New Apparel Designs Debut at Tillamook County Fair

Written by: Renee Aufdermauer

It’s almost that time of year again! Tillamook County Fair time! The air is buzzing with anticipation as preparations unfold across the county. Community members are busy preparing with activities ranging from getting 4-H exhibits ready, printing and framing stunning photography displays to demolition derby cars getting a final overhaul for Saturday night’s grand event. It’s evident that this fair is an exciting highlight of the year for both adults and children!

Here at the Chamber, we’ve been crafting a new line of apparel that we’re confident will be a great addition to your wardrobe. These designs have been carefully selected to reflect the spirit of our community. Wearing Tillamook apparel isn’t just about staying cozy and looking good; it’s a symbol that showcases our shared values and commitment to making Tillamook a vibrant and thriving place to live, work, and visit.

Every year, families visiting Tillamook eagerly stock up on the latest apparel, turning it into an annual tradition or reunion of sorts. It’s always fun to see grandparents joyfully picking out items for all their grandkids.

All our clothing is printed locally by PSI Screen Printing & Embroidery Services, Signs & Vinyl Graphics, a proud member of our Chamber. By choosing to print locally, we’re not only ensuring the highest quality and craftsmanship but also supporting a local business that plays a vital role in our local economy.

The Tillamook County Fair runs from August 7-10 this year, and we couldn’t be more excited to share our new designs with you. Come see us in the main pavilion across from the Tillamook Ice Cream Booth. Whether you’re enjoying a thrilling ride, admiring the creativity on display, or cheering at the Pig-N- Ford races, make sure to stop by and grab your Tillamook apparel.

See you at the fair!

July 18, 2024July 25, 2024

Sip + Shop

Tillamook Chamber of Commerce’s Sip + Shop: A Growing Community Favorite

The Sip + Shop event in downtown Tillamook has become a beloved fixture, growing in popularity over the past year. Held on the second Friday of each month from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, it offers a fun evening of shopping, socializing, and sampling adult beverages, drawing both residents and visitors to downtown Tillamook.

This lively event owes much of its success to the enthusiastic participation of downtown Tillamook’s small business owners. Many of these dedicated proprietors extend their hours to welcome attendees, providing beverage samples—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic—for guests to enjoy as they explore their stores. Their collaboration transforms an ordinary evening into a memorable community gathering.

Adding to the fun, Sip + Shop often features themed nights. Past themes have included Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day, complete with a treasure hunt for a “Pot o’ Gold,” where participants could win exciting prizes.

The adventure begins at the Chamber HQ, where attendees receive a complimentary, reusable wine glass and their first sip of the evening. They’re also given a list of participating businesses offering additional samples as they browse. Regular attendees who bring back their glasses the following month are entered into a drawing for a chance to win a prize, adding an extra incentive for return visits.

Jennifer Robitsch, owner of Madeline’s in downtown Tillamook, has been involved with Sip + Shop since its inception. “Sip + Shop seems to be turning into a fun ladies’ night out, and that makes it a lot of fun!” Jennifer shared. “It’s a great way to get out and visit the local businesses in the evening. It’s always a fun and festive event!”

As Sip + Shop continues to expand, it’s heartening to see how it fosters a sense of community while supporting the local economy. The event not only brings people together but also encourages residents and visitors to explore and appreciate the unique offerings of Tillamook’s small businesses.

Whether you’re looking to discover new treasures while shopping locally, enjoy a casual evening out, or simply mingle with fellow community members, Sip + Shop offers something for everyone. Although there will be no Sip + Shop in August so that everyone can enjoy the Tillamook County Fair, but Sip + Shop will be back in full swing on September 13th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

For more information, follow us, Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, on social media for regular updates on upcoming Sip + Shop events and themes, or visit the community calendar Here

June 16, 2024June 12, 2024

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY – CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

April 26, 2023April 26, 2023

It’s About The Water Tour

Follow the water as it travels from the coast range to the bay, with stops in a working forest, The Port of Garibaldi, and a farm. Enjoy a Sunday evening social hour and dinner reception at a local golf course. The following day, join Tillamook Working Lands & Waters Cooperative members and learn more about keeping our environment and communities healthy and sustainable.

Date(s): Social & Dinner Reception Sunday, May 21st, 2023, followed by a Tour on Monday, May 22nd, 2023.

