Laserfiche WebLink
■ CASE STUDIES <br />Bend /Deschutes County, OR (cont'd) <br />Historic Perspective <br />• Originally a major logging area. <br />• Railroad access in 1911. <br />• Three (3) major saw mills at the peak of activity. <br />• Lumber dwindled in the 1950's. <br />• Replaced with value -added wood products <br />(plywood, particle board and moldings). <br />• By early 1980's area hit economic low with 25 +% <br />unemployment. <br />• Shift to tourism leveraging Mt. Bachelor and other <br />outdoor activities. <br />• Major community development projects: <br />downtown, mill pond area park, trail system, <br />converted lumber mills into up -scale shopping <br />area, many restaurants, amphitheater, etc. <br />• Shift went from recreation to retirement to bring in <br />diverse industry: computer software, back offices, <br />medical equipment and recreation equipment <br />manufacturing. <br />• Evolving into highly desirable destination for out- <br />door active knowledge workers. <br />Saw Mill Complex on South Side of Town, Circa 1920. <br />Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corporation ■ SWOT Analysis and Action Plan 12 <br />"1 <br />"1 <br />