REDI's Pandemic Recovery Outlook | Redmond Economic Development Inc.
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REDI's Pandemic Recovery Outlook

REDI's Pandemic Recovery Outlook

At the recent REDI News & Brews held at Initiative Brewing, Sr. Director Jon Stark presented an update on Redmond’s economic indexes impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. It has been a little over a year since the first announcement of the lockdowns. Stark showed how Redmond has fared in terms of employment and how the manufacturing sector adapted to such sudden change. Below are a few highlights of his presentation. Some of the numbers may surprise you.

  • For Oregon overall, the pandemic recession looks very different than previous recessions in duration, drop and climb, showing a quicker rebound lies ahead.
  • We have recovered 60-70% of the jobs lost in Deschutes County.
  • Redmond fared better by way of employment losses from the Pandemic at -9%, compared to other towns in Deschutes county with Bend (-12.3%), LaPine which includes Sunriver (-20.5%) and Sisters (-15.2%).  We have also recovered faster, being down just -1.4% compared to Bend (-4.5%), LaPine/Sunriver (-7.7%) and Sisters (-1.8%) - as of Q4 2020, according to the Oregon Employment Department.
  • While many industries and businesses have been challenged, Redmond’s traded sector is alive and well.  The larger manufacturing job losses in Redmond actually, came from one company and from other firms making products to serve in restaurants, bars and in commercial aviation.
  • 2020 results have been the strongest in REDI’s history. In a typical year, up to six companies will sign on recruiting or business expansion deals. In a pandemic year, we had ten!  This year Redmond had the largest capital investment of the last six years at over $20 million.  Some of these companies investing in Redmond are: I3D Manufacturing, Poltex, Algofy and We’re The Wurst to name a few.
  • Redmond’s largest and newest company recruitment project coming soon to Redmond is Wild Mike’s Ultimate Pizza. In over 4,000 US stores where Wild Mike’s Pizza is sold, news of this project resulted in the highest pizza sales in – where else? – Redmond.

The Company:

  • 3rd Generation Company
  • Est. 1967
  • Distributed across 46 States
  • 10,000 locations in retailers and School Districts

The Redmond Project:

  • Estimated $40 million investment
  • 114 jobs
  • Wages exceed County average
  • 270,000 SF building
  • Pending projects are up in terms of job opportunities within expanding and relocating firm prospects.  For 2021, there are 28 projects in place with the potential to yield 1,478 new jobs and over $230 million in capital investment. Companies participating in these projects include BasX Solutions, BMI (Bridge Masters Incorporated), Performance Pro Supply and Expion 360.

Overall, Redmond has come out of this recession because it does not rely so much on the tourism industry as its neighboring communities. We can be thankful for such diversity in Redmond’s industry mix that has helped blunt the effects of the pandemic. Stark mentioned he is confident in upcoming pending projects that hope and assurance for further economic prosperity in Redmond is ahead.

To learn more about the work we do, visit rediinfo.com.