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 Bend Chamber
 777 NW Wall St, Ste 200
 Bend, OR 97701

 Phone: (541) 382-3221
 Fax: (541) 385-9929
 info@bendchamber.org
 www.bendchamber.org

Bend Chamber Weekly
September 26, 2008
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator

This Week's Highlights....

• Unemployment Rates increase in Central Oregon

• City of Bend’s new “green” buses arrive

• Northwest Homes Overvalued

• COCC featured in Green Business Quarterly

• New Travel Guidelines for 2009

• In the News

• Upcoming Chamber Events

Unemployment Rates increase in Central Oregon

     The tri-county area saw an increase in unemployment rates from July to August. According to a press release from the State of Oregon Employment Department, typically this time of year sees a decrease in unemployment rates.
     Deschutes County had the lowest rate increase at 6.8 percent while Crook County saw the highest increase  with 9.0 percent.
     Deschutes County jumped up 0.7 percent from July. “Normally there is a slight drop in the August rate, as employers continue hiring workers for the busy summer season,” the release stated.
     August did see an increase of 170 jobs in the region, mostly in professional and business services. However, the month also saw declines within local government and education. The State of Oregon Employment Department said, “Typically both July and August see declines related to education’s summer break, but this year budget constraints in local government are also playing a role in job declines.”
     Nationally, the unemployment rate is 6.1 percent. The state of Oregon also saw an increase from 5.7 percent to 6.2 percent.
    

City of Bend’s new “green” buses arrive

     The four new Bend Area Transit buses will start service on Monday in Bend. The Eldorado Elite buses seat 25 and are equipped with ADA equipment, bike racks and fare boxes. The buses also feature digital signage on the front and side of the bus.  
     The new buses are rated to last seven years and cost $122,000 each, compared to $450,000 for a low-floor, 12-year diesel-electric hybrid transit bus.
     The new buses get twice the miles per gallon of the current buses, significantly lowering operating cost for a system that travels 20,000 miles a month. By combining ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel with new diesel engine emission controls, the new fleet will have almost no particulate emissions compared to the older gas powered buses they are replacing.
     Bend residents will also notice a new look to the fleet. The BAT buses will feature safety messages from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). ODOT recently signed an advertising contract with the city for $20,000 a year.
     The new buses were purchased with grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration which covered 83 percent of the cost. Money was included in the transit budget to cover the remaining 17 percent.
 

Northwest Homes Overvalued

     According to a recent study by the Global Insight/National City Corporation, several areas in the Northwest are viewed as extremely overvalued. One of those areas is Bend. Bend was rated as the second most inflated housing market, right behind Atlantic City.
     The study states Bend is overvalued by 46.6 percent. Several other Pacific Northwest cities made the list, but not under the “extremely overvalued” category. They include Portland, Eugene, Medford, Boise, Spokane, and Seattle.
     The Global Insight/National City Corporation study looked at 330 metro areas across the United States.
 

     Green Business Quarterly recently highlighted Central Oregon Community College (COCC) as a school dedicated to environmentally sustainable practices. The piece highlights the student body’s decision to purchase renewable energy. COCC was the first community in the college to move towards this initative. 
     “It is rewarding to get national recognition for the work we are doing here at COCC,” James Middleton, President of COCC, stated in a press release. “I am proud of our students for their foresight and of our commitment to be as energy efficient as possible. While many individuals speak of what others should do in response to climate change and energy efficiency, COCC students have stepped up to become a part of the solution.”
     The article also highlights the sustainability efforts the college is trying to incorporate into its new campus center and the proposed science and health centers.

     Though it has been announced previously, the U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security are making sure travelers are aware that in June 2009 there will be a requirement to present a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document. This document announces citizenship and identity when entering the United States from Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean and Bermuda by land or sea.
     Acceptable forms of the WHTI include a valid US Passport Book, US Passport Card, or other travel documents approved by the Department of Homeland Security. (Please note, the US Passport Card is not valid for international travel by air.)
     For more information visit the U.S. Department of State Web site at www.travel.state.gov.
 

     T-Mobile Launches Google Platform phone: On Tuesday, T-Mobile USA released its new phone called the G1. The G1 will use Google’s software platform called Android. Analysts believe T-Mobile could sell 400,000 phones this year alone. However, the new phone will be in stiff competition with Apple’s iPhone and Research in Motion Ltd.’s BlackBerry. The G1 will go on sale in late October.
      Business travelers voice concerns on redeeming miles: In a recent survey, two-thirds of business travelers stated they like the airline loyalty programs, but it is very difficult to redeem earned miles. The survey, completed by the American Small Business Travelers Alliance and www.ExpertFlyer.com, questioned 600 business travelers about the airline industry and travelers habits. Redeeming miles has long been a problem for travelers, but officials say a new trend is starting to emerge. Smaller business owners are now drawn to lower fares, rather than loyalty programs.

   October 2 - Bend Business PAC City Council Forum- Join the Bend Business PAC and members as City Council candidates express their views on issues important to the business community. This month will cover Position 1 (Peter Gramlich and Tom Greene) and 4 (Jim Clinton and Don Leonard). Issues to be addressed during the forums will include: City spending and taxes, Juniper Ridge, Transportation, and Local Ballot Initiatives. If you are interested in attending this forum, please RSVP at www.bendchamber.org no later than noon on October 1. The price is $25 and includes a hot breakfast.
     October 7 - Business Leader Forum – How Green Practices Increase Profits and Customer Satisfaction, co-sponsored by Oregon Environmental Council, Central Oregon Environmental Center, and the Bend Chamber of Commerce. Interact with and learn from company leaders from a variety of industries about the business value of “going green.” Discover new ways to improve your business practices and operations, cut costs, reduce waste, and use less energy, thereby increasing profitability. Featured speakers include Hank Ashforth, CEO, Ashforth Pacific; David Williams, CEO, ShoreBank Pacific; and Tim Fallon, President, Kettle Foods. St. Charles Learning Center, 2500 N.E. Neff Road, Bend. Breakfast served. $35 general public; $25 OEC members, nonprofits and government agencies. To register: www.oeconline.org or (503) 222-1963 ext. 100.