MAYOR'S TALK 'N TOUR PROGRAM SUPPORTS LOCAL TECHNOLOGY STARTUP
News Release from City of Beaverton
Posted on FlashAlert: February 24th, 2014 3:08 PM
The Mayor's Talk 'n Tour program, an economic development initiative formed in 2009, allows the Mayor to see firsthand the important products and services being developed by Beaverton companies. Since the program's inception, the Mayor has met with more than 35 companies. Recently, the Mayor and members of the city's economic development team met with Chris Hoffmann, CEO of RYNO Motors - manufacturers of the RYNO, the world's first production single-wheeled, electric motorcycle.
"Chris and his team at RYNO are bringing cutting edge electric vehicle technology to the world and the best part is that they are developing much of the product right here in Beaverton and our region," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "Their vehicle is beyond anything I've seen before. They have already developed a robust supply chain here in Beaverton and throughout the metro area, and this is only the beginning. They are certainly sending a message that our region is a great place to do business."
The RYNO was built to accomplish a simple mission: making motorized personal transportation accessible, enjoyable, and practical. Designed to go most places where a person can walk or ride a bike it's adaptable to a wide range of uses including urban transportation, government security, and industrial customers..
"Beaverton is doing a fantastic job of supporting RYNO Motor's commitment to keep production and jobs local, said Chris Hoffmann, chief executive officer of RYNO Motors. "Oregon companies like Multi-Tek, P&A Metal Fab, American Metal Specialties and Production Tool, together manufacture almost 90 percent of RYNO's custom parts. Beaverton is helping in other ways through offering access to large data bases of resource information, invitations to networking events and other business development services."
The RYNO balances itself from front to back and the rider is responsible for balancing it side-to-side. It is designed to resemble a conventional motorcycle in its controls, and riding position making you feel right at home as soon as you sit down. Cars, scooters and even typical two-wheeled bicycles are confined to the road. The RYNO, at less than half the length of a bicycle, fits between where you stand, and can pivot 360 degrees on a vertical axis.
In collaborating with DRIVE Oregon the City of Beaverton is helping to identify additional funding and partnerships along with supporting RYNO with site selection, business referrals, introductions to other local manufacturers to fill any supply chain gaps, as well as workforce assistance. RYNO is working with several universities and specialty organizations like Oregon Institute of Technology to support electric vehicle research. Other local partners include Portland State University, Oregon State University and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI).
"We've received tremendous support from the city's economic development team," said Hoffmann. "They have done a phenomenal job at providing introductions to other local companies and have offered us a variety of tools and assistance as we prepare to move forward with our production. They are genuinely interested in helping us succeed."
Currently, RYNO is taking pre-production orders for a limited, short production run of Micro-cycles. Delivery of these vehicles is planned for the 2nd quarter of 2014 and must be picked up at an authorized RYNO dealership where new owners will go through a brief training program prior to taking ownership. Additional vehicles will begin shipping in late 2014.
"It was great to have the Mayor and his team visit our company to see the RYNO firsthand," said Hoffmann. "The City of Beaverton has provided a great deal of support and resources to help our business get to the next level,"
RYNO's facility is located in one of Beaverton's key technology parks offering them with access to a variety of suppliers. Based on their rapid growth, RYNO is currently looking for an Engineering Director and Sr. Engineer which will allow the company to reach their planned goals. RYNO also plans to add additional engineers and staff in 2015 as their production scales to meet the expected demand.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
In 2014, Beaverton was again recognized as the safest city in Oregon as well as the safest city in the entire Pacific Northwest. In 2012, the city was awarded the Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine. In addition, Beaverton was named one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, as one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities, the Beavert on Community Vision program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter. Beaverton also enjoys one of the most diverse populations in Oregon. For more information, reminders and community news, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov, like the City of Beaverton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofBeaverton, or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CityofBeaverton.
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"Chris and his team at RYNO are bringing cutting edge electric vehicle technology to the world and the best part is that they are developing much of the product right here in Beaverton and our region," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "Their vehicle is beyond anything I've seen before. They have already developed a robust supply chain here in Beaverton and throughout the metro area, and this is only the beginning. They are certainly sending a message that our region is a great place to do business."
The RYNO was built to accomplish a simple mission: making motorized personal transportation accessible, enjoyable, and practical. Designed to go most places where a person can walk or ride a bike it's adaptable to a wide range of uses including urban transportation, government security, and industrial customers..
"Beaverton is doing a fantastic job of supporting RYNO Motor's commitment to keep production and jobs local, said Chris Hoffmann, chief executive officer of RYNO Motors. "Oregon companies like Multi-Tek, P&A Metal Fab, American Metal Specialties and Production Tool, together manufacture almost 90 percent of RYNO's custom parts. Beaverton is helping in other ways through offering access to large data bases of resource information, invitations to networking events and other business development services."
The RYNO balances itself from front to back and the rider is responsible for balancing it side-to-side. It is designed to resemble a conventional motorcycle in its controls, and riding position making you feel right at home as soon as you sit down. Cars, scooters and even typical two-wheeled bicycles are confined to the road. The RYNO, at less than half the length of a bicycle, fits between where you stand, and can pivot 360 degrees on a vertical axis.
In collaborating with DRIVE Oregon the City of Beaverton is helping to identify additional funding and partnerships along with supporting RYNO with site selection, business referrals, introductions to other local manufacturers to fill any supply chain gaps, as well as workforce assistance. RYNO is working with several universities and specialty organizations like Oregon Institute of Technology to support electric vehicle research. Other local partners include Portland State University, Oregon State University and Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI).
"We've received tremendous support from the city's economic development team," said Hoffmann. "They have done a phenomenal job at providing introductions to other local companies and have offered us a variety of tools and assistance as we prepare to move forward with our production. They are genuinely interested in helping us succeed."
Currently, RYNO is taking pre-production orders for a limited, short production run of Micro-cycles. Delivery of these vehicles is planned for the 2nd quarter of 2014 and must be picked up at an authorized RYNO dealership where new owners will go through a brief training program prior to taking ownership. Additional vehicles will begin shipping in late 2014.
"It was great to have the Mayor and his team visit our company to see the RYNO firsthand," said Hoffmann. "The City of Beaverton has provided a great deal of support and resources to help our business get to the next level,"
RYNO's facility is located in one of Beaverton's key technology parks offering them with access to a variety of suppliers. Based on their rapid growth, RYNO is currently looking for an Engineering Director and Sr. Engineer which will allow the company to reach their planned goals. RYNO also plans to add additional engineers and staff in 2015 as their production scales to meet the expected demand.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
In 2014, Beaverton was again recognized as the safest city in Oregon as well as the safest city in the entire Pacific Northwest. In 2012, the city was awarded the Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine. In addition, Beaverton was named one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, as one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communities, the Beavert on Community Vision program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter. Beaverton also enjoys one of the most diverse populations in Oregon. For more information, reminders and community news, visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov, like the City of Beaverton on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofBeaverton, or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CityofBeaverton.
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