|
|
|
Bend Chamber
Weekly
March 27, 2009
By Courtney Linville, Communications Coordinator
This Week's
Highlights
|
|
 Chamber’s
Spring Showcase at the COBA 17th Annual Spring Home &
Garden Show
This is the premier home and garden show in Central
Oregon and features hundreds of professionals in one
location. It’s a one-stop shop for any construction
or landscape project in addition to general business
products and services. New exhibits will provide
attendees with numerous ideas and resources.
This year the Bend Chamber struck a partnership with
the Central Oregon Builders Association (COBA) to
offer our Chamber members an opportunity to
“showcase” their business. Be a part of this fun
3-day event, May 1-3, 2009, at the Deschutes County
Fair and Expo Center. Our Chamber Member businesses
will be featured in 10x10 booth spaces along the
upper level concourse inside the Expo Center’s Arena
facility. The cost is just $395 for your space –
there are no additional costs (unless you desire an
Internet connection).
Think about it, can you really afford not to
“showcase” your business in one of the BIGGEST Expo
shows? We all need to take advantage of any and all
opportunities to market our businesses. This event
is fun to attend and we want you to partner with the
Bend Chamber in featuring your business, services
and products.
To receive a contract and registration packet,
please contact Lindi DeWolf,
lindi@bendchamber.org.
|
|
Town Hall Forum
Recap: Q & A with the City of Bend
Last Friday’s Town Hall entitled “Q & A with the City
of Bend” allowed Chamber members the opportunity to
get answers to some of their questions about what’s happening
within the city. The forum had a very
interactive panel with Bend City Councilors Jeff
Eager and Mark Capell and Budget Committee Chair Don
Leonard. Questions during the forum ranged from
stimulus money to the city budget to Bend Area
Transit (BAT).
Listed below are just a few questions asked at Town
Hall with abbreviated answers:
Q: How do you plan to help small businesses with the
stimulus money?
A: Councilor Mark Capell: The city plans to help
small businesses with two pots of stimulus money.
The first pot is $1 million that will go to transit
capital improvements, buses, bus stop improvements,
and bring bus stops up to ADA requirements. The
other pot is $1.25 million and will be used on road
overlays to help catch up on road maintenance; that
will be contracted out locally. The money will be
spent locally.
Q: How does the city plan to help businesses get
going again?
A: Councilor Mark Capell: That’s a really good
point. The council has set goals and one of the key
goals was economic development and what can we do to
help bring businesses to Bend and retain businesses
in Bend. There are two key projects and one is
Juniper Ridge and making land available. The largest
industrial lot you can find is 6 acres … Juniper
Ridge opens up an opportunity for new businesses as
well as retaining businesses. The airport is also
important. We need to help create jobs there as
well.
A: Councilor Jeff Eager: The long term solution to
the budget problems and economic problems is
economic development. There is a remarkable amount
of unity on those issues with council. We need to
fire on all cylinders and it needs to be one of the
top priorities. We plan to work with EDCO to have
someone work formally on behalf of the city to bring
employers to Bend. It would be a good idea to have a
discussion on the future development in Bend at a
future forum.
Q: Do you plan to support PTAC’s idea for a Business
License fee to help fund BAT?
A: Councilor Mark Capell: The short answer is no.
The PTAC is a group of citizens who are bringing
together transit issues to advise the council on
what it should do. I wouldn’t support (doubling the
business license fee), but I can’t say what the rest
of the council is thinking because we haven’t talked
about it yet. One of the things that we would want
to do with transit is to cut the minimum level of
support to the general fund without losing federal
grants. That’s the direction we are going.
A: Councilor Jeff Eager: The Business Fee is
ridiculous. Everyone is hurting right now including
every business and family. Just because the city has
the power to get money without citizens' consent
doesn’t mean it’s a good reason.
A: Don Leonard: I encourage everyone to try to
support the transit district. The ultimate solution
is to have a district that supports the system. I am
more supportive of regional transit.
|
|
Unemployment continues
to rise
Central Oregon’s unemployment rates continued to
increase in February. Deschutes County saw the
smallest gain, while Jefferson County saw the
largest gain jumping two percentage points to 14.4
percent.
According to a release from the State of Oregon
Employment Department, Deschutes County ended
February with a 12.6 percent unemployment rate which
is slightly higher from January’s 11.9 percent rate.
This is the county’s highest rate since at least
1990.
Though the county did see an increase of 100 jobs in
February, the typical increase is at least 250 jobs
due to winter tourism. “Employment gains this month
were less than expected,” the release stated.
Statewide unemployment rates also increased to 10.8
percent. Nationally, unemployment rates were also on
the rise to 8.1 percent.
|
|
Bend named top mountain
biking town
Bend is receiving national acclaim again, this time
for its mountain biking. Mountain Bike Action magazine is featuring Bend in its May 2009 issue.
The article entitled “America’s Top Mountain Biking
Town: 35 reasons why Bend, Oregon rules,” praises
Bend for its access, lodging, the weather, and
friendly locals.
“To prevail over such respected mountain biking
destinations as those we were up against is a
perfect example of Bend’s business community
rallying together to support tourism and leave a
positive and lasting impression on the editors that
will reap rewards for years to come,” said Doug
LaPlaca, president and CEO of Visit Bend in a recent
press release. “From Cog Wild Bicycle Tours and
Phoenix Inn, to Green Energy Transportation,
Deschutes Brewery and several local bike shops and
other businesses, this honor is truly a city-wide
achievement.”
The May issue of Mountain Bike Action magazine is
expected to hit newsstands by early April. The
article will also be made available on Mountain Bike
Action’s Web site at
www.mbaction.com.
Bend was also recently awarded the 2009-2010 USA
Cycling Cyclocross National Championships and Elite,
U23 and Junior Road National Championships.
|
|
In the news:
Public Lands Bill sees final passage: Later this
week, President Barack Obama will sign into law the
Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Included
in that bill is the Oregon Badlands Wilderness Act
of 2008 which designates almost 30,000 acres of
Wilderness 15 miles east of Bend. The bill saw a lot
of stops and starts, but the Oregon Delegation is
excited to see it pass. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.), who helped to author provisions included in
the bill said, “It was a long and winding road to
get this bill passed, but it was worth it to make
sure that Mt. Hood and all the other special places
in this bill are protected. I’m glad Congress looked
past politics and came together for our
constituents, for the lands they love and for the
jobs this bill will help create.” US Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said, “Thanks to this legislation,
someday soon we’ll be able to visit these newly
protected areas and know that they will remain
untouched for our children and grandchildren to
enjoy decades from now. That is a legacy we can be
very proud of.”
Seasonal plans and products announced by Mt.
Bachelor: Mt. Bachelor ski area has announced a
variety of spring deals and terrain plans that will
continue through the mountain’s scheduled spring
skiing closing date of May 17. The US Ski Team will
return to train at the mountain and there is an open
invitation to other commercial ski and snowboard
camps to do the same. Mt. Bachelor’s Chipper Terrain
Park and Slopestyle “pro line” will be enhanced and
expanded to create a spring super park. According to
a press release, the return of alpine race training
and build-out of a super park will provide Mt.
Bachelor guests with access to three high speed
lifts from April 20 to May 17 and expanded terrain
options beyond those offered last year. Mt. Bachelor
has also expanded its spring pass options.
Option one is a $129 all ages pass valid from March
30 to close; option two costs $89 for all ages and
is valid from April 20 to close. Passes are on sale
now on the Web site or in person at the mountain pass
office. For more information, visit
www.mtbachelor.com.
Passport Update:
Starting June 1, the U.S.
government will implement the full requirements of
the land and sea phase of the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative (WHTI). U.S. citizens entering the
United States at land or sea ports of entry will
need to have a passport, a passport card, or other
documentation approved by the Department of Homeland
Security. U.S. citizen children under the age of 16
will be able to present a copy of their birth
certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship. The
WHTI is the result of the Intelligence Reform and
Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that requires all
travelers to present a passport or other
documentation showing identity and citizenship when
entering the U.S. The goal of the initiative is to
provide standardized documentation that will allow
Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify
travelers.
2009 FireFree Spring Clean Up dates announced:
The
2009 FireFree Spring Clean Up dates have been
announced. FireFree allows residents of Central
Oregon the opportunity to recycle yard waste and
debris at no charge at area landfills and transfer
stations in Deschutes County. As part of the clean
up, area residents can bring their yard waste to
Knott Landfill in Bend from May 2 through May 10 and
to Deschutes County Transfer sites May 16 -17. For
more information on FireFree or other collection
sites and dates go to
www.firefree.org.
|
|
Upcoming Events
April 14 – Professional Development Series Morning
Session - Regional Sustainability for Communities
-
Speakers: Chuck Arnold, Downtown Bend Business
Assoc.; Katy Bryce, C.O. Environmental Center; Bob Eberhard, Eberhard’s Dairy Products; Matt Shinderman,
OSU Cascades. Does it really matter if you buy
regionally? What does it mean to buy regionally?
Buying regionally empowers citizens to be better
consumers and according to Matt Shinderman, OSU
Cascades, it ultimately sustains our community,
economy, ecology, and even society. In this month’s
Professional Development Series Morning
Presentation, our panel of experts will explore the
answers to the questions above and much more. To
join in this interactive presentation, RSVP by noon
on Monday, April 13 at
www.bendchamber.org. If you
have trouble signing up, please call 382-3221.
April 15 – Young Professionals Network – Feingold
Home – Feingold Home brings to Central Oregon a
different kind of retail environment, centered on
design for the sophisticated, fashion conscious
customer. These premium lines have not been
available in our area until now. No longer will you
have to leave Central Oregon to find the style that
you love. Join your fellow young professionals for a
great evening of networking, fun, and community
service. At this month’s Young Professionals event,
we will be joined by representatives of the Heart of
Oregon Corps (HOC). This program operates a youth
and young adult education, job skills training and
job placement program that provides an avenue to
reduce poverty, stimulate the economy, and maintain
the natural environment. Please RSVP for this event
by April 14 at www.bendchamber.org If you have
trouble signing up, please call 382-3221.
April 16 – Central Oregon Business Expo – This is
the region's premier business-to-business expo,
offering professionals the opportunity to network
and promote their goods and services to the Central
Oregon business community. This year's event is
shaping up to be one of the biggest ever and space
is limited. Lee Weinstein will be the keynote
speaker. Weinstein is 25-year public relations and
public affairs veteran, having directed
communications at Nike, worked for an Oregon
congressman and governor, and served on numerous
community service projects. For more information on
the Expo or to reserve a booth go to
www.visitredmondoregon.com.
|
|
