⁄Contents⁄ October 2023 FEATURES 24 In Ashland, the Play’s (Still) the Thing The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is struggling financially as it emerges from the pandemic. Tim Bond, its new artistic director, sees brighter days ahead. 28 Growing Up Bend’s Central District is the gritty core of a polished and growing city. But developers are working to give it a makeover that keeps the neighborhood’s heart beating. 35 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For in Oregon 2023 Cover Story We honor the state’s best nonprofit employers, according to the results of employee surveys. REGULARS 6 Editor’s Letter 8 Newsfeed 14 Tactics Katie Poppe, co-founder and CEO of Blue Star Donuts, talks about how COVID-19 unexpectedly turned a niche, gourmet doughnut brand into a household snack available in 40 states. 56 Powerlist Law firms, ranked by number of employees 60 Downtime Live, work and play with Katy Brooks, president/CEO of the Bend Chamber of Commerce. 62 Policy Brief Meara McLaughlin, executive director of MusicPortland, writes about how policymakers can better support the music industry. Follow @OregonBusiness for breaking news, blogs and commentary. Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter featuring the best of OregonBusiness.com, plus articles from our print publication. To sign up, go to OregonBusiness.com. 28 BRAND STORIES 12 GNSA The one-stop shop for managing employee operations from payroll to HR and more 16 PayneWest Insurance Nonprofits can save big with strategic insurance renewal planning. 22 Visit Tillamook Coast Oregon Tillamook County installs new wayfinding signage that connects visitors and residents to the region’s roots. 50 SAIF Corporation This state-chartered nonprofit has been taking care of injured workers and helping people get back to work since 1914. 54 Comcast Direct Working to lessen the digital divide and support communities in times of need 58 Oregon Community Foundation Delivering a new model that brings wealth-building opportunities to diverse investors JASON E. KAPLAN CHECK OUT THESE EXCLUSIVES ON OREGONBUSINESS.COM n Medford’s Income Growth Outpaced 91% of U.S. Metros Between 2019 and 2022. What’s Behind the Boom? — The uptick reverses decades of decline, according to Census data. n Measure 110 Partial Repeal Would Use Criminal Justice System for Early Intervention — Two alternative ballot measures would recriminalize hard drugs in Oregon, but the organizing group’s founder, Max Williams, says he hopes the Legislature comes up with a better alternative. n University of Oregon Partners With Dialect-Based AI Startup SoapBox Labs — The Irish tech company’s software will enable the College of Education to better identify struggling readers of different dialects. n Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.3 Million for Rural Renewable-Energy Projects — Funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will go toward 28 Oregon projects aimed at building renewable energy and energy efficiency infrastructure. 100 BEST NEWS The 2024 100 Best Companies to Work For in Oregon Survey Is Open! Find out how satisfied your employees are with their jobs through our anonymous and confidential survey. Register at OregonBusiness .com/2024Register. For information on how the survey works, visit OregonBusiness.com/Statements. 2024 Phoebe and Doug Pedersen operate the Pool Club at the Campfire Motel in Bend’s Central District. They plan to open another bar in the developing district. 4
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