Biz Beat 10-18-2012

Marketplace@Sprout!, an indoor, year-round evolution of the Springfield Farmers Market, opens for the first time with a celebration from 3 to 7 pm Friday, Oct. 19, at 418 A St. in downtown Springfield, the old First Christian Church. NEDCO purchased the building in 2011 with support from the city of Springfield and various groups and foundations. The market will be open every Friday and the facility will also have a commercial kitchen and serve as a small business incubator. See sproutfoodhub.org or call 345-7106.

Social entrepreneurs take note: The next Emerald F.E.A.S.T. dinner will be from 6 to 8 pm Thursday, Oct. 25, at the First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. in Eugene. Chef Patty Harrison and her crew will be preparing a “grandma’s feast.” The acronym stand for Emerald Financing Eugene Area Sustainable Talent, and proceeds from the dinner are awarded to “boost a very small entrepreneur with big ideas for helping the community,” says David Hazen, one of the organizers. Tickets are sliding scale, $15 to $25. During the dinner, four selected individuals will pitch their projects and diners will have scorecards to submit. The winner gets an instant grant. See emeraldfeast.weebly.com or call 520-6621.

We hear from Warren Weisman that Hestia Home Biogas LLC is relocating soon from Eugene to Ventura, Calif., to take advantage of “terrific incentives for biogas along with higher electric rates,” he says. His local biogas units can be found at Maitreya Ecovillage in Eugene and at Laughing Stock Farm on Territorial Highway. Hestia designs and builds residential and farm biodigesters to provide low-cost energy. See hestiahomebiogas.com

Jake’s Wayback Burgers, with 56 locations, has opened its first Oregon franchise at 45 Division Ave. in Eugene, tucked in a small group of businesses just north of the Fred Meyer on River Road. Jake’s motto is “re-imaging the great American roadside burger stand,” says Gillian Maffeo of the company. Each restaurant in the chain of 56 sites employees between 25 and 30 people. Guests can dine in or order online at waybackburgers.com

Saturday Market is continuing at the Park Blocks downtown, rain or shine, from 10 am to 5 pm through Nov. 10. The opening weekend of Holiday Market will be one week later, Nov. 17-18, at the Fairgrounds.

Local ad agency bell + funk, headed by David Funk and Jennifer Bell, has added EWEB to its client list. The contract was awarded in June but just announced last week.

Send suggestions for Biz Beat items to editor@eugeneweekly.com with “Biz Beat” in the subject line.

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