February 06, 2008 02:24 pm
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 major employer: Boise Cascade employs about 700 workers in Union County, and supports related businesses like logging companies. Above, a log truck is unloaded recently at the La Grande mill. - The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER
But tough times have already begun, and Insko looks for them to be around awhile.
“Overall the industry is in a major downturn,” said Insko, who oversees four wood products manufacturing plants in Union County and one in Kettle Falls, Wash. “This is the worst I’ve seen it in a number of product markets. It’s probably the worst in the last 40 or 50 years.”
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January 30, 2008 03:12 pm
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 The VAoutpatient clinic in La Grande is being built mostly by Union County contractors, including Summit Construction, Ken Wallace Plumbing, All-Phase Electrical and Danforth Construction. - Observer photos/PHIL BULLOCK
It hasn’t been easy. There’s been plenty of stop and go.
“Leave it to me to try and do something like this in the winter,” developer Fred Bell said with a laugh.
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January 23, 2008 04:16 pm
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 Graphic/ANDREW LILLY
That's the word from local Realtor Andrew Lilly, who gathers
Multiple Listing Service statistics for the Union County Board of
Realtors.
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January 23, 2008 04:15 pm
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Local business people should mark their calendars for upcoming educational opportunities sponsored by the Union County Employer Committee.
On March 18, the committee will host its Business Development
Workshop, including a session with representatives from the state
Bureau of Labor and Industry, and a workshop on identity theft, fraud
and security.
The all-day wage and hour seminar covers a multitude of
workplace policies and practices, and offers employers tips on how to
stay in compliance.
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January 16, 2008 04:14 pm
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 SPREADING THE WORD: Grant money recently received from Travel Oregon will help the Eastern Oregon Visitors association to place more full-age ads like the ones pictured above.
Even some in Europe.
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January 09, 2008 04:08 pm
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 Construction of the $150 million wind farm began last March. The turbines began operating full-time on Dec. 27. - Observer file photo
"We're changing over," said Project Manager Tom Burke. "As we
get our power up, we're turning things over to our operations group."
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January 02, 2008 02:55 pm
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 Union and Wallowa counties financed purchase of the railroad from Idaho Northern in 2002, borrowing a total of $5.5 million from the state. Some $2 million of the $6.5 million purchase price was paid with Oregon Lottery funds. - The Observer/BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH
In a meeting Dec. 11, the WURA board of directors looked at a
draft of the plan, including an executive summary. The board had seen
portions of the plan earlier, but delayed detailed discussion until
completion of the summary.
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December 26, 2007 03:40 pm
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The Oregon Department of Transportation
has received 78 applications — including one from Union County — for
the $100 million multimodal transportation program, ConnectOregon.
Some of the applicants will go away disappointed when the funds
are awarded, however. The department said the requests from throughout
ODOT's five regions totaled $214 million.
Region 5, covering Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur Morrow,
Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties, produced 14 applications, seeking
a total of $48.3 million.
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December 19, 2007 03:36 pm
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 Emerging to the forefront as hot sellers this holiday season are board games, said Dave Campbell, background, of the Hobby Habit in La Grande. - The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK
With less than a week to go in the 2007 holiday shopping season,
merchants in Union and Wallowa Counties are upbeat, with most seeing
their sales match — and in some cases, exceed — those of last year.
It can't hurt that the State of Oregon refunded $1.1
billion to taxpayers this month. The kicker checks fatten the average
person's wallet by about $600, and that's a fine holiday windfall in
anybody's book.
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November 28, 2007 03:15 pm
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The Union County Economic Development Corp.
recently made a bylaw change that will significantly affect the makeup
of the board of directors — and maybe help to smooth over a
long-running argument with members of the La Grande City Council.
Currently, the UCEDC board includes four appointees from the
City of La Grande, four from Union County, and four from the La Grande
Industrial Development Corp., also known as the "ID Board."
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