Bend is buzzing with fresh opportunities for both up-and-coming professionals and everyday shoppers, thanks to two uplifting announcements that landed this week.
The Bend Chamber of Commerce has officially announced the 2027 Bend Emerging Talent Passport Program, an initiative designed to connect and invest in the next generation of local leaders and professionals. The program, which is set to launch in 2027, signals the Chamber’s continued commitment to nurturing homegrown talent and strengthening the community’s economic future. For young professionals looking to deepen their roots in Central Oregon, the Passport Program offers a structured pathway to build skills, forge connections, and grow alongside Bend’s dynamic business community.
Meanwhile, fans of locally sourced food and community-minded retail have something to look forward to much sooner. Locavore, the beloved Bend-based purveyor of local and regional products, is set to open its brand-new Discovery West Marketplace on November 19. The new location brings Locavore’s signature emphasis on supporting local farmers, producers, and makers to the growing Discovery West neighborhood, giving residents on Bend’s west side convenient access to fresh, locally sourced goods right in their own backyard.
Together, these two developments reflect what makes Bend such a vibrant place to live and work. The Emerging Talent Passport Program invests in the people who will shape the city’s future, while Locavore’s newest marketplace deepens the community’s connection to the local food economy and the hardworking producers behind it. Whether you’re a young professional eager to get plugged in or a neighbor excited to shop local closer to home, Bend is delivering reasons to feel good about what’s ahead.
Keep an eye on the Bend Chamber of Commerce for details on how to apply for the 2027 Emerging Talent Passport Program, and mark your calendars for November 19 to welcome Locavore’s Discovery West Marketplace to the neighborhood.
Sources: The Source – Bend, Oregon, The Source – Bend, Oregon
