In today’s news, state receives bid for Elliott Forest, Erickson Inc. is delisted from stock exchange and Portland downtown shut down for gas leak.
1. Elliott Forest attracts one bid
The state is looking to sell 82,00 acres of public lands near Coos Bay for $220.8 million. The single bidder was a partnership from Roseburg’s Lone Rock Timber and the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, OPB reports. Lone Rock would contribute 87% of the equity, its Cow Creek Band offering the final 13%. The offer also stipulated that the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians would be paid to ensure conservation requirements are met.
2. Erickson Inc. delisted from Nasdaq
Nasdaq cited the company’s recent Chapter 11 filing as the cause, as well as concerns with remaining equity interest, the Portland Business Journal reports. Erickson’s stock will be officially suspended Nov. 21.
3. Portland downtown was closed this morning for a gas leak
.@PDXFire addressing gas leak. Natural gas line has been shut off. Expect road closures for about an hour. pic.twitter.com/G9JG1yEpd2
— Oregon Business (@OregonBusiness) November 17, 2016
4. Oregon business associations merge
Associated Oregon Industries and Oregon Business Association announced their merger today, Willamette Week reports. The discussion has been ongoing for the last three years. The merger will not go into effect until July 1, 2017. Once combined, the organizations will represent almost every large company in Oregon.
5. LinkedIn opens Hillsboro data center
The 8-megawatt facility has been under construction for the last year. LinkedIn occupies two buildings, one of which is a former semiconductor equipment factory, the Oregonian reports. The social networking company declined to say how many employees will work on site.
6. Portland’s AquaHarmonics receives first U.S. Dept. of Energy Wave Energy prize
The team was awarded $1.5 million for developing a concept to double the amount of wave energy captured, the Portland Business Journal reports. Four of 92 participating teams were able to hit the DOE’s stated threshold. Oregon had a second team advance to the finals: Salem-based M3 Wave which finished eighth.
7. Bringing life back to apprenticeships
Research editor Kim Moore interviews director of OMIC Training Center Gregg Meyer on reviving the manufacturing apprenticeship model.
