Economic vitality and community are at the core of A Greater Applegate’s mission, along with increasing social connection and rural resilience, and being stewards of the environments that surround us. Here in the Applegate Valley, we don’t have a multitude of services or supports, like our own Chamber of Commerce – but we do have A Greater Applegate and the Applegate Valley Business Network. The network supports businesses within the valley and promotes the Applegate as a desirable place to do business and as a destination that is welcoming to visitors.
The Applegate Business Network Directory on applegateconnect.org has just been redesigned to function like the old yellow pages in the phone book. It is becoming a comprehensive listing of businesses that are located in the Applegate or serve the AV community. If you haven’t seen it, please check it out. Now we just need to get all of the local businesses into the Directory! So we are asking for your help- if you know a business, or own or manage one, that should be in our Directory, please email Business Network Manager, Jeff Haas, at jeff@agreaterapplegate.org and we will follow up. If you do own or manage a business that is located in or serves the Applegate, you can join the Business Network- contact Jeff at the email address above.
Did you know that there is also an online Classified Ad space just for the Applegate? We have just redesigned the Classifieds section of the ApplegateConnect website too. If you are selling something that pictures will help to sell you can post up to 4 on a listing. Like our Applegate Listserv, it is free for individuals or businesses to use.
Throughout the first half of 2026,we will be meeting with Applegate businesses and community members to take part in discussions about how we can support businesses and economic vitality in the Valley. There will be individual meetings for industry groups that represent specific types of businesses, and also meetings related to location for our Village Hubs of Ruch, Applegate, Williams, Murphy and Wilderville. The result will be an Applegate Economic Vitality Plan that we can use to guide our work and to bring regional business support resources to the Applegate.
Here are the specific focus groups and meeting dates or target months:
Food and Farm Network February 26th
Vintners- March 4th
Tourism – March 20th-30th
Artists– April 10
Cannabis- April 30
Outdoor Recreation – May 5
Education- May 8
Forest and Fire – May 21st @ Sweets N Eats in Ruch
Services (contractors, plumbers, electricians, landscaping, etc)- June/ July TBD
The Applegate Valley is the first unincorporated rural community selected to do this kind of place-based process to increase rural economic vitality. This year will build on the Applegate Valley Vision that was completed in 2022, two studies on the economic drivers and a map of rural commercial space that were done with the University of Oregon in 2023 and 2024, and all the work that has been done up until this point– including the growing farmers markets, the artists network, and wanderapplegate.com.
The staff and board of AGA remain delighted to be doing this work in and for our community. There will be many opportunities to learn more, plug in, and celebrate 30 years of community building work in this beautiful place (yes, that’s right! AGA, formerly the Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation is turning 30 this year!). Since the mid-1990s, AGA has strengthened local life through engagement that supports small farms and businesses, coordinates community networks, and creates inclusive, resident-led programs that celebrate our region’s unique sense of place. From the lower Applegate to the Little Applegate, a bounty of beauty, flavor, and diverse experiences abound. Let’s #livelocal and support all that we’ve got right at our finger tips. 2026 is shaping up to be a big year and we hope you will come along for the ride.
Megan Fehrman Jeff Haas
Executive Director Business Network Manager
A Greater Applegate, 541-702-2108, agreaterapplegate.org