Location – Sunday Dinner Reception: Alderbrook Golf, Gardens & Events 7300 Alderbrook Rd, Tillamook, OR 97141

Location- Monday Tour: Garibaldi Fire Department Hall 107 S 6th St, Garibaldi, OR 97118

Hotel Information

The Hotel Garibaldi will hold a block of 25 rooms, information listed below:

The Hotel Garibaldi for May 21st one night
Mention at registration with the Tillamook Working Lands & Waters Cooperative
503-322-3338 for reservations
$129.00 + tax
$98.00 for Government employees (please have ID information available)
Complimentary “Grab & Go” breakfast is included
Room Registration will end on May 14th

Be sure to register for this event by May 12th. Full event details will be emailed to you after your registration is complete.

Register Now

October 9, 2021June 19, 2023

JOIN THE WAITLIST FOR PORTUGAL, SPAIN + MOROCCO

March 2, 2021April 14, 2021

What’s Brewin’ Registration

February 25, 2021

Thanks for a Great Night, Tillamook

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

If I’ve said it once, I say it every year: the night of the annual Chamber Community Awards Banquet and Auction is my favorite night of the year. Not my birthday. Not Christmas Eve; that particular night tops it for me every year.

When we had to go virtual this year because of Covid, I knew it wasn’t going to be the same in all the ways I loved. What I wasn’t expecting though, was the amazing way the Tillamook community stepped up to support the Chamber. The business community supported us through their donations and sponsorships like I’ve never seen. You guys killed it.

Our silent auction brought in a record-breaking $20,315! Just to put that in perspective, our auction in 2020 was also a record-breaking year, bringing in just over $7,000. The silent auction and oral auction combine raised $36,185 for the Chamber and our programs. I am honestly without words on that one.

While we didn’t have the in-person camaraderie that we all enjoy and, quite frankly, miss at this point, we still had fun chatting with everyone virtually and sharing the great work that the Chamber has been able to accomplish amidst a global pandemic. A point of pride for the banquet each year is the buffet that consists of food from over 15 local restaurants, but in true let’s-figure-it-out fashion we once again offered event sponsorship in the form of Virtual Dinner Tables that came with 10 dinner vouchers good at over 15 restaurants. And boy, was our business community ready to support our restaurants and Chamber. We had 23 virtual dinner tables sponsored, raising another $17,250!

It was this same let’s-figure-it-out attitude that permeated the Chamber in 2020. Overall,as soon as the shut downs started happening our philosophy was to try and keep things as normal as possible. We went into it thinking: if we can just keep the community engaged, keep businesses open and moving, and a sense of normality, then we are doing our jobs. Instead of canceling events, we asked ourselves, how can we do this differently? And, apart from the Cork & Brew Tour, we were able to keep all our regular events and programs up and running in some form or another. We wanted to be clear that we had not abandoned the community, and that we were here for them every step of the way.

Which is why we sent out emails weekly, sometimes even daily, breaking down the new regulations, offering information about funding and how to apply, and where businesses could get PPE.

It was this same can-do mentality that launched Tillamook Takeout less than 24 hours after restaurants were shut down to in-person dining – the first time. And let me tell you, it’s all worth it when you hear stories from Jen Malcom, the owner of Downie’s Cafe in Bay City, saying that Tillamook Takeout may as well have saved her business and now she can’t make cinnamon rolls fast enough to keep up with demand. Yeah, we can take credit for coming up with the idea, but we as a community made it happen and made sure our restaurants stayed afloat during one of the toughest times they’ve ever seen. Thank you, Tillamook. You are awesome.

I would be remiss if I didn’t again thank my co-host Brett Hurliman, and my team: Ashley Christensen, Ashley Rushing and Tammy Samagio for their hard work on this event. And a special thank you to Kaylan Sisco, who came in at the last minute to pinch hit on the technical live feed aide and hit it out of the park. Also thank you to our sponsors, and everyone who donated an item to our silent and live auction.

Be sure you go check out the Community Impact Awards video that debuted the night of our virtual auction (posted to our Facebook page and on our website) and have fun remembering all the wonderful things that happened in 2020 – because yes, there were plenty of opportunities to smile through it all.

February 17, 2021

Join us this Saturday for the Community Impact Celebration and Auction

By Ashley Christenson
Programs & Events Manager

It’s hard to believe that the Community Impact Celebration and Auction is this Saturday! If you haven’t checked out our silent auction yet, there is still time to get your bids in at communityimpactauction.com. Or, if you haven’t looked in awhile, you might be pleasantly surprised by new items we’ve added as we get closer to our live event.

Speaking of the live event, that will take place (virtually of course) on Feb. 20th at 6 p.m. The event will be co-hosted by Justin Aufdermauer and Brett Hurliman! The celebration will consist of a short Chamber update, live auction and the Community Impact Awards presentation.

Unlike past years where we have selected a single award winner in multiple categories, we have decided to recognize over 30 businesses, people, projects, and programs that made a positive impact in Tillamook County this past year. These award recipients were nominated by the community and we are really excited to recognize them through a presentation video.

Some of our live auction items include a year’s worth of flowers from Sunflower Flats; a multi-course meal prepared by Chef Phil of Pacific Restaurant; a private kayak tour for eight; eight hours of professional yard work; and much more. You will also be able to bid on silent auction items right up until the end, so be sure to tune in and make sure you don’t get out bid.

Like any non-profit in our county, we really are unable to do the things we do without the community’s support. Typically our in-person banquet serves as our main fundraiser, which allows the Chamber to fulfill its mission. This includes being an advocate for small business owners; creating community events that positively impact livability, like the June Dairy Parade and the Tillamook Farmers Market; offering networking opportunities that support businesses and professionals; and much more. If you have attended the monthly Mornings on Main Street meetings, or enjoyed a Cork & Brew Tour, then you’ve directly benefited from the programs and services offered by the Chamber. All of these things help us fulfill our mission, which is to remove barriers and make connections for businesses to grow and thrive, and help increase the quality of life for our community.

So I hope you will join us THIS Saturday at 6 p.m. at communityimpactauction.com.
A huge thank you to all those who made a donation to our auction, or who have already made bids on items, for your continued support of the Chamber. We couldn’t do this without you. I look forward to the day we can gather together in person, but until then, we hope you will gather with us virtually and continue to support the great work being done in our community.

February 4, 2021August 24, 2021

Apply now for the 2021 Tillamook Farmers Market

By Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager

The Tillamook Farmers Market is returning for its 21st season June 12 – Sept. 24.

If you would like to join us this year as a vendor, you can fill out an application on our website, tillamookfarmersmarket.com. We are always looking for new farmers, producers, hobbyists, artists, bakers and just all-around-fun people to come hang out with us. If you’re not sure if your idea or product would qualify, that’s ok! Reach out to me and I will be happy to see if it meets Market standards. Typically we are looking for homemade, handmade, and homegrown items – but there are a few exceptions.

As per usual, the Market will run every Saturday from June 12 – Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the corner of Laurel Avenue and Second Street. When it comes to COVID and safety guidelines, we are following the requirements from the Oregon Farmers Market Association. That means, just like last year, all vendors will be in masks, they will be properly spaced out, there will be hand sanitizer available, and shoppers will be required to wear masks and maintain distance.

We are hoping to bring back hot, prepared food this year, but of course that depends on who applies! Again, if you have a delicious idea for a food item you would like to serve to shoppers email me so we can talk about it. Anything for consumption on the premise also has to go through the health department so it can take a few extra weeks to get approved. In other words, don’t wait until the last minute to apply!

As soon as we are able to, we will bring back things like live music, kids activities, demonstrations, and all that fun interactive stuff. Until then, we appreciate everyone who makes the effort to shop small and support our vendors. Having a neighborhood farmers market is a privilege, and it takes all of us supporting it to keep it going.

Be sure to follow Tillamook Farmers Market on Facebook for more updates as we get closer to the season opening. And to learn more about the Market, email me at sayde@tillamookchamber.org.

February 2, 2021March 2, 2021

2021 Community Impact Auction & Celebration

January 28, 2021

Travel to Italy and Greece with the Chamber in 2022

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Let me be the first to admit it: I have the travel bug. After basically 12 months of staying home, I am ready to get out and go on an adventure. While our Chamber travel trip was planned for May of this year, sadly COVID-19 has halted global travel for now.

What that means for folks who have already signed up is that we will be waiting until May of 2022 to travel to Italy and Greece, after vaccines are widely distributed.

And, if you didn’t originally sign up for the trip, now you have an extra year to plan! I image there are a lot of us who will be dying to get out of the country and explore other cultures come Spring 2022.

As a reminder, this trip will take us to the warm Mediterranean region of Greece and Italy. We will explore the Seven Wonders of the World, visit the ancient Gymnasium (where the first Olympic Games took place) and peek inside the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

Oh, and did I mention that’s all just one day? Now picture 12 days of exploring not only Greece but Italy as well. Discover historic churches, winding canals, and picture-perfect piazzas; step inside the iconic St. Mark’s Square; view the legendary Florence Cathedra; enter the massive Colosseum in Rome; and visit the Temple of Apollo where, according to legend, the gods once communicated with mortals.

If Venice, Rome, Florence, Athens, Delphi and Olympia are on your travel bucket list then you will want to join us for our next Chamber Travel Adventure. The trip includes 12 nights in handpicked hotels, breakfast each morning, guided sightseeing tours with local experts and a private deluxe motor coach. A few of the trip highlights include Temple of Apollo, Ruins of Olympia, and the Archaeological sites of Mycenae, Acropolis, Parthenon. There are also free days to explore Rome and Florence at your leisure.

If you’re ready for more information about the itinerary, pricing, or just group travel in general then please email me at justin@tillamookchamber.org. Final payments won’t be due until February of 2022. Let’s make this the trip of a lifetime!

January 21, 2021February 15, 2021

It is Time

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

As we near the one-year anniversary of the very first state-wide shut down due to the global pandemic, the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce is looking to ensure the voice of the business community is heard. In short: business need to be allowed to open immediately within CDC recommended guidelines.

Our small business community is a vital component of Tillamook County. It is the very backbone of our culture, and it is what makes Tillamook such a unique place to live, work, and visit. Yet it is the small business community that has been unfairly targeted by regulations and closures from the Governor’s office over the last 11 months. Nearly every small business was forced to close at one time or another, and many have had to react on a moment-by-moment notice of whether they can operate or not. While our small business owners are resilient, and have done a remarkable job of holding on and rolling with the punches, many Tillamook County businesses are on the verge of letting go.

Those that have been able to continue operations have been extremely responsible and responsive to the COVID-19 guidelines coming from the state. The recent adoption of the Oregon OSHA Covid-19 Standard further means that Oregon workplaces are some of the safest and most sanitary places for customers and employees to be. And yet, public health officials have been clear that Covid-19 is spreading in Oregon for reasons unrelated to businesses being open. Locally, as of January 15, 2021, we have seen 357 positive and presumptive cases and two (2) deaths in all of Tillamook County since March 2020, according to the Oregon Health Authority. Tillamook County has remained as the third lowest rate per 100,000 for several weeks, only behind Wheeler and Wallowa counties. Something has to give.

The Tillamook Chamber, in accordance with the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, believe all local businesses should be open in some capacity. Currently 26 counties sit under the Extreme Risk category which prohibits operation of indoor fitness (dance studios, YMCA, etc.) and entertainment (theater, museums, etc.) and any indoor dining at restaurants. This is a problem for all of rural Oregon, but especially here on the Oregon Coast where small business owners already face unique challenges that they must overcome to be successful during much of the year.

Last week, the Chamber submitted a letter to Mayor Burris and the Tillamook City Council asking them to collectively support the opening of businesses within the recommended CDC recommendations and submit public support to the Governor’s office, stating that small businesses should be allowed to reopen with the same considerations being granted the school districts; allow businesses to re-open in a manner that requires masks and physical distancing measures and frequent hand washing; and allow our small businesses to tackle the safety measures with the same spirit they used to carve out their niche in private enterprise.

The Tillamook Area Chamber Board of Directors and the City Council of Tillamook stand united in our commitment to continuing to do our part, within our authority, on behalf of safety and small businesses by encouraging every member of our community to follow the health and safety guidelines established by the CDC, OHA, and Tillamook County. We are in no way advocating for the disregard of State mandates – we are requesting a change to reduce the Extreme Risk levels mandates to those of the High Risk category, which will allow all businesses to open in one form or another.

At the time this is published, Tillamook County may have received word that it will move down to the High Risk category, and while this is welcome news, this creates a lot of market volatility for small businesses as they have to be prepared to shut down as soon as two weeks later due to single digit positive case increases as we have seen recently in Clatsop County.

Our business community has made unparalleled sacrifices over the last 11 months to help the state fight the novel coronavirus. The continued, seemingly never-ending, addition of more restrictions and closures from the Governor’s office on their shoulders is too great a burden for anyone to bear. The weight of this pandemic cannot unnecessarily rest on a limited number of businesses.

Please continue to support Tillamook County businesses, now is the time to not only shop local, but to offer encouragement and let them know how much you appreciate their presence in our community. Your kind words may be the encouragement some of these businesses need to keep holding on.

January 15, 2021March 2, 2021

Join the Chamber and Guests for the Community Impact Celebration and Auction Feb. 20

By Ashley Christensen
Programs & Events Manager

*** Register now at communityimpactauction.com ***

Typically in mid-January the Chamber is hosting its annual Community Awards Banquet. It’s an exciting and elegant night that I know many of you have attended in the past. The food is divine, the atmosphere is charming, and the company is the best.

Of course we are saddened that we can’t host this lovely in-person event for our community right now, but we aren’t going to do nothing; that wouldn’t be right, and it certainly wouldn’t be on brand with the Chamber! We’re all about making the most out of a less-than-desirable situation.

So this year, I am excited to invite you all to the Community Impact Celebration and Auction on Feb. 20th. You can join us virtually by heading to www.communityimpactauction.com where all the fun will start at 6 p.m.

But you don’t have to wait til Feb. 20th to participate! We have more than 100 items in our silent auction, that will premier on that same website on Feb. 6.

From your phone, computer or tablet you’ll be able to visit communityimpactauction.com and bid on incredible items from all over our community. Things like guided fishing trips, vacation packages, an incredible leather couch from Roby’s Furniture, a custom-built bike from the Tillamook Rental Center, and the most amazing gift baskets you’ve ever seen.

While the silent auction opens on Feb. 6th, we will be releasing new items each day leading up to the 20th so be sure to keep checking back and making your bids on these fabulous gifts. Whether you’ve participated in the Chamber’s annual silent auction before or not, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the amount and scope of items up for bid. We were so jazzed to have an incredible outpour of support from our local community, and you will definitely want to check it out for yourself.

We are also seeking sponsors for the event that will not only help support the auction but also sponsor the Community Impact Awards video that will be released in early spring and will highlight the businesses, organizations, programs, and people who have made a positive and lasting impact on the community even through the pandemic. All of our sponsors will also be recognized in this video – but that’s not all! Sponsors also receive 10 gift cards redeemable at any local restaurant that they can use the night of the Community Impact Celebration and Auction to buy dinner for their family, friends, or even employees and co-workers.
One of the things that makes the annual Chamber Banquet so unique is that it is catered by a variety of local restaurants in and around Tillamook. We wanted to bring that same flare to our virtual event, so we are giving out gift cards to those who choose to sponsor that can be redeemed at the restaurants of their choice. It’s a fun way to bring home your own taste of Tillamook while you settle in for the live auction.

Speaking of which: the live auction portion will be co-hosted by Justin Aufdermauer and Brett Hurliman, who is always a blast to have at any event! And while the two of them are entertaining as it is, we will have special guests popping in throughout the evening so even if you aren’t planning on bidding on any of the big-ticket items, it will still be an entertaining way to spend your Saturday night!

So mark your calendars and don’t forget to join us on Feb. 20th for the Community Impact Celebration and Auction at communityimpactauction.com. Silent auction items go live Feb. 6th! If you’re interested in sponsoring the event, call our office at 503.842.7525.

A huge thank you to all those who made a donation for your continued support of the Chamber. We couldn’t do this without you.

January 7, 2021

Recap: 2020 Wasn’t All Bad

I’m sure many of us would rather just put 2020 behind us by now as, ultimately, an epic fail. And, in many ways it was. But for the Chamber it was perhaps busier than ever, and while things were canceled left and right, people were sent home to work, and schools were closed, we were able to take a bad situation and make an incredibly positive impact on our community.

Here’s some of the highlights we accomplished in 2020:

Tillamook Farmers Market: 2020 was actually a banner year for the Tillamook Farmers Market, as it was the 20th anniversary. We didn’t get to properly acknowledge this milestone thanks to the pandemic, but we still had a successful season. Sales were up significantly for our farmers especially as people focused on planting victory gardens and found the outdoor shopping experience safer than the grocery store. We had to adapt to COVID regulations but overall the market resembled some normalcy for people, which was greatly appreciated.

Covid Business Resources: From March on, it seemed like things were changing by the day, if not by the minute. We’ve worked diligently to stay on top of the information as it comes from the state and feds and filter it to our business community in a way that clearly showcases what impacts them and their business. Additionally, we distributed over $30,000 in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) at no-cost to local small businesses.

June Dairy Parade: Inside Out: In the midst of closures our team rallied around a vision to keep the June Dairy Parade alive, and instead offer it in a way that would be safe for the community and safe for the parade participants. We came up with the Inside Out Parade, where parade “floats” stayed stationary and the audience drove through the route. It was a logistical nightmare, but we knew if we pulled it off it could be a great event for our community during a summer where things were being canceled left and right. While I hope we never have to do it again, I heard from many people who thoroughly enjoyed the parade in this new format and asked that we do it again next year. It was a glimmer of hope during an otherwise bleak summer.

Tillamook Takeout: Probably one of my personal favorite accomplishments of 2020 was the Tillamook Takeout campaign. We started this in early March just as restaurants were being shut down by the Governor’s Executive Order. The goal was simple: get people to support our restaurants by ordering takeout. We threw together a quick plan and received immediate funding from Visