Anna Gailey, BizHarney collaborative coordinator for the High Desert Partnership, and Kelly Frank, the partnership’s food systems coordinator, presented the collaborative’s updated vision and strategic framework to the Harney County Court on Nov. 24.

Gailey and Frank said the initiative uses a seven-component entrepreneur-ecosystem framework — culture, capital, support, policy, market, people and infrastructure — to guide local economic work. They described recent projects including youth entrepreneurship classes, CoStarters training, workforce-certification partnerships with TVCC and market trials for local food producers. Gailey said the group has helped assemble regional partners to pursue technical assistance funding and to support startups in testing local markets.

Frank described food-systems goals, including greater local food security and disaster resilience, assistance for producers selling locally processed beef, and help for small food businesses to access processing and retail channels. She said the food-systems initiative has provided about $170,000 for food-security activities, and that the High Desert Partnership and BizHarney partners have helped bring more than $2,000,000 in grant funding to the county through programs such as TAP, ROI and EEIP.

The presenters highlighted the new 'This is Harney' / 'Made in Harney' branding and website as a tool to market local producers and tie tourism and economic-development messaging together. They also described community-level financing options such as Kiva crowdfunded loans, which the presenters said can provide zero-interest loans up to $15,000 and require borrower engagement.

Court members asked about the collaborative’s role in larger-scale recruitment and whether the county should fund a dedicated economic-development representative. Presenters said BizHarney aims to coordinate partners and connect local businesses with regional resources; they encouraged the county to have a representative at regional partner tables rather than duplicating services. Commissioners also discussed consolidating county economic-development efforts, and asked the presenters to share materials and follow up on coordination and funding options.

The presentation concluded with an offer to present the Harney brand website and to coordinate further on possible county participation in upcoming regional events and grant opportunities.