Nine people, businesses and partnerships in the mid-Willamette Valley took home awards Wednesday for their work promoting entrepreneurship and business development in the greater Salem area. The annual awards from SEDCOR, the Salem-based economic development nonprofit for the region, recognize both new and established efforts. Erik Andersson, SEDCOR president, said the group’s work to recruit, retain and expand businesses led to $178 million in investment and the creation of 229 jobs and $3.26 million in annual property tax revenue added to local governments. Those figures reflect work from July 2023 to June 2024. Major projects include recruiting HVAC manufacturer GENSCO for a distribution and manufacturing hub at the Mill Creek Corporate Center in southeast Salem. That project is expected to generate about 50 jobs when the facility opens in the spring, many of them union metal fabrication jobs. Erik Andersson, SEDCOR president, speaks at the economic development nonprofit’s annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at the Salem Convention Center (Courtesy/Frank Miller Photography) A new Agility Robotics manufacturing facility in the same area was another major investment. “These projects not only bring jobs and investment to the region but also supply chain opportunities for the businesses that are already here,” Andersson said. Here are the awardees. Ruddenklau Farms — AgriBusiness of The Year The family farm near Amity, which grows crops including wheat, green beans and sweet corn, was recognized for its efforts to assist other Willamette Valley farmers with innovation and development. Ruddenklau pioneered the growing of higher protein hard red wheat for soy sauce in partnership with Yamasa’s Salem plant.  “We often joke that we’re running a not-for-profit research farm,” said Bruce Ruddenklau, who owns the farm with his wife, Helee. “Every once in a while we find something that hits.”  The farm is “one of the best Facebook follows around as she posts daily updates and information about Ruddenklau farms and generally how Willamette Valley agriculture works,” the award said. Elise Yarnell Hollamon — Business Partner of the Year Yanell Hollamon was recognized for her work at the Newberg employment agency Rallied Force, as well as efforts to establish a low barrier homeless shelter in Newberg through the nonprofit Community Wellness Collective, which she founded in 2018. “Her organization has created employment opportunities for more than 150 individuals, including those overcoming significant barriers such as addiction and homelessness,” the award said. Marin Arreola — Community Leadership Award One of the region’s newer business initiatives is the Latino Microenterprise Development Program, a partnership that includes SEDCOR and Salem’s Latino Business Alliance. This year, the program helped 84 entrepreneurs complete courses to develop their businesses in Salem and McMinnville. Arreola played a key role in that success, serving as a bilingual business consultant “His business acumen is matched only by his genuine passion for helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams,” said presenter Mike Keane, announcing the award. Arreola credited the love of his parents, wife and children as a “guiding light to do more for others and reduce disparities in economic development, small business development, workforce, education and healthcare systems.”  “I believe when we uplift multiple communities, all of us benefit from that,” he said. Winners of the 2024 SEDCOR awards pose following the ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at the Salem Convention Center (Courtesy/Frank Miller Photography) Juli Foscoli — Community Service Award Foscoli is an advocate for the trades, using her role at South Town Glass to promote women in construction and workforce development. She’s taken a leadership role in SEDCOR’s Construction Alliance and “stepped up without hesitation, bringing a proactive approach and unwavering support to our initiatives,” said Tony Schacher, general manager of Salem Electric, who presented the award. Foscoli teared up accepting her award. “Really, what I do is I just, I come up with these crazy ideas, and I rally a bunch of people to come and help me,” she said. “I love this community. I love where we live.” Revino — Entrepreneur of the Year Fresh off their win at SEDCOR’s Shark Tank business competition earlier this year, Newberg-based reusable wine bottle company Revino took home another honor at the ceremony. “This business truly set an industry standard,” said Scott Snyder, general manager at the Grand Hotel, who presented the award. “After years of envisioning a reusable wine bottle system and collaborating with wineries and beverage producers, this past summer, their refillable bottles of Oregon wine hit the shelves.” Co-founder Keenan O’Hearn said the group has been able to succeed in building a new model with help from SEDCOR and supporters within the wine industry. “We’re constantly fighting against, sort of the standard, which is the seamless packaging, throwing things away, hoping that our recycling gets better,” he said. People attend the 2024 SEDCOR awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at the Salem Convention Center (Courtesy/Frank Miller Photography) Canopii — Innovative Product/Process of the Year The Portland-based company has created a fully robotic nursery to produce leafy greens and herbs, located in Hubbard. Marion County Commissioner Colm Willis, presenting the award, called it “a revolutionary approach, where no human contact is needed, from seeding and germination to cultivation and harvest.” “This recognition is pretty amazing to receive,” said co-founder Justin Gravett. Fly Salem — Outstanding Public/Private Partnership Last fall, commercial flights returned to Salem’s airport for the first time in over a decade. Getting there took years of effort, millions of dollars and a partnership between the city, local businesses and economic development groups. Leaders from the city of Salem, Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Travel Salem and Fly Salem Committee shared the award for their work to bring Avelo Airlines to Salem. The budget carrier announced Thursday it was extending its Salem flight schedule through the end of April 2025. Brent DeHart, who owns an aviation fueling business and chaired the Fly Salem Committee, said it took everyone’s efforts to make the project work. The business leaders who shared the award praised Mayor Chris Hoy for his leadership on the government side. “You take one piece of the puzzle out and we didn’t cross the finish line,” DeHart said. He said he still hopes to get Avelo to expand to offer more destinations beyond the current flights to Burbank and Las Vegas — and to add additional airlines to Salem. Brent DeHart, president of the Fly Salem Steering Committee, accepts the 2024 SEDCOR award for a public-private partnership at the awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 at the Salem Convention Center. Tom Hoffert of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce, Kara Kuh of Travel Salem and Mayor Chris Hoy were also recognized.(Courtesy/Frank Miller Photography) Blue Raeven Pie Company — Small Business of the Year Ron Lewis never intended to be a baker. He and his wife Jamie are the third generation to run their family berry farm in rural Polk County. But in the late 1980s, they were looking for a way to add value to the fruit they grew. “Kind of by accident we made a pie,” Lewis said at the ceremony. The farm expanded into a farmstand in Amity, and recently opened a new location in McMinnville. Attendees at the awards ceremony got to sample the goods, with hand pies from Blue Raeven on every table to take home. “In all honesty it’s the team. The team at the table that does everything,” Lewis said. Ulven Companies — Manufacturer of the Year The Hubbard manufacturer forges metal and precision parts for everything from drones to bridges. “Their products can be found in thousands of satellites orbiting the earth as we speak. So, the next time you gaze at the sky, remember that you might be looking at components made right here in the Valley,” said presenter Michael Fowler, CEO of CabDoor. What we do, the great technology, all of the equipment wouldn’t be possible without the great employees and the culture that we continually strive for” said President Dan Ulven. Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. 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