The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) will host its next members meeting at Oregon Institute of Technology’s newly constructed residence hall on the Klamath Falls campus. The event will begin at 5:15 p.m., with food and beverages provided for attendees.

The new residence hall represents a major investment in sustainable, innovative construction and student life. The four-story, 86,000+ square-foot facility is designed to house more than 500 students and showcases mass timber construction, a renewable building method that significantly reduces carbon footprint while enhancing the built environment.

Serving as one of the first large-scale mass timber residence halls in Oregon’s higher education system, the project highlights the region’s leadership in sustainable design and advanced building practices.

Construction of the facility was led by Bogatay Construction, Inc., a Klamath Falls-based contractor, reinforcing the strong role of local industry in delivering complex, forward-thinking projects.

KCEDA’s members meeting will provide attendees with the opportunity to experience this landmark project firsthand while connecting with regional leaders, partners, and stakeholders in economic development.

A calendar invite will be sent to KCEDA Members and Partners soon and will give guests the opportunity to RSVP in advance.

Courtesy of the Klamath Trails Alliance

This article was published in The Herald and News on April 3rd

Klamath Falls has been recognized as a 2026 IMBA Trail Town, a new national designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) honoring communities with an exceptional commitment to building, maintaining, and celebrating trail systems. It is one of two Oregon cities to receive the designation; only 28 total Trail Towns were named this year.

The IMBA Trail Town designation recognizes communities that are leading with trails by demonstrating strong trail infrastructure, a commitment to trail funding, an active local trail organization, a culture of community engagement, and a sustainable trail stewardship plan. Together, these criteria support healthy lifestyles, local economies, and outdoor recreation access.

“Receiving the IMBA Trail Town designation recognizes the incredible collaboration between volunteers, local organizations, land managers, and community leaders who have worked for years to build and care for our trails,” said Theresa Ross of Klamath Trails Alliance.

To continue reading this article, please click here.

Klamath Falls Earns National IMBA Trail Town Designation
Designation Celebrates Communities Leading With Trails

Klamath Falls, Oregon (March 31, 2026)— Klamath Falls has been recognized as a 2026 IMBA Trail Town, a new national designation from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) honoring communities with an exceptional commitment to building, maintaining, and celebrating trail systems.

Trail systems are increasingly recognized as important drivers of outdoor recreation economies. Communities that invest in trails often see benefits including increased tourism, support for local businesses, improved public health, and stronger community connections to the outdoors. The Oregon outdoor recreation economy continues to grow: in 2024, it reached $9 billion in economic activity while employing 76,063 people.

About Healthy Klamath

The Healthy Klamath Coalition is a multi-sector partnership established to guide community health improvement efforts in Klamath County, Oregon. The community mobilized in 2012, forming the coalition in response to consistently low rankings in the annual Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) County Health Rankings. Over the past nine years, dedicated community members, leaders, and organizations have launched numerous initiatives, programs, and policy changes to address the health factors contributing to poor health outcomes in Klamath County. Passionate community leaders and community members are working together to find innovative solutions to address the health issues where we live, learn, work, and play. This momentum is helping build a culture of health in Klamath County.

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CONTACT:

Jessica Kostick, Community Engagement Coordinator

Healthy Klamath – A Certified Blue Zones Community

T: 541-591-4932 – jessica.kostick@healthyklamath.org

Event to be held January 28th, 2026, at the Ross Ragland Theater

Klamath Falls, OR (December 12, 2025) – The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) is proud to announce its 5th Annual Economic Summit, an event that has rapidly grown into one of the region’s most anticipated gatherings for business leaders, policymakers, and community stakeholders. The 2026 Summit will take place on January 28th, 2026, at the historic Ross Ragland Theater.

Over the past several years, the KCEDA Economic Summit has seen significant growth in attendance and statewide recognition. Its popularity stems from the event’s comprehensive and accessible insights into business growth strategies, government and legislative updates, and the evolving national, state, and local economic landscapes. Attendees over the years have gained valuable perspectives on current conditions as well explore forecasts that look at the years ahead.

