Oregon Frontier Innovation Hub

Supporting traded-sector entrepreneurs across 10 counties in eastern Oregon — connecting founders with resources, capital, and community.

10
Counties Served
19
Grants Tracked
$310K
Hub Funding (2024–25)
7
Free Services
3
Consortium Partners
🏔️

Ecosystem Overview

Live

Mission

"To foster networks, alliances, and partnerships that drive innovation and support the growth of traded-sector entrepreneurs that are innovating in Eastern Oregon."

Led by the REV Center at Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Grace Donovan, Executive Director.

Geographic Service Area (10 Counties)

Baker Gilliam Grant Harney Malheur Morrow Umatilla Union Wallowa Wheeler

From the Blue Mountains to the Nevada border — the largest geographic coverage of any Oregon regional innovation hub.

Free Services to Entrepreneurs

  • Personalized coaching (launch & growth plans)
  • Funding guidance — grants, loans, investment
  • Initiative access (stage-specific programs)
  • Data & market insights (research tools)
  • Operational support & scaling prep
  • Network connections — mentors & capital
  • Affordable office / coworking space

Consortium Partners

REV Center / EOU Lead host; staff, space, university connections
Blue Mountain CC SBDC, entrepreneur training, Umatilla/Morrow counties
Catalyst Public Policy Policy & advocacy partner, John Day OR

Priority Focus Industries

  • Unmanned Autonomous Systems (UAS/Drones) — Pendleton UAS Test Range; 33,000 sq ft, 14,000+ sq mi airspace
  • Green Hydrogen — eastern Oregon energy development potential
  • AgTech / Value-Added Agriculture — livestock, grain, specialty crops

Upcoming Events

  • Innovation Jam Round 2 — Apr 4, 2026, EOU campus. Top teams advance to InventOR 2026 ($30,000+ prizes)
  • AUVSI Cascade Spring Symposium — Apr 22–23, 2026, Pendleton. Oregon UAS Accelerator Cohort 3 demo day

Register: revcenter.org/2026-innovation-jam

💰

Grant Tracker

Live · 19 Opportunities
19 grants
Program Type For-Profit? Award Range Deadline
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Startup Pipeline

Coming Soon · VER-69
📋

Eastern Oregon Startup Pipeline

This section will display startups being tracked across the 10-county service area — including stage, sector, outreach status, and OFIH engagement.

Data source: VER-69 Startup Research
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Investment Opportunities

Coming Soon · VER-70
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Angel, VC & Government Investment Programs

Angel networks, venture capital, SBIR/STTR pathways, and government investment programs relevant to eastern Oregon founders will be listed here.

Data source: VER-70 Investment Research
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Engagement Metrics

Coming Soon · VER-73
174

Entrepreneurs Served

NEOEDD impact (Baker, Union, Wallowa counties) — 2024–25

NEOEDDVerified
30

Jobs Created

NEOEDD region — 2024–25 (38 additional jobs retained)

NEOEDDVerified
$2.7M

Capital Infused

EOU SBDC — 2023. $590K sales increase across 85 businesses served.

EOU SBDC2023
34

UAS Companies

Oregon UAS Accelerator Cohort 3 (2025–26), based at Pendleton UAS Test Range.

Oregon UASCohort 3
$291K

Capital Deployed

NEOEDD loans and technical assistance — 2024–25. 18 new businesses launched.

NEOEDDLoans + TA

Direct OFIH Metrics

Entrepreneurs directly served by OFIH will be tracked here once CRM (VER-73) is operational.

VER-73Pending