Applegate Valley Business Network
WHAT is the Business Network?
The Applegate Valley Business Network is a collective of local business owners dedicated to leading the economic development of the Applegate Valley and promoting prosperity for the greater Applegate community. Together, members of the Business Network are building a strong, self-sufficient, and sustainable Applegate Valley economy.
WHO should join the Business Network?
Applegate Valley business owners of both existing and emerging businesses from all industries, trades, and crafts are welcome to join the Business Network. If you live in the Applegate and own a small business, you belong here! Please email Kate, the Business Network Coordinator, at [email protected] with any questions you may have.
WHY should you join the Business Network?
- Stewardship & Impact: By participating in quarterly meetings and events, Business Network Members are able to steer the vision as well as the working agenda for the group.
- Opportunity & Growth: Members can take advantage of exclusive networking events, resources for professional development, and the power of collective problem-solving.
- Benefits: Members receive special benefits as a thank you for joining the network. Depending on your business’s donation level, these benefits may include:
- A listing on ApplegateValleyConnect.org—the website for Applegate locals
- A listing on WanderApplegate.com—the website for Applegate tourists & travelers
- Inclusion on the Applegate Valley Business Map
- FUN! Running a small business is hard work, and the Business Network is a wonderful way to connect and socialize with other small-business owners. Business Network gatherings are geared to be as enjoyable as they are useful and are held in beautiful spaces around the valley.
Completed projects by A Greater Applegate to support small businesses
- Applegate Valley Branding & Collateral for Businesses—Request the Logo
- Applegate Valley Business Map for locals & travelers to discover small businesses—Download the Business Map
- Installation of branded Welcome Signs on the East and West ends of the Applegate Valley
- ApplegateConnect.org—community-building website for locals to connect & discover local businesses and events
- WanderApplegate.com—destination website for travelers to engage with all things Applegate
- Free Online Marketing Webinar series by local marketing expert Laurel Briggs
Low-interest small-business loans are available to Jackson and Josephine County small business entrepreneurs through the Illinois Valley Community Development Corporation’s Revolving Loan Fund.
Become a Business Network Member
We encourage you to join today! Memberships to the Business Network are available for as little as $50 annually, and 100% of these tax-deductible donations directly support Applegate Valley Business Network activities.
Please email Kate Vangeloff at [email protected] with any questions you may have.
Join Now!AGA-Sponsored Economic Studies
Applegate Valley Economic Conditions Assessment: A Greater Applegate (AGA) with Wellington Wildlands Council (WWC) partnered with the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) at the University of Oregon (UO) in late 2024 to better understand the current economic base and drivers of the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon. The applied research project aimed to produce an impartial report of the local economic conditions to support further community conversations. This study recognizes that the approach to rural economic development, while still focused on job and business development, must also tailor approaches that are aware of rural conditions. As such, the outcomes of this study are discussed in relation to best practices in rural economic vitality. These practices include strategies that emphasize community capacity-building, cultivating deep collaborations and partnerships, aligning with regional efforts, building from widely supported community visions, and pursuing creative, non-traditional economic development strategies. Read the report here
Applegate Valley business survey: This survey was conducted in late 2024 as part of a larger study seeking to produce an impartial report of the local economic conditions to support further community conversations on local economic development priorities titled Applegate Valley Economic Conditions Assessment. This study is a partnership between A Greater Applegate (AGA), Wellington Wildlands Council (WWC), and the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) at the University of Oregon. Read the survey report here
Report on rural industrial and commercial land use zones in the Applegate: The report captures findings from a review of rural industrial and commercial land use zones in the Greater Applegate area in Josephine and Jackson counties in 2023. Read the report here