This year’s theme, “Next-Level Growth: Navigating Change, Seizing Opportunity,” will guide a robust program of presentations delivered by leading experts in Economics, Entrepreneurship, Workforce Development, Government, Policy, Finance, Education, Tourism, and more. The Summit’s format offers participants the opportunity to engage directly with presenters—asking questions tailored to their industry needs or exploring broader issues affecting the community, state, nation, and world.

Featured speakers include State Economists, U.S. Chamber of Commerce representatives, Workforce Analysts, and CEOs from the Oregon Entrepreneur Network (OEN), Oregon Business & Industry (OBI), KCEDA, among others.

Speaking about the upcoming event, KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox, stated, “The Economic Summit is about elevating how we think in a rapidly changing environment. We bring together these experts from diverse fields so that we can help equip our community with insights needed to navigate change and drive next-level growth for Klamath County.”

Doors will open at 7:45 a.m., with presentations beginning at 8:15 a.m. Guests will enjoy coffee served by BS Coffee Company and breakfast appetizers from Pourhorse Cantina.

Admission is $10, with FREE entry for veterans, students, and teachers. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-klamath-county-economic-summit-tickets-1976484449193?aff=oddtdtcreator

This year’s event is sponsored by: Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union, Pacific Power, Klamath Community College, Oregon Tech, Great Basin Insurance, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Basin Mediactive, and Avista Utilities and MSPCO Wealth Management.

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KCEDA Project Portfolio – Development Activity Updates (Nov. 2025)

Over the past month, KCEDA has continued to make meaningful progress on several major development projects that are shaping the future of Klamath County’s economy. Project BESS, a large-scale battery storage development, made progress on its building and planning discussions. The advancement of this project continues momentum toward a significant energy infrastructure investment in the region, helping further Klamath County has a future energy hub for the West Coast at large. Project Loma, focused on geothermal energy development, also reached important milestones, with the project team making substantial progress on utility milestones necessary for long-term operations.

In the food and retail sectors, activity has been equally strong. Project Carrington, a food service development, will bring a new restaurant chain to the former REACH site on the Fred Meyer lot. Additional details will be revealed in the near future as plans finalize. Meanwhile, Project Cuisine (aka WinCo) continues to move forward with hiring and is targeting a Q1 opening date, marking a notable addition to local food access and employment opportunities.

KCEDA-supported renewable energy and housing efforts also saw notable progress. Project Diamond, a significant solar development, advanced through the Planning Commission review process, bringing it closer to implementation. Project Rascal, the Summers Crossing housing project, made additional strides to begin infrastructure work on the Foothills property across from Steens. This 140-unit development—featuring a mix of single-family homes, multifamily units, and general commercial space—represents an important step toward addressing regional housing needs.

Collectively, these projects represent $1.82 billion in prospective capital investment, 233 new jobs, and $5.63 million in new annual tax revenue. They are part of a wider KCEDA portfolio of over 50 active projects, totaling more than $5 billion in potential development activity across the region.

In addition to these project advancements, KCEDA staff received and responded to two major RFPs related to large traded-sector developments in logistics and manufacturing. Discussions with site selectors for both companies are ongoing, demonstrating continued interest in Klamath County as a competitive destination for major industrial investment. Lastly, KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox, met with Regional Solutions Staff and Governor Kotek to discuss opportunities and challenges presently facing the South-Central Oregon economy.

Klamath Falls, OR (February 28, 2025) – Grocery retailer WinCo Foods has officially announced plans to open a new location in Klamath Falls, OR. Based in Boise, ID, the company has steadily expanded its presence across multiple states, and now operates 141 stores with more than 21,000 employee owners. Locally, WinCo has chosen an 11.5-acre site at the corner of Shasta Way and Avalon Street for its new development. The company plans to begin construction on the development in mid-March of 2025. The new store is estimated to be 84,000 sq.ft., and once completed, is expected to create 100-120 new jobs in the region.

