Section
Business
Business
City Takes Control of Former Initiative Brewing Site on SW 4th Street After $1.2 Million Investment Falls Short
The Madras Redevelopment Commission and City Council have approved a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the former Initiative Brewing property at 715 SW 4th Street, putting the city in control of an asset backed by $1.2 million in urban renewal funding as officials work to recover the public investment.
Business
Culver Eyes End to Food Desert Status with $50,000 Grocery Feasibility Grant
The city of Culver has received a $50,000 federal planning grant to study options for bringing full-service grocery access to the community. A March survey of residents showed strong demand for fresh produce and meat — staples residents currently have to drive out of town to find.
Business
Madras Buys Back Initiative Brewing Property for $1.1 Million After Brewery Closure
The Madras Redevelopment Commission has approved a $1.1 million buyback of the former Initiative Brewing property on SW 4th Street, moving to protect the public investment after the brewery failed to sustain operations at its Madras location.
Business
Jefferson County Manufacturers and Farms Showcased as Models for Energy Efficiency in Oregon
Two Madras-based operations — KEITH Manufacturing and Central Oregon Seeds — were spotlighted during a regional business tour last month as examples of how Jefferson County’s industrial and agricultural sectors are cutting costs through energy efficiency partnerships.
Business
Madras Seeks to Recover $1.2 Million After Initiative Brewing Location Closes for Good
The City of Madras is working to recover more than a million dollars in public funds after Initiative Brewing permanently closed its Madras location — leaving city officials scrambling to recoup loans and grants used to help the brewery relocate here.
Business
Plateau Travel Plaza Grand Reopening July 11 with Music, Fuel Deals, and a Drone Show
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs-owned Plateau Travel Plaza is celebrating a major expansion with a grand reopening on July 11. The renovation doubled the gaming floor and added expanded dining, ice cream, and a new coffee station.
Business
Plateau Travel Plaza Grand Reopening July 11: Bigger Gaming, New Dining, Drone Show
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs' Plateau Travel Plaza on U.S. Highway 26 is celebrating its grand reopening on July 11 after doubling its gaming floor and expanding dining options. The event features fuel discounts, live music, and a drone show.
Business
Grown in Madras and Culver: Jefferson County Grass Seed Is Playing at the FIFA World Cup
Kentucky bluegrass grown under irrigation in the Madras and Culver areas is being used at multiple FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums across the United States. Oregon produces roughly 70% of the nation's Kentucky bluegrass seed — and a significant share of it comes from Jefferson County.
Business
Jefferson County Commissioners Approve Site Agreement for Proposed Battery Storage Project Near Madras
Jefferson County commissioners have approved a site control agreement for a proposed large-scale battery energy storage project in Madras, clearing the way for a feasibility study on what could become a major renewable energy infrastructure addition to the region.
Business
The Grass Under the World Cup’s Greatest Players? It Was Grown Right Here in Jefferson County
Kentucky Bluegrass seed grown by farmers in Madras and Culver is being used at multiple FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums across the U.S. — a quiet piece of Jefferson County agriculture on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Business
Shorty's Taphouse in Culver Is Becoming a Community Hub — and the Town Needed It
Open for about six months on Iris Lane in Culver, Shorty's Taphouse has added food trucks, live music, farmer's markets, and themed nights to build the kind of community gathering spot that small-town Oregon rarely has.
Business
Legends Reloaded Festival Brings 2,000 Rock Music Fans to Jefferson County
A brand new tribute band festival debuted in Madras on June 19–20, drawing roughly 2,000 attendees to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Organizers say it was a smashing success and are already considering a return.