SOREDI Attends Heli-Expo in Louisville

Croman Corp, Erickson, and SOREDI represent Southern Oregon, Feb. 29-March 2

Medford, OR. March 1, 2016: – SOREDI, along with representatives of Croman Corp and Erickson are attending the annual Heli-Expo tradeshow in Louisville, Kentucky. SOREDI has been providing facilitation services to the Oregon Heavy Lift Helicopter Consortium for nearly 10 years. The Consortium is comprised of three other Oregon heavy lift helicopter companies including Columbia Helicopter and Helicopter Transport Services, both based in Aurora, and Swanson Group Aviation based in Glendale. The Consortium represents more than 85% of the world’s heavy lift helicopter capacity. Numerous other light and medium lift helicopter companies and component manufacturers based in Oregon are also expected to attend.

SOREDI has periodically attended Heli-Expo over the years to both support Oregon’s heavy-lift helicopter companies and also look for business recruitment opportunities. In addition to Heli-Expo, this year’s trip across four Midwest states will include visits to three corporate headquarters with facilities in southern Oregon, follow up calls to two prospective relocation/expansion projects, and site consultant visits. “This trip is a great blend of the many efforts SOREDI takes to promote and support its own businesses, attract companies that may be considering a relocation project and follow up on current project leads through our lead generation activities,” according to Colleen Padilla, Senior Business Development Manager. “It’s important that we keep sharing that Southern Oregon is open for business and is a business-friendly region.”

About the Oregon Heavy Lift Helicopter Consortium: The Oregon Heavy Lift Helicopter Consortium began its collaborative effort in May 2006 in response to missed opportunities for heavy lift helicopters to effectively respond to local, regional, and national emergencies or disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. In addition to ongoing outreach to emergency management directors across the nation, the Consortium seeks to work collaboratively in promoting aviation careers with helicopter companies in Oregon and attracting a qualified workforce. SOREDI, as facilitator of the Consortium, serves as fiscal manager for the group, attends National Emergency Management Association events on their behalf, and fields heavy lift service inquiries via the OHLHC website. For more detail and company profiles, visit  http://www.heavylifthelicopter.com.

About SOREDI: SOREDI is a private, membership-based, non-profit organization, governed by a board of directors. Its staff is charged with local business expansion and new business recruitment efforts, financial assistance to start-up companies through its business loan fund, and management of Enterprise Zones in Jackson and Josephine Counties. The agency was formed as a regional economic development agency in 1987. Learn more at https://soredi.org.

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