“Klamath Falls is a great community and we could not be more excited to have WinCo become a part of it,” said Noah Fleisher, Spokesperson for WinCo Foods. “KCEDA and its partners have been instrumental in this process, and we appreciate all their efforts in helping make this development possible.”

Representatives from the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) expressed enthusiasm about the new store, viewing it as a positive sign of the county’s economic progress. KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox stated, “WinCo’s decision to establish a location here is indicative of our market’s growing appeal. The addition of their store will be a great asset to our community.”

KCEDA Project Manager, Andrew Stork, highlighted KCEDA and others collaboration with WinCo, expressing excitement to see the project move forward. “KCEDA has worked with WinCo leadership for a couple years and it has been a pleasure since day one. Over the course of our collaboration, we’ve gained a deeper sense as to how passionate the community is about securing a location here. It’ll be fun to see that hope come to fruition.” The economic development agency began work on the business recruitment project in 2022. Since then, KCEDA has performed a multitude of services for WinCo, providing assistance with site selection, market research, incentive packaging, and more. According to Stork, additional partners involved with supporting the project’s advancement include the Klamath County Commissioners, Energy Trust of Oregon, and the City of Klamath Falls.

State Economist, Damon Runberg, providing updates on local and statewide economic forecasts at the 2024 Summit.

(January 9th, 2025 – Klamath Falls, OR) – Today, the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) has announced that they will be hosting their annual Economic Summit later this January. The special event takes place on January 22nd, 2025 at the Ross Ragland Theater, from 8:30-12:00PM. Admission to the event costs $10, giving attendees access to the full program, in addition to coffee and other refreshments. The theme of this year’s event is “Building Resilience: Unlocking New Growth Pathways”, where presentations will focus on strategies, innovations, and partnerships aimed at fostering new opportunities for sustainable growth within Klamath County.

This year’s Economic Summit consists of several presentations from various experts from throughout the state and region, as well offers attendees a chance to participate in a Q&A session with a panel of community stakeholders representing different industries and interests within Klamath County. Presenters will be discussing important topics related to local agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence, finance, workforce, and more throughout the day. Additionally, Business Oregon Regional Economist, Damon Runberg will be participating in the program, providing attendees information on Klamath County’s economic and employment forecasts for the upcoming year.

Commissioner Kelley Minty has worked with KCEDA to develop a compelling program that would explore several aspects of the county’s economy. Minty spoke about the return of the event, saying, “The Summit, with its quality presenters, will help foster connections and information sharing to bring Klamath County even greater economic development and support success as we embrace a new year. The opportunities for our business and community leadership to come together, speaking the same language, is inspiring and impactful each year.”

KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox, added to Minty’s comments, stating, “Unlocking new growth pathways for our business community creates vitality. We believe this Summit will show people how recent development efforts are shaping Klamath County’s economic future. You won’t want to miss it.” Cox will also be providing a presentation at the event, detailing KCEDA’s work over the past year and discussing active development projects the organization is presently involved with.

Click here to purchase tickets for the event! KCEDA believes in making this event accessible to everyone. If cost is a barrier to people interested in participating, we offer opportunities for sponsored entry. Please reach out to andrew@teamklamath.com for more information on these options.

The Economic Summit for 2025 is sponsored by the following organizations: Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union, Amazon, Pacific Power, RES (Resource Environmental Solutions), Avista Utilities, MSPCO (Molatore, Scroggin, Peterson & Co.), Business Oregon, Great Basin Insurance, 99-5 (The Fox), 92-5 (KLAD), and The Ross Ragland Theater.

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KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced nearly $46 million in investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for ecosystem restoration activities that address high-priority Klamath Basin water-related challenges in southern Oregon and northern California.

In February, the Department announced a landmark agreement between the Klamath Tribes, Yurok Tribe, Karuk Tribe and Klamath Water Users Association to advance collaborative efforts to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for Klamath Project agriculture. Funds announced today will support 24 restoration projects developed by signers of this agreement, as well as other Tribes and other conservation partners.

