“This is a type of business park that will really require the input of Oregon Tech,” O’Sullivan said, during a tour of site last week.

Proponents are saying the tech park could provide a way to keep Oregon Tech students in the area longer after graduation — even keeping students three to five more years longer would benefit the basin economically through business ventures at the park.

“The vision is, through collaboration, cooperative marketing, the development of a tech park that complements and enhances business growth around Oregon Tech and Sky Lakes (Medical Center),” O’Sullivan said.

“We have a general set of boundaries but those boundaries will likely be solidified in a few weeks.

“It’s a much higher-end business sector, and that’s really what we’re (trying to lure here),” O’Sullivan added.

Klamath Falls isn’t alone in the concept of a tech park, but could be on the cutting edge in Oregon if the proposal comes to fruition.

California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Bispo, Calif., is also considering a technology Park near its campus. It has been studying the feasibility of a technology park near the university for a number of years, according to the university’s website.

O’Sullivan believes the Tech Hills strength lies in that it’s being driven by private sector businesses.

He is hopeful the tech park could attract other companies at the level of Jeld-Wen, which may already have current ties through Oregon Tech.

“These are companies with labs, with research facilities,” O’Sullivan said.

“Does Boeing, who uses Oregon Tech graduates, have a piece of the supply chain, or Tesla, or one of the other many alumni companies…do they have a product in their supply chain that we could perfect, manufacture, engineer right here?” O’Sullivan asked.

He said he plans to reach out to Gov. Kate Brown about the park concept, with the hope that she will visit to learn more about the concept in the near future.

“If the governor is concerned about retaining companies in Oregon,” O’Sullivan said, “this is probably one of the best ways to do it.”

Mark Ahalt, a management faculty assistant professor at Oregon Tech, was involved in a branding committee to name the park.

“It’s really just having an identity to connect with,” Ahalt said of the Tech Hills name. A logo for the tech park is also in process.

“There’s a big difference in selling a community and selling a product like a business park or a tech park,” O’Sullivan said.

“If it’s a real estate-driven project and you can get them interested in real estate first, it’s just that much easier. It’s the next place where companies need to expand in Oregon.”

KCEDA has been in discussions with local stakeholders in real estate, economic development and those from Oregon Tech about the proposed project since November 2015, O’Sullivan said.

A proposal to unveil the full project details is planned for late April.

To access this article on the H&N website, refer to this link: http://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/tech-park-shovel-ready/article_6fb3763c-c786-5213-8f9c-591dabb3c0c9.html