources for rural and Tribal entrepreneurs, and supports long-term business growth and sustainability.

NEOEDD is strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem of NE Oregon by fostering stronger connections between entrepreneurs, partners, and resources, as well as supporting main street revitalization to attract and retain thriving downtown businesses.

The Newberry Regional Partnership is convening entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Assessment, working directly with local businesses and service providers to map existing assets and identify gaps that hinder entrepreneurial success.

Oregon Frontier Chamber is strengthening its Rural Ambassador Program, broadening entrepreneurial learning opportunities by offering diverse workshops, technical assistance resources, and collaborative events, while expanding youth entrepreneurship pathways.

Warm Springs CAT is advancing the Commissary project, a flagship investment on the Warm Springs reservation, by training a cohort of launch ready businesses, developing an entrepreneurial pipeline, and supporting a branding campaign to attract business, retail, and capital investments in support of the Warm Springs Reservation tribal business ecosystem.

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