“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is funding restoration projects that will provide lasting ecological solutions, critical habitat restoration needed for threatened and endangered species, and agriculture resilience for the Klamath Basin,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “With the help of our partners in the basin, our shared commitment to protecting this ecosystem will benefit the watersheds, agriculture, forests and abundant populations of species that call this landscape home.”

“It’s inspiring to help advance our efforts to achieve a drought-resilient and restored ecosystem in this region,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “I am grateful for the work with Tribes and many partners to collectively choose projects focused on holistic solutions in the basin that will continue for many generations to come.”

Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Department is implementing more than $2 billion in investments to restore the nation’s lands and waters. To guide these historic investments, and in support of the President’s America the Beautiful initiative, the Department unveiled the Restoration and Resilience Framework, to support coordination across agency programs and drive transformational outcomes, including a commitment to advance collaborative efforts to restore the Klamath Basin ecosystem and improve water supply reliability for Klamath Project agriculture through the Klamath Keystone Initiative. By working collaboratively with ranchers, state and local governments, Tribal nations, and other stakeholders, the Department is working to build ecological resilience in core habitats and make landscape-scale restoration investments across this important ecosystem.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Service is investing a total of $162 million over five years to restore the Klamath region’s ecosystem and repair local economies. These investments will secure reliable water for the national wildlife refuges, advance the restoration of salmon post dam removal, address water quality and conveyance issues, and support co-developed restoration projects with Tribes, farmers and ranchers, and conservation partners.

As part of today’s investments, $13 million will be used to complete restoration of the Agency-Barnes wetland units of Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge and provide fish habitat access in Fourmile and Sevenmile creeks. Covering 14,356 acres, the restored wetland will create vital habitat for waterfowl, federally endangered Lost River and shortnose suckers, and other species, making it one of the largest wetland restoration initiatives in the United States.

Other projects announced today will help to develop and restore wetlands, shorelines and native habitats around Lake Ewauna, Link River, Tule Lake, Scott River and upper Williamson River. These include:

Lake Ewauna Restoration for the Benefit of People, Fish and Wildlife, $3,000,000 – These funds will be used to develop and restore wetlands and shoreline around Lake Ewauna in downtown Klamath Falls, Ore., for the benefit of native fish and wildlife species and to tell the story of the local Tribes, farmers and communities in the Klamath Basin. Restorative improvements to habitat in Link River and instream habitat improvements within Lake Ewauna will benefit Lost River and shortnose suckers, native trout, migratory waterfowl and other species. With the recently removed Klamath dams, salmon and steelhead will also be migrating through Lake Ewauna for the first time in over a century.

Tule Lake Flow Through Infrastructure Improvement, $2,540,000 – This project encompasses a suite of infrastructure improvements and operational changes to provide natural ecosystem services with respect to water quality in the Klamath Basin. Water used for farmland irrigation would then flow through wetlands before returning to the Klamath River. In addition to water quality benefits for the Klamath River, this project will provide habitat for threatened and endangered fish, support migratory wildlife, recharge groundwater and provide other ecosystem benefits.

Scott River Habitat Restoration – Strengthening Resiliency of Farms and Fish, $1,850,000 – The Scott River supports the largest cohort of state and federally threatened wild coho salmon in California. However, seasonally low stream flows through the upper reach of the mainstem Scott River prevent access to vital headwater tributaries. This project will focus on recovery activities that enhance and extend surface flow connectivity to ensure sufficient instream flows are given priority, along with efforts to increase summer and winter rearing habitat that reduce lethal stream temperatures and fine sediment mobilization.

Upper Williamson River Restoration (Phase 2), $3,500,000 – This project will provide fish passage to over 26 miles of the upper Williamson River and reconnect several thousand acres of adjacent wetlands and riparian habitats within the Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge project area. Existing irrigation infrastructure and hydrologic modifications, including delivery ditches, drains and levees, currently limit fish passage and floodplain connectivity, alter timing and duration of flooding, hinder volitional movement of native fish species, and restrain the storage capacity of the Klamath Marsh. Funds will be directed to the removal of existing irrigation infrastructure, installation of fish screens, and creation of roughened channels for fish passage.

A full project list is available on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website.

To learn more about the impacts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in the Klamath Basin, tune into the Service’s Nature’s Infrastructure podcast. Explore Klamath Basin Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funded restoration projects in an interactive StoryMap.

Additional examples of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments may be found in the Service’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law annual report, and photos may be found in the Klamath Basin photo gallery.

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Klamath Falls, OR (August 22nd, 2024) – The Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) announced today that community tradition, the Klamath Basin Oktoberfest, is officially scheduled for September 21st, 2024. This is aligned with the same date the historic German Oktoberfest opens.

Whether you wear lederhosen or Levi’s, what’s for certain is you won’t want to miss this festival come fall. The event has had groundbreaking attendance in previous years, attracting between 2,000-3,000 people on average, representing a welcome mix of local residents and travelers from regions throughout the West Coast. According to representatives of KCEDA, the event is on track to bring in record-high attendance, so get your tickets early at www.klamathbasinoktoberfest.com.

Located at the Bill Collier Ice Arena on the Running Y Ranch & Resort, the event will take place on Saturday, September 21st from Noon to 9:00pm. As a regional gathering, The Klamath Basin Oktoberfest brings the community and tourists together to celebrate the remarkable brew, food, and entertainment options that exist right here in Southern Oregon. In addition to the many notable vendors participating at the event, there is also a wide selection of family friendly games and activities for people of all ages to enjoy.

KCEDA staff is currently underway with event preparations. KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox, discussed the event, stating, “We have added some exciting new elements to Oktoberfest this year and look forward to having the event be a showcase of Klamath County. The brews, food, and entertainment will celebrate what makes our region special. None of this is possible without the support of the County Commissioners and our many sponsors. I encourage people to mark September 21st on their calendar and pre-order tickets.” Premiere sponsors of the event are Klamath County, Swan Lake Energy, Nextera Energy, and Nick Alexander Films.

For pre-sale tickets, please visit https://klamathoktoberfest.org/event/klamath-basin-oktoberfest-2024/or check the Klamath Basin Oktoberfest’s social media pages for regular updates surrounding the event.

About the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA)

Since 1975, KCEDA has reflected the best of private enterprise, responsibility and dedication. Its mission is to lead economic development and diversification of Klamath County through targeted recruitment & attraction, business retention & expansion, small business development and entrepreneurship. learn more about KCEDA and how they can help you, please visit their website, www.ChooseKlamath.com, or contact their offices using the information below.

Klamath Falls, OR (June 5, 2024) – In a joint press release, the Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA), the City of Klamath Falls, and real estate development firm, Pure Development, have announced that a new distribution center will be coming to Klamath Falls. The center will be located along Altamont Drive next to the airport, and is expected to begin construction this summer. Based out of Indianapolis, Pure Development has an extensive history developing facilities across the United States, having a proven portfolio in creating manufacturing spaces, corporate headquarters, and distribution centers. The facility they will be building in Klamath Falls will be operated by Amazon once complete.

“Amazon is excited to bring a delivery station to Klamath Falls to better serve our customers in the area,” said Easton Craft, manager of economic development for Amazon. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the Klamath County Economic Development Association and Pure Development. We look forward to sharing more details about this facility in the future.”

Discussing the news, KCEDA CEO, Randy Cox, stated, “An advantage for businesses developing in Klamath County is our location. Amazon and Pure Development’s investment in a new distribution center is further proof of the value our region can provide to companies who seek optimal logistics to markets along the west coast. We are excited to have them begin construction alongside many other new developments taking place over the next 12 months.”

Additionally, City Manager, Jonathan Teichert spoke about the project, commenting, “It’s exciting to be able to share this news publicly. We have been in discussions with KCEDA and Pure Development over the past year, and today are pleased to have an Amazon operation join our community. We believe this facility is a great indication of the progress our economy continues to make.”