GCAP opens technical assistance center in La Grande

The Government Contract Assistance Program has opened a procurement technical assistance center in La Grande to service the Eastern Oregon region.

The center offers support to businesses including registration in systems such as the System for Awards Management; identification of federal, state and local contract opportunities; and help in understanding requirements in preparing and submitting bids.

One of the program’s most popular services is computerized bid leads. Procurement Counselor Donna Jo Talbott said the office can create a profile of a business. The business then receives daily emails of federal, state and local

solicitations.

The office offers a free 60-day trial, and after the trial the cost for the federal fiscal year is $60. Talbott said that as an introductory offer, the service is being offered free through September. She said those signing up will have the option of receiving leads from the entire U.S., leads from specific states and international leads.

The office is located at 104 Depot St. in downtown La Grande, and the phone number is 541-786-7272. For more information, visit www.gcap.org.

BEO Bancorp reports first quarter earnings

HEPPNER – BEO Bancorp and its subsidiary, Bank of Eastern Oregon, announced first quarter 2014 consolidated net income of $560,000, or 51 cents per share, compared to $405,000, or 42 cents per share for first quarter 2013. Total assets were $305.2 million, up 3.89 percent year over year. Net loans of $236.2 million were up 6.3 percent from the same period in 2013, while deposits were at $271.5 million, up 3.69 percent year over year.

“We are off to a solid start for 2014. We continue to see decent loan growth supported by a strong deposit base,” said President and CEO Jeff Bailey.

Employer council hosting spring seminars in May

The Oregon Employer Council-Union County will host its spring employer seminar May 14 in La Grande at the La Grande Fire Station, 1806 Cove Ave.

The topic will be the basics of worker compensation for employers and will be presented by Kara Bull of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services. The cost of the seminar is $25 per person and includes a light continental breakfast. Check in is at 8 a.m. and the seminar begins at 8:30 a.m.

For more information or to register, call 541-963-7111.

The seminar will also be offered in Baker City on May 13 and in Enterprise the afternoon of May 14 for those who are unable to attend in La Grande.

Call 541-523-6331 ext. 224 to register for the Baker City session, or 541-426-4972 for the Enterprise session.

State hosting notary public educational seminar

The secretary of state is hosting a free notary public educational seminar May 28 in the Integrated Services Building, 1607 Gekeler Lane.

The seminar is scheduled to run from

9 a.m. to noon and is for people interested in becoming a notary, renewing notaries and current notaries public.

It’s an opportunity to ask questions and brush up on any law or rule changes regarding notarizations.

See the seminar website at notsem.sos.state.or.us for more information or call 503-986-2200.

– WesCom News Service staff