News

M3 Wave LLC has been awarded a commercialization grant from OregonBEST, which will aid the company in procuring further funding both from the US Department of Energy and from private investors. M3 Wave LLC is working to commercialize technology developed at OSU to generate wave energy, but unlike other forms wave energy harvesting, causes fewer conflicts with marine life and has no visible parts above the ocean’s surface.

See the full article here: http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/08/m3-wave-gets-150k-grant.html

The BEC has signed on to become a partner organization of the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition. The benefits of reaching out and collaborating with community partners to boost local businesses and startups will ultimately help both organizations fulfill their mission, help local prosperity, and maintain a high quality of life for the community.

Robert Mauger, Volunteer Executive Director for BEC, will be the BEC’s liaison and will co-chair the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition‘s Economic Vitality Action Team. The synergies between BEC’s entrepreneurship expertise and Economic Vitality Team’s vision of Buy Local, Invest Local, and Produce Local can led to a vibrant and sustainable local economy.

The BEC is exploring new ways of helping emerging businesses grow and find funding. The staff and board members are excited to join forces with the Sustainability Coalition‘s broad and diverse range of partners, and look forward to exploring new avenues for achieving local prosperity and meeting community needs while aiming for economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

The Corvallis City Council approved the new Airport Industrial Park Master Plan in December, which advances Benton County’s goals for the industrial park, and brings Benton County zoning and City of Corvallis master plan uses into agreement. This update means there will be a clearer, simpler development process with fewer regulatory hurdles for prospective companies.

Benton County zoning had previously permitted a different set of uses from those in the former AIP Master Plan, causing a lack of clarity regarding which uses would be acceptable and uncertainty about the approval process. With both sets of uses brought into a alignment, the process will be more straightforward and require fewer steps than at present. The process is not quite yet complete, but the City and County are working together closely to get details harmonized, and the final steps should be completed soon.

Starting the first week in December the BEC will sponsor and host (location TBD) the reinstituted SWOT process that former BEC member John Sechrest ran so successfully over at the Chamber-Coalition. Companies can pitch and get feedback from seasoned industry veterans on their business plan, and meet and network with a group of successful business professionals, many who are local investors. This can be an ask for money but usually it is a “pre-ask” tune up that allows the start-ups to improve their business plan and idea to the point when they do ask, they receive.

For a small up-front fee of $50 for the first session, the start-up team gets at least an hour’s audience.

If the company wants a second or third round, the price goes up to $100 for the second session and $250 for the final round.
Will It Fly? Come to the BEC and find the answer.