Location: Café Mundo -- 711 N.W. 2nd Court Newport, Oregon
Public welcome – limited seating, first-come, first-seated.
Time: 6pm reception – appetizers/no host bar
7pm show

Think Out Loud kicks off the Rural Economy Project by looking at how a small coastal town marketing effort attracts lifestyle entrepreneurs.   Demographic reports have identified nonmetropolitan counties that are likely to experience the greatest surge in baby boom migration during 2000-20; causing city and state officials to consider opportunities for small business, housing and recreational investments in rural areas like Newport.  Unifying business and tourism efforts, Newport lures California’s lifestyle entrepreneurs to a burgeoning community and “mini pearl” development. 

The Rural Economy Project is an initiative lead by OPB in collaboration with community-oriented organizations, Rural Development Initiative (RDI) Sustainable Northwest (SNW) and The Oregon Consortium/Workforce Alliance (TOC/WA).  The project will raise visibility on rural issues and provide critical resources for employment, business development and networking opportunities on-line at www.ripplenw.org. 

At nearly 11 percent, Oregon's unemployment rate is among the highest in the nation. Rural counties have been hit especially hard, with some areas exceeding a jobless rate of 18 percent. Individuals and small businesses in these rural and underserved areas are the focus of the Rural Economy Project that begins this month with one of TOL’s many conversations from around the state.  Please join us at the event or help shape the conversation online at www.opb.org/thinkoutloud.