BEND, OR -- Several Central Oregon businesses received recognition, along with a financial boost at this weekend's Bend Venture Conference. The annual event hosted by Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) featured $900,000 in investments and prizes.
Volcano Veggies received a $1,500 award, along with a $10,000 Bend Broadband prize. Volcano Veggies is a local start-up which grows organic vegetable and fish indoors, year-round.
Other local businesses honored at the event include Crowd Street, Poached Jobs, Amplion Researc and Bright MD. Amplion Research - a company that consults with medical companies - received the biggest award at the conference, a $250,000 investment.
EDCO officials believe about $175,000 in side investments were made at the weekend event.