Mohr Solutions brings jobs to Sisters

Doug Mohr of Mohr Solutions is bringing his company to Sisters from the Willamette Valley.

He credits EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon) and Clark Jackson, Central Oregon's business development officer, and Sisters Economic Development Manager Caprielle Foote-Lewis for guiding him along the way.

Mohr's "critical power and telecommunications integration" company will open with eight employees, expanding to 14 by year's end, projected to be at 48 by the end of 2015, based on the tax incentive commitments Mohr made to the state.

Speaking at Councilor McKibben Womack's recent town hall meeting, Mohr said, "I find EDCO doing wonderful stewardship in this community. They came to us unsolicited through our business license application. They poured out every resource they had, including meetings with Clark Jackson, the state representative that is in charge of economic development in the state.

"There was just a huge thread of a resource there," continued Mohr. "Jackson's team - and especially Caprielle - have been fantastic. The first step was tax savings, in exchange for us guaranteeing so many jobs. They are very active, they stay involved."

Mohr explained that he was moving his business out of the Valley after 13 years because he fell in love with the Sisters area. In 2010 Mohr won the contract to retrofit all the lighting and HVAC at Sisters School District. Since then he has had a field office in Bend.

"In the Valley we were nonexistent. There was virtually no other discussion or aid regarding the growth of our business," said Mohr.

"This is a fantastic place to live. We have had great support through other local businesses. Hayden Homes and a local realty group helped our employees get the loans that they need at the right value. One of our new employees from North Carolina told us that he couldn't afford Sisters and would have to buy in Redmond. EDCO connected him with local resources and they were able to locate a place that fit his family's needs in Sisters."

Mohr's wife, Jessica, said, "Three employees have moved from out-of-state. One from Colorado, one from Kansas, and one from North Carolina, and they have each been received with open arms."

Many in Sisters will remember Mohr's wife of two years as Jessica Yankey from Sisters Coffee Company and the local equine circuits.

Mohr explained his business as a critical power and telecommunications integrator working with companies such as CenturyLink, Verizon Wireless, AT&T wireless, and BendBroadband. They also do energy-efficiency and alternative-energy (off-grid) projects.

"We help telecommunication carriers and first-responders like 911 centers deliver new technology that is more reliable and more efficient, and can reach more people using microwave and fiber-optics technologies," said Mohr.