Northwest Farm Credit Services has awarded the Columbia Gorge Earth Center in Hood River a $2,000 Rural Community Grant for the Rural Entrepreneur Working Space.

“Gorge Owned is thrilled to receive support from Northwest Farm Credit Services to enhance the resources we can provide rural entrepreneurs in our co-working space,” said Columbia Gorge Earth Center Director Rebecca Thistlethwaite. “The timing is perfect as we are moving into a larger, more accessible space at the Port of Hood River building and will be collaborating on enhanced programming with Gorge Innoventure and other like-minded organizations. Our co-working space will empower entrepreneurs to develop and expand their businesses by providing access to shared office space, equipment and networking opportunities within our office. Participants will be able to rent space and equipment by the day, week or month at below-market rates, while also providing opportunities to work within our vibrant office space rather than isolated in home offices, internet cafés or local libraries. We thank Northwest Farm Credit Services for seeing and responding to the needs of rural entrepreneurs.”