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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Klamath IDEA

A community initiative committed to strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Klamath County, OR

The Klamath IDEA is a community-wide initiative which seeks to support development of the resources necessary to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Klamath County and the surrounding region and encourage use of those resources in the community to further economic prosperity.

08/31/2026

Trevor Mauch knows firsthand that big ideas can come from small towns. 💡

Raised in Klamath Falls, Trevor grew up working in his family’s local businesses, where he developed an entrepreneurial mindset rooted in hard work, creativity, and serving customers.

After graduating from Oregon Institute of Technology with degrees in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, he went on to build Carrot.com, a bootstrapped software company headquartered in Roseburg that has become one of the nation’s leading marketing platforms for real estate investors and agents.

Under Trevor’s leadership, Carrot has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies multiple times while helping thousands of entrepreneurs grow their businesses across North America.

But Trevor’s impact extends far beyond the company he built. Passionate about helping entrepreneurs create businesses that provide both freedom and purpose, he has become a nationally recognized speaker, podcast host, and advocate for entrepreneurial ecosystem development.

📣 And he's this September's IDEA Talks speaker! Join us on Wednesday, September 16 at 5:30pm to get inspired and hear stories from Trevor's journey (plus another surprise guest!). Entrepreneurs of all ages and in all fields welcome.

Tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/idea-talks-season-kickoff-featuring-entrepreneurs-with-hometown-roots-tickets-1997198296869

08/28/2026

We had a great time at Third Thursday in Downtown Klamath Falls last week as part of our tour!

Klamath Business Connect is a partnership of core economic development partners in Klamath County. We look forward to growing the partnership into more public-facing events and initiatives, but our first goal is visiting every part of Klamath County to let our entrepreneurs and small businesses know what our local economic development organizations are up to and to get them connected to resources that will help them start, grow, or transition their business.

The entrepreneurs we met with illustrated why Klamath Business Connect is important. As our partners all say, economic development is a team sport. Each of these partner organizations provide specialized programming and support, and in most cases, our business community is best served by a “team”. That’s true from startup to expansion, and all the way through transition.

For the many entrepreneurs and business leaders we met, the partners at this event identified ways to support them moving forward.

For Klamath IDEA, the event was more than just talking to folks and giving away t-shirts. This week, we have had follow-up meetings with three of the entrepreneurs we met to help them get connected to the right resources at the right time. And we’ve made referrals to three of our Klamath Business Connect partners.

If you have an idea and you’re not sure where to start, or you’re well on your way but running into challenges, contact us or any of our Klamath Business Connect partners. We’re here to make sure your path to success is straighter and less daunting. As we said, economic development is a team sport — you don’t have to do it all by yourself!

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit, and to our partner organizations for making this collaborative effort possible. Look for Klamath Business Connect in your community soon! 🌟

Klamath County Economic Development Association - KCEDA
SCOEDD
SCORI Hub, Klamath & Lake Counties
KCC Small Business Development Center - SBDC
Klamath County Chamber of Commerce

08/27/2026

Not sure where to start? That's normal. Building something new takes a whole network of people and resources, and figuring out who to call first can be the hardest part.

That's where the Resource Navigator comes in. It's our curated list of trusted local partners. We've personally sat down with every one of them to make sure they'll take care of you, whatever stage of the entrepreneurial journey you're in.

If you're wondering things like:
Should I look into a co-working space?
Where should I start with market research?
Besides banks, what are my options for funding?

The Resource Navigator connects you with people who can help answer your questions — plus resources for technical help, government programs, and more.💡

Find it all at KlamathIDEA.org/resources. We're also here to help in-person and over the phone! Call (541) 887-8298.

08/25/2026

We all know why it's great to live here. Those same things make it a great place to start a business, too.

"We've got mountains everywhere you look, California's not far, there's a major transportation corridor. There's unlimited potential."

— Brian Plinski, Entrepreneurship Strategist with Business Oregon

The support system here in Klamath County is unlike any other. We help small business owners and entrepreneurs connect with grant programs, local partners and fellow entrepreneurs — so you're never doing business alone here.

Info at klamathidea.org.

08/21/2026

Kick off a new IDEA Talks season with us on September 16 at 5:30pm!💡We're launching this season of IDEA Talks with a hometown success story — Trevor Mauch, CEO of Carrot.com, is coming back to Klamath County to share his journey.

This talk kicks off a special series celebrating entrepreneurs who got their start here in Klamath County. Trevor and a surprise guest will share stories that show that the values, grit, and ambition you build here can carry you anywhere — and can inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to dream big.

Are IDEA Talks new to you? IDEA Talks are our way of bringing entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and innovators together under one roof. Whether you're just starting out or years into building something, it's a chance to network, get inspired, and hear real stories from people who've done it.

All ages and stages welcome. Come learn, connect, and get inspired. Tickets at eventbrite.com/e/idea-talks-season-kickoff-featuring-entrepreneurs-with-hometown-roots-tickets-1997198296869.

08/19/2026

Congratulation to Klamath Falls’ own Harmonee AI who represented our region well at Monday's Oregon Entrepreneurs Network Angel Oregon Tech Investment Mixer. 🎉

Harmonee walked away with the “Investor’s Choice” award, along with a $30,000 investment from the competition pot!

Our region isn’t just talking the talk when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship. This is one of many examples proving that your big idea can come to life right here in south central Oregon!

08/18/2026

Klamath County has two grant programs opening this fall to boost local business and tourism!

📈 The Economic Development Grants help regional businesses with startup or expansion funds — especially projects with a clear market and strategy for job creation and growth.

🚗 Tourism Grants support events, activities, and infrastructure that draw visitors, especially during the October–May shoulder season.

Key Dates:

Applications open on September 1, 2026 — closes at 5pm on September 30, 2026.

Mandatory orientation on September 11, 2026 at 9am, Room 219, County Government Complex — required for eligibility.

More info at klamathcounty.org/1323/Klamath-County-Grant-Programs or call 541-851-3637.

08/07/2026

Join us for the next stop on the Klamath County Business Connect road show — where local economic development organizations are coming together to make it easier for entrepreneurs, innovators, and small business owners to connect with the resources available to help them succeed.

We’ll be joining all your favorite food vendors, businesses and community organizations to celebrate “Into the Great Outdoors!” as part of Third Thursday on Main Street in Klamath Falls.

Stop by for friendly conversations and practical information tailored to your goals.

📍Thursday, August 20
6PM – 9PM
Main Street, Downtown Klamath Falls

💡Klamath County's Economic Development Partners: Klamath County Chamber of Commerce, KCC Small Business Development Center - SBDC, SCOEDD, Klamath IDEA, SCORI Hub, Klamath & Lake Counties, Klamath County Economic Development Association - KCEDA

08/04/2026

"A lot of people in this community have been super helpful and super encouraging to me – to keep me motivated, and to keep that spark going to keep my business growing." – Chuck Storey, Storey's Fly Fishing

If you're interested in learning about resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners in Klamath County, we're a great first step.

Visit klamathidea.org to get started.

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08/03/2026

Ready to get unstuck?

We're here to help you find the steps, tips and resources you need to start a business in South Central Oregon.

Get in touch to start planning, networking and growing at klamathidea.org/contact-us.

Address

803 Main Street, Suite 103
Klamath Falls, OR
97601

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(541) 887-8298

Website

http://www.klamathidea.org/

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