RAIN: Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network

Bridge Lane: Oakridge
2026-06-03 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Oakridge High School, 47997 West 1st Street, Oakridge, OR, 97463, United States
Oakridge! Bridge Lane is coming home.

The very first Bridge Lane started right here in Oakridge… and on June 3, we’re bringing it back.
Jobs. Training. Community resources. Real conversations.
All in one place.

Hiring employers Career pathways Help with housing, healthcare, food & more Free Kona Shaved Ice!

No resume. No pressure.Just stop by and see what’s possible.

Wednesday, June 3 12–3 PM Oakridge High School Gym

Free to attend, open to students AND the whole community Learn more & Register Here >>> www.bridgelane.org

Florence PubTalks: How Good Ideas Get Funded
2026-06-11 16:00 - 18:00 | Sandpines Golf Links, 1201 35th Street, Florence, OR, 97439, United States
Cascades West Innovation Hub

presents

Florence PubTalks: How Good Ideas Get Funded

Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 4 PM – 6 PM

In Partnership with: City of Florence

How Good Ideas Get Funded

Join us in Florence for the very first PubTalk* hosted by Cascades West Innovation Hub, a free, beginner-friendly night that demystifies how innovation-based businesses get funded and supported. You will hear from a curated panel of experts and founders, then connect through structured networking designed to help you meet the people building and backing new ideas. If you are curious about investing close to home, supporting local entrepreneurship, or growing your own company, this is a special chance to be part of something new in our community

* PubTalk is a registered trademarked program of the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN)

Moderated by: Cara Turano, OEN Executive Director

Featured Panelists:

Tracey Miller, Owner of Riptide Sports

Jim Gochee, Angel Investor

Date: Thursday, June 11

Time: 4 pm to 6 pm
Location: Sandpines Golf Links (in the restaurant)

Intellectual Property: Three Critical Decisions
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00
Expert panelists will share guidance for innovators on how to understand and protect intellectual property.

Cascades West Innovation Hub presents Intellectual Property: Three Critical Decisions, a panel discussion and Q&A for innovators and entrepreneurs.
Speakers include:
David Irvin, OSU Patent & Trademark Resource Center
David will share how to access OSU’s free prior art and trademark search tools and what innovators and entrepreneurs need to know before engaging an IP attorney.
Erin Mondloch, Intellectual Property Attorney, KRDG Law
Erin will discuss claim types, patent value, trade secrets v. patents, and software copyrights.
Tanya Harding, Patent Attorney, Lee & Hayes
Tanya will offer guidance on disclosure timing, provisional patents, and protecting IP before going public.

Access to Capital: Financing for Resilient Businesses
2026-06-24 16:00 - 18:00
Accessing capital is one of the biggest hurdles rural Oregon entrepreneurs face—but you’re not alone, and you have more options than you might think. If you want to dive deeper into these strategies, don’t miss Access to Capital: Financing for Resilient Businesses in Pleasant Hill on June 24. It’s one of the best opportunities this year to meet lenders, investors, and funding partners who understand the unique needs of rural entrepreneurs.
Sponsored by OCCU and Banner Bank, Mark Bellantoni from Business Oregon will be sharing some amazing actionable advice during this presentation.
RSVP on Eventbrite
Access to Capital: Financing for Resilient Businesses
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
4:00–6:00 p.m.
Tita’s Tropical Grill — Pleasant Hill, Oregon
Event Agenda
4:00–4:15 p.m. — Arrival, Refreshments and Networking
Attendees are invited to check in, meet fellow entrepreneurs and community partners, and order food or beverages.
4:15–4:20 p.m. — Welcome and Opening Remarks
Welcome from RAIN Catalysts, event overview and introduction to the evening’s program.
4:20–4:30 p.m. — Sponsor Remarks
Brief presentations from event sponsors:

OCCU
Banner Bank

4:30–4:35 p.m. — Introduction of the Featured Presenter
Introduction of Marc Bellantoni from Business Oregon.
4:35–5:25 p.m. — Access to Capital Presentation
Marc Bellantoni will discuss financing options, capital readiness and resources available to help Oregon businesses identify and pursue appropriate funding.
5:25–5:45 p.m. — Audience Questions and Answers
Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions about accessing capital, preparing for financing and identifying suitable funding resources.
5:45–6:00 p.m. — Networking and Resource Connections
Connect with representatives from RAIN Catalysts, Business Oregon, OCCU, Banner Bank and other regional business-support partners.
6:00 p.m. — Formal Program Concludes
Informal conversations and networking may continue as the venue allows.

Bookkeeping & Accounting: Three Critical Decisions
2026-07-29 12:00 - 17:00
Bookkeeping & Accounting: Three Critical Decisions — July 29, 12–1 PM
An expert panel for busy innovative entrepreneurs.
Bad bookkeeping doesn’t just slow you down — it can kill a funding round, trigger a tax nightmare, or leave you blind to a cash crisis until it’s too late.
This session helps innovation founders make the financial decisions that actually matter right now, without getting lost in accounting theory, providing them a financial foundation that can actually support growth.
Featuring: Adam Turco, CPA (Primetrics) and Jackie Shaw (Brass Jacks).
Free and virtual.
Hosted by Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN) and Cascades West Innovation Hub.
Register on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bookkeeping-and-accounting-three-critical-decisions-tickets-1993947728331?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tech Talk: From Campaign Click to Customer
2026-08-20 12:00 - 13:00
A marketing campaign can receive clicks and still quietly lose potential customers.
The form notification may go to spam. The booking link may be outdated. The call-to-action may be unclear. Or the business may simply have no way to tell which post or email generated the visit.
Tech Talk #8: From Campaign Click to Customer will help entrepreneurs connect their marketing content to measurable actions.
During this practical introductory session, we’ll discuss:

Clear calls to action
UTM campaign links
Basic Google Analytics reporting
Google Business Profile performance
Form, phone, and booking tests
SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication
A simple monthly tracking routine

Bring an upcoming fall or holiday promotion, your website URL, and the action you want customers to take.
📅 August 20th, 2026
🕒 12:00-1:00pm
Follow-up help will also be available through brian@raincatalysts.org.
