Growing Rural Oregon is an economic development framework developed by Network Kansas and provided through The Ford Family Foundation. This framework aims to foster more prosperous and resilient rural cities and towns across Oregon through entrepreneur-centered development. Independence is one of 4 cities selected to participate in the 2022-2027 GRO cohort.

Recognizing that our community already has entrepreneurial talent, GRO helps identify the tools needed to support and uplift our rural entrepreneurs. We aim to better understand and map our current entrepreneurial state, identify areas of opportunities, and ultimately strengthen our entrepreneurial ecosystem through programming, networking, and providing resources.

Read The Ford Family Foundation’s Press Release about GRO!