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Sedcor outlines regional business retention wins, supply-chain work and entrepreneur programs to Salem council
Summary
Eric Anderson, president of Sedcor, told Salem council the regional economic group helped attract about $80 million in investment in 2024—25, highlighted local supply-chain wins (including Yamasa soy sauce sourcing Oregon wheat), and described entrepreneurship programs such as Launch Mid Valley and Latino microenterprise training.
Eric Anderson, president of Sedcor, presented the agency's annual summary for the Salem region Monday, highlighting recent private investment projects, supply-chain connections for local food processors, workforce and entrepreneurial supports, and ongoing industrial recruitment efforts.
Anderson said Sedcor-tracked projects in fiscal 2024—25 totaled roughly $80 million in estimated investment, associated with about 136 planned new jobs and an estimated $1 million in annual property tax revenue to the city of Salem. He said Sedcor manages the city's enterprise zone work and assisted multiple projects that qualified for state incentives.
He cited several named projects: Jackman Industries, Pie Fabricators, and Don Poncho (a food manufacturer planning a grand opening Sept. 24 at a renovated facility occupying about 300,000 square feet). Anderson also described a supply-chain success with Yamasa, the soy sauce manufacturer: local farmers tested and expanded acreage to grow a higher-protein wheat variety that now supplies Yamasa, with one grower expanding to 160 acres.
Anderson described Sedcor's entrepreneurship supports: Launch Mid Valley (first-year stats: 37 events, about 777 attendees), Pitch Willamette (a pitch event that connects entrepreneurs with mentors and investors), and a November 21 Oregon Entrepreneurs Network event to be held in downtown Salem. He outlined Sedcor's Latino microenterprise development program (run with the Latino Business Alliance and partners including Chemeketa's Small Business Development Center), which has completed nine cohorts and served more than 250 participants; Sedcor said it will seek funding for an advanced course to follow the initial training.
On workforce and infrastructure, Anderson said Sedcor is active on workforce housing issues and coordinating with partners on financial tools to spur development. He discussed interest in data centers in the region and noted a pre-application meeting for a potential data center site in Salem.
Councilors asked about Sedcor's role in recruitment (including trade missions and attendance at conferences). Anderson said Sedcor works with public partners such as Business Oregon and developers to market sites like Mill Creek and meet with international offices and employers.
Anderson also described Sedcor's agricultural innovation work, including an Ag Innovation Hub that pairs technology startups with local farms (projects range from new materials to small autonomous "nanotractors") and coordination of a centennial recognition for Oregon wheat featuring local partners.
Anderson closed by inviting councilors to attend Sedcor's awards luncheon on Sept. 12 and an industry tour at Garmin on Oct. 30.
The presentation was informational; councilors did not take formal action on Sedcor's report, but several councilors complimented Sedcor's local supply-chain and workforce work and expressed interest in deeper coordination on housing and economic resilience.
