Things are taking shape at the Corvallis Area Restaurant and Bar Alliance, or CARB – they’ve had their first official meeting and are setting their sights on forming a nonprofit corporation.
Last Monday’s discussion focused on building coordinated offering and event-based co-marketing efforts among the group. Think themed weeks of chef’s offerings from a number of local restaurants, and efforts to position Corvallis as a culinary tourism destination. Promotional approaches and financing will be an open conversation for later.
Logistics was top of mind for many of the dozen or so attendees. Opportunities to leverage down supply costs with group purchases among restaurants was of interest for some. This part of the conversation became far more animated when the group started talking about an informal communications hub so they could query each other for short supplies in real-time, and even share staff between restaurants. This latter practice is not unusual in larger markets, but Corvallis does seem to be approaching a point at which the practice would help.
Michelle Colomb, a Corvallis based food and drink journalist founded CARB. Her efforts go back a few months. Rachel Hoffman, a former city council candidate and Downtown Corvallis Association board member, has joined Colomb’s effort, and she helped co-lead last week’s meeting.
And Now, Another Entrant: Not to be confused with CARB, another new effort has recently arisen in the local restaurant associations space. The Greater Corvallis Restaurant Association, or GCRA, is spearheaded by Squirrel’s bartender Steven Richmond, a former campaign manager for Sami Al-Abdrabbuh who’s studied public policy at Western Oregon University.
The postcard sized flyer from Richmond’s organization purports their benefits will be much the same as what Colomb’s group seeks to offer.
But, Reading the Early Tea Leaves: The pitch for Richmond’s GCRA starts by saying, “Our mission is to advocate to city and state government.” Colomb’s CARB meeting clearly militated towards marketing, staffing, supply issues, and logistics.
Possibly more telling, Richmond’s GCRA intends to file for 501(c)6 status, clearly identifying itself as a business lobbying group. Conversely, Colomb’s CARB group intends to file as a 501(c)3, which signals an apolitical community-oriented grass roots approach.
Will the two groups partner or not – it’s too early to tell.
And, Some Editorialization: The various powers that be in our fair little burgh sometimes wait for competitors to duke it out and see who is left standing, which tends to starve both. Alternatively, we’ve seen area fiefdom wielders when they start lining up behind one or another contender, which has about the same impact.
However, we wonder, given the differences between the two groups, if this is an opportunity for backers to be supportive of both. For instance, funders could earmark their grants for CARB one way, and a grant for GCRA another way, based on each organization’s orientation.
And yes, we know we’re being a bit Pollyanna, so now, we’ll just go back to minding our own business, and reporting the news…
Salmon Fishery Closures Spurs Kotek to Seek Federal Relief: In response to the recent Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (PFMC) recommendation to close all commercial ocean fisheries for Chinook Salmon from Cape Falcon (on the north Oregon coast) to the California border through August 2023, Governor Tina Kotek is requesting that the U.S. Department of Commerce make an expedited declaration of a federal fishery resource disaster.
As juvenile salmon grow to adults off the coasts of California and Oregon, they are caught in Oregon’s commercial fisheries. However, due to recent droughts, returns of Chinook salmon to the Sacramento and Klamath rivers are expected to be extremely low this year. In anticipation of drought-related impacts on salmon spawning, the National Marine Fisheries Service is expected to close all commercial ocean fisheries for Chinook Salmon from Cape Falcon (on the north Oregon coast) to the California border through August 2023 in order to stabilize the salmon population.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife forecasts an 82% reduction in the ex-vessel value for commercial troll fisheries in this area, compared to the recent five-year average, as a result of these expected closures.
A federal fishery disaster declaration would provide important financial assistance to impacted communities.
“Salmon are a vital component of Oregon’s natural resource-based economy,” said Governor Tina Kotek. “This fishery provides significant commercial, recreational, and economic benefits to Oregon. Salmon are also highly valued by Oregon’s Tribes for cultural, subsistence, and economic benefits. I’m committed to working with our federal partners to ensure that Oregon’s fisheries and affected communities have the resources they need to tackle this challenge.”
And now, here’s your business events calendar….
OSU Health Professions Fair: The Health Professions Fair connects students with admissions representatives from over 60 medical and health professions schools in Oregon and across the country. This FREE event will be held Tuesday, April 25th from 10 am to 2 pm in the MU Ballroom. Students from all majors, first-year through seniors, are welcome. For more information, visit the event website.
Tuesday, April 25 from 10 am to 2 pm, at the Memorial Union Building (MU), Ballroom.
Corvallis Young Pros: Networking opportunity for young professionals, with a touch of fundraising for Zonta, if you’re feeling it. No membership is required, and attendees are encouraged to bring a friend.
They welcome anyone interested in engaging with their community and local businesses. There will be free nibbles and drinks for purchase. 5 to 7 pm, Tuesday, Apr. 25 at 4 Spirits Distillery, 3405 SW Deschutes Street, Corvallis. Click here to register.
AI and Staff Trust: Dr. Keith Leavitt gives a talk titled “AI and Employee Management: The Impact on Trust in the Workplace.” Leavitt will share from his research on using AI features in today’s workplace to manage and evaluate employee performance challenges us to think about the influence of machine learning on manager-employee trust.
Leavitt is OSU’s College of Business Associate Dean for Research, Betty S. Henry Amundson Faculty Scholar in Ethics, and Professor of Management.
12 to 1 pm Tuesday, May 2. This a virtual event, click here for registration and more information.
OSU’s Business Grad Programs: This virtual session reviews the application process, offering tips and suggestions so you can make sure you are submitting the best possible application to MBA, MSB, or Graduate Certificate Programs at Oregon State University. They recommend (but do not require) that you attend an Information Session before attending an Application Workshop
12 to 1 pm, Wednesday, May 3. Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
OSU’s Virtual MBA Program Application Workshop: This virtual session reviews the application process, offering tips and suggestions so you can make sure you are submitting the best possible application to MBA, MSB, or Graduate Certificate Programs at Oregon State University. They recommend (but do not require) that you attend an Information Session before attending an Application Workshop.
5:30 to 6:30 pm, Wednesday, May 3. Zoom link will be provided upon registration.
Chamber Webpage Webinar: Are you maximizing your Chamber membership? Each Chamber member gets a complimentary web page with their Chamber membership. This online training covers how to access this benefit, and how to get the most from it. The class will take approximately 30 minutes. Following the presentation members will have an opportunity to ask questions about this program and specifics on how to use the automation.
5 pm, Wednesday, May 3. Click here for more information and for access.
Going Into Business Workshop: Free class from Small Business Development Center at LBCC. In just one session, you’ll get all the basic information you will need to begin planning your successful business. Rules, regulations, financing, customers, markets, and feasibility will all be discussed in this one seminar.
6:30 to 7:20 pm, Tuesday, May 9. Virtual, click here to register.
Susan Sokol Blosser, Family Business 360: Sokol Blosser Winery’s founder gives a talk tilted “Letting Go and Giving Back” She is a leader in Oregon’s wind industry, and she will discuss her decision to pass the business along to her children at the height of her career in order to focus on other ways that she could impact her community for good. Hosted by the OSU College of Business Center for Family Enterprise.
8:30 to 9:30 am, Wednesday, May 10. Virtual, click here for more info and to attend.
Farm Industry Suicide Prevention: QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is an evidence-based suicide prevention program where participants are empowered to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Similar to CPR, QPR provides lifesaving knowledge and skills to help someone in crisis.
This particular workshop is for farmers and their business contacts. The suicide rate among farmers is higher than for most lines of work. Who should attend:
- Bankers or financial counselors
- Veterinarians
- Farm equipment and supply outlets, pesticide/chemical salespersons
- Those who know, love and care for farmers….family and friends
- Medical providers, including dentists
3:30 to 5 pm, Wednesday, May 10. Virtual event, click here to attend.
Recruitment & Retention: Address staffing shortages by learning strategies for finding and keeping great employees. This series will cover the job posting, screening, interviewing and selection processes followed by an overview of employee engagement and retention strategies. Participants will receive a 30-minute individual advising session upon completion of the series. Offered by the Small Business Development Center at LBCC.
6 to 7:30 pm, Thursday, May 11. Virtual, click here to attend.
Women in Business: Allison Lamplugh is founder of a Corvallis based marketing agency, Lamplight Creatives. In just a few short years, Lamplugh has assembled a team of professionals and become a full charge agency, which is not easy to find in community like Corvallis.
12 to 1 pm, Wednesday, May 17 at Courtyard Marriott, 400 SW 1st Street, Corvallis. Click here to register.
Grad Business Programs: This virtual session introduces the Graduate Business Programs at Oregon State University. In this online session they will cover graduate program options in the College of Business, including the MBA, Master’s, and Graduate Certificates programs. They will also introduce the curriculum, program tracks, admission and financial aid, and what sets Oregon State apart from other programs. Oregon State University offers graduate business programs in Portland, Corvallis, and online.
12 to 1 pm, Thursday, May 11. Click here to register.
5:30 to 6:30 pm, Thursday, May 11. Click here to register.
Brown Bag Event for Small Business Owners: Titled Five Reasons You Can’t Find a Good Bookkeeper….and what to do about it. Bring your lunch and learn from the accounting team at Brass Jacks cofounders: Jackie Shaw, CTO and Educator, and Jackie Rockwell and CEO, Business Coach.
12 to 1:30 pm, Wednesday, May 17 at the Chamber of Commerce office, 420 NW 2nd Street
Corvallis. Click here to register.
