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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Since You Asked: Fracking and the LNG pipeline UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Mail Tribune online access is free this weekend Record low snowpack worries irrigators and resorts Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive Former Klamath County District Attorney Ed Caleb dies Man who allegedly almost robbed Purple Parrot returns Medford burglary nets guns, electronics and cash Politics and Elections Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Oregon Legislature convenes, session starts Feb. 12 Education Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Medford reconsiders full-day kindergarten State boosts class time expectation A wealth of experience Environment Commissioners won't object to BLM road closures Mt. 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Medford moving up in economic rankings Umpqua now largest community bank on West Coast Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Real Estate News New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Medford airport traffic flies to new heights Agriculture Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Other Views: Nothing to see here; move along Our View: Improving graduation rates isn't easy Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30 Michael Gerson: An invasion of artificial outrage Matthew T. Mangino: The Fourth Amendment is going to the dogs Editorials Other Views: Nothing to see here; move along Our View: Improving graduation rates isn't easy Our View: Revving up the gas tax debate Our View: Updating Oregon's presence in the U.S. Capitol Our View: We're overdue for a big shakeup Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Jan. 30 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 29 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 28 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 27 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 26 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose gas pipeline A fair shot for all: addressing our low-wage crisis Guest Opinion: SOU biomass burner would be big mistake Guest Opinion: Reforms needed to build upon John Day’s success Lifestyle Latest stories Peepers, creepers and skulkers Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Community blog: Raise a cup of bone broth to better health Amy Gehrt: Change is hard but sometimes necessary Fishing Report: Friday, Jan. 30 Food Community blog: Raise a cup of bone broth to better health Good to the Bone Gail Ciampa: Marcona almonds make this a salad with substance The next Pike Place Market? Food for Thought: These healthy Super Bowl snacks are game-changers Home and Garden Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Home Help: 5 ways to revamp your outdoor living space this year Paint a room or two in a weekend Dear Monty: Sell home now? Or wait until summer? Health Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health HealthStyle: Are you in an unhealthy relationship? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Old stained-glass windows face threats Churches start new year with messages of hope Milestones and Achievements 50 years and counting: Bulebar Wedding: Lindsey-Maria Rios New arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Eric Johnson and Mike Stern at The Rogue Theatre Alcyon Massive and Frankie Hernandez play acoustic at Howiee's Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Theater Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Rent' Music Jesse Cook plays the Craterian Theater Shybo Torres plays South Stage Cellars Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Terrapin Flyer plays Historic Ashland Armory Trio Valtorna plays SOU Music Hall Community Events Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label A look at the life and vision of Martin Luther King Jr. Ty Barnett and Ian Harris are 'Divided' Dining Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Patty Groth's Morning Glory is still a delight Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive ... Record low snowpack worries irrigators and resorts ... Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration ... UPDATED: Body found in Greensprings area is Klamath Falls fugitive ... Record low snowpack worries irrigators and resorts ... Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration ... SMALL BUSINESS Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Nine companies pitch investment opportunities Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 2:08 pm Updated Jan 28, 2015 at 5:11 PM Under Oregon's new community public offering rules, an individual can put up to $2,500 into each company or startup that is registered with the state. By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 2:08 pm Updated Jan 28, 2015 at 5:11 PM » Social News The door has opened to a whole new world of investment and capital infusion opportunities for the state's smallest businesses. Nine companies, including four from Southern Oregon, pitched investment opportunities Tuesday evening at the Bohemian Club in downtown Medford in an event promoted by Hatch Oregon and Sustainable Valley. Backers see newly ordained community public offerings as a way to infuse small companies with capital, exciting both entrepreneurs and folks seeking to contribute to their community's local economy.  Under new rules adopted by the state, Oregon residents can put as much as $2,500 into a company or start-up that has registered with the state and paid a $200 fee. Companies can take on investments up to $250,000 and are required to produce 80 percent of their revenue within Oregon. The event was a field trip of sorts for Jim and Durga Ropkey as they search for investment opportunities. "We're pretty excited what the new law could do for local and state individuals and investors," said Jim Ropkey, who recently moved to Grants Pass from Indiana. "We're looking for alternative sources, other than the stock market, to make money." The couple plan to meet with at least one of the companies to further explore potential investments. Rogue Rovers CEO Melissa Brandao saw Tuesday night's session as an opportunity to promote her company's smart farm-and-garden utility vehicle. After building a prototype with the help of a state grant, she's ready to shift gears with the help of private backing and seeks the maximum investment to fund ramped-up production of the $10,000 vehicle.  "I'm looking for $250,000, but if I get $50,000, it will really get me rolling," Brandao said. "It's a great product. We need to refine it, and we need to do more on the (materials) sourcing side to ensure that we can meet our price point. We're really focusing to sell to farmers in Oregon this year." She also appeared with owners of eight other companies from the state at a similar event last week in Portland.   "I actually had people invest in my business Thursday night I had never met before. That was really exciting," said Brandao, an electric-vehicle research and development veteran. "I think we're learning as we do these events how to better structure them and engage people more effectively."  Gro-volution of Klamath Falls has developed a sustainable agricultural production system inside revamped freight containers. The company has developed four prototypes on a smaller scale. The fifth-generation model is sized for commercial production. Founder and CEO Eric Wilson is seeking backing for a warehouse, to develop a distribution chain, vehicles and marketing. "We've proven that it's possible, we've proven that we can get good results, but we haven't proven it on a commercial scale," Wilson said.  In order to become commercially viable, however, it will take three systems, requiring outside investment. "If we can expand by two more systems (containers), it would put us in a very strong position in our market to make sales," he said. "From there we are going to set up remote farms in underserved cities, delivering produce directly to consumers, cutting out transit distances and overhead costs normally associated with shipment to stores and restaurants." For the first year the focus would be in Klamath County followed by expansion to Medford, Bend or Eugene the following years. There were no immediate takers for Gro-volution for the company's convertible notes, but Wilson hadn't anticipated any. "We had a lot of interested folks," Wilson said. "They were going to take their time and go through the documents, which is what we're looking for — serious investors not just jumping and throwing their money around." Wylie's Honey Brews owner Wylie Bettinger, maker of honey-sweetened, probiotic sodas with organic herbs, hasn't sought capital backing to this point. But he's hoping to grow staff and production prior to this summer and move operations to Talent. "We like the CPO, because it's inclusive to our investors, and we like our customers to participate in our company," Bettinger said. "It builds publicity for us and gets our product out there. "The new law offers considerable advantages over Kickstarter, because it actually gives the investors returns, which is unique." Hiram Kinney, a small-business lender with Bank of the Cascades, said community investors can provide the backing young companies can't necessarily find elsewhere.  "There are a series of life-cycles a business goes through," Kinney said. "Once they get past inception, they kind of know what their business plan is and how they want to develop it, but it takes capital to grow the business. Unfortunately, businesses at this stage are not often able to get a bank loan, even with programs such as the (Small Business Administration) to support that. This is a viable opportunity to where they can get other Oregonians to help get them off the ground until they are at the stage to get more traditional financing." During an introduction period, Heather Stafford, Sustainable Valley's executive director, reminded potential investors there are risks associated with CPO companies, just as there are in any other stock offering. "What you need to do is your own due diligence," Stafford said. "You have to ask your own questions, make your own decisions, and should make decisions as if this money is invested long term." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/Economic Edge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 28, 2015 @ 2:08 pm Updated Jan 28, 2015 at 5:11 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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