Corvallis Area Restaurants & Bars, or CARB, is the brainchild of Michelle Colomb, a Corvallis based contributing writer for the United States Bartenders’ Guild, and marketing writer for Capturing Cocktails. She’s also the founder of Corvallis Culinary Connections. At The Advocate, Colomb has been a source of information for our reporters and appeared as a panelist for a CitySpeak forum we hosted about the local restaurant industry.
The group has held an inaugural meeting and plans to meet monthly to suss ideas, share trouble shooting solutions, plan events, and discuss concerns going forward.
If you’re a local owner of a local food or drink place, you can request to participate by joining the alliance’s new Facebook group.
Extraordinarily Accomplished Fundraiser: Aaron Escobar, Oregon State Senior Associate Athletic Director/VP Athletic Development, was named the recipient of the University Fundraiser of the Year by the National Association of Athletic Development Directors (NAADD).
Under Escobar’s leadership, Oregon State achieved record-setting fundraising numbers for athletics in the last two years, including the Completing Reser initiative with 23 gifts, all of $1 million or more, totaling $93.6 million. In spring of 2022, the project’s premium seat offerings reached capacity, adding $8 million in capital support in addition to the $3.2 million raised annually through seat contributions.
“From the outside, the fundraising goal for Completing Reser Stadium initiative – raising $85 million in 12 months – must have looked like mission impossible,” said Oregon State University Foundation President and CEO Shawn L. Scoville. “While we couldn’t have done it without our extraordinary donors, including the anonymous donor who made the $50M lead gift, it was Aaron’s intentional and strategic focus on leadership giving that facilitated our success. No one is more dedicated to helping our university achieve its aspirations while also being an exceptional partner to our very committed and generous donors.”
Following a comprehensive market study in summer 2022, Escobar’s team rightsized annual seat contribution requirements throughout Reser Stadium and launched programs to modernize the giving experience.
Seat contributions are no longer covered under one plan, but rather separate for football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. Annual fund contributions are projected to now surpass $12 million annually, a $4 million increase. Escobar’s team also is attracting substantial gifts for athletic endowments, specific sports and other facility improvements, such as track and field grandstands, a softball video board and a baseball hitting facility.
As a member of the OSU Foundation’s senior leadership team, Escobar plays a significant role in Believe It: The Campaign for Oregon State University. Donors have already committed more than $1 billion to the campaign that seeks to raise $1.75 billion to support university priority initiatives.
Oregon State had the second-highest fundraising average in the Pac-12, of nine reporting institutions, over the last five years.
“I’m very humbled to receive this recognition from the National Association of Athletic Development Directors,” Escobar said. “Our joint success in fundraising is a direct product of the wonderful partnership between the Oregon State University Foundation and Oregon State Athletics. Of course, none of this would be possible without the generosity of our dedicated and passionate alumni, friends, and family of Beaver Nation who make this such a special place to be.”
“This is a wonderful honor of recognition for Aaron and his team,” Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes said. “The work they’ve done with our incredible donors to raise money has greatly improved our facilities and will benefit all of our student-athletes and enhance the fan experience for Beaver Nation. Aaron’s leadership since he took over as the Senior Associate Athletic Director/VP Athletic Development has taken Oregon State Athletics to new heights.”
Land Use Power Shifts: In at least two arenas, state lawmakers are forwarding legislation that allow state officials more authority over local land use – and by more, we mean a lot more.
Oregon Senate Bill 4 states, “On or before June 30, 2024, the Governor may, by executive order, bring within an existing urban growth boundary designated lands for the purposes of providing lands available for industrial uses that relate to the semiconductor industry, advanced manufacturing or the supply chain for semiconductors or advanced manufacturing.” The bill goes onto cite 17 cities throughout the state specifically, Corvallis being one of them. Of four sponsors for the bill, two are Democrats, two are Republicans.
House Bill 2001 passed on 50-9 vote, requires cities of more than 10,000 residents to meet housing goals set by the state – which would include actively building subsidized and market rate housing if necessary. The state would be permitted to rescind state grants and other funding if a city doesn’t comply. The bill also amends land use requirements for local governments related to urbanization.
Landlord-Tenant Law Changes Too: The bill also requires residential landlords to extend notice periods for terminations of tenancy based on nonpayment of rent from three days to 10. Also, landlords will be required to serve additional notices, including where tenants can seek rental assistance.
Rental assistance agencies would be required to inform both tenants and landlords regarding rental assistance applications. And, courts would set aside and seal certain inoperative residential eviction judgments annually.
And now, your business events calendar…
Chamber of Commerce Success Events Series: Second in three standalone classes, you don’t need to attend all three. March 22 brings a class titled Reuniting Your Team, it’s focused on building and heightening team unity, and the April 12 class moves to building a conscious company culture. Each individual class is $110.
Classes will be at the Chamber of Commerce office, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This is a Chamber member event, click here to register.
Real Estate Broker Pre-License Class: Have you been thinking about a career as a real estate agent? This class is the first step! An accelerated pre-license hybrid weekly class, self-study, and a 9-5 pre-test cram session on Saturday, June 10th will get you ready for the Oregon Real Estate Broker’s License Exam. You will have to attend all class sessions through Zoom or in person and much of the self-study portion of the class is online. have online only. The class is offered by Small Business Development Center at Linn-Benton Community College.
The course contains 11 sessions, the fee is $695. First session runs from 6 to 9 pm, Tuesday, April 4, and the sessions conclude Saturday, June 10. Class meets at Coldwell Banker Valley Broker’s North Albany Branch. Click here to register.
