High Desert Partnership has received $320,000 from Business Oregon to continue delivering technical assistance to small businesses across eight rural counties in Eastern Oregon. This funding will help entrepreneurs who often face barriers to traditional business support—including limited broadband, few local financial institutions, and distance from major markets—access the coaching, training, and resources they need to succeed.
The grant supports a truly collaborative approach. Rather than a one-size-fits-all model, HDP serves as the regional convener while working alongside trusted local partners who are deeply embedded in their communities: Launch Pad Baker, Northeast Oregon Economic Development District (NEOEDD), Euvalcree, and Oregon Frontier Chamber of Commerce. Additional support will come from Foundry Collective and the Burns Paiute Tribe.
Each partner brings specialized expertise—from Spanish-language business coaching to financial education, from childcare business development to digital marketing support. Together, the network provides one-on-one advising, cohort trainings, and help accessing capital. Over the next two years, the team expects to serve more than 500 businesses across Harney, Malheur, Wallowa, Baker, Union, Gilliam, Sherman, and Wheeler counties.
"This is truly a community-driven partnership," says Anna Gahley, HDP's BizHarney Opportunity Collaborative Coordinator. "Each of our partners has well-developed relationships and trust within their community, making them best suited to serve local businesses and entrepreneurs in ways that actually work for rural contexts."
The program focuses on reaching entrepreneurs who are often underserved by traditional systems—women, immigrants, Tribal members, and first-time business owners. Services range from help with business licensing and registration to credit repair, from developing business plans to navigating state resources. The approach is simple: meet clients where they are, and tailor support to fit the local business environment.
This marks HDP's continued partnership with Business Oregon. Building on successful previous grant cycles, the collaborative has already helped hundreds of rural entrepreneurs launch new ventures, expand existing operations, and access over $1 million in capital. The new funding will deepen that work, creating a stronger backbone of business support across some of Oregon's most rural and isolated communities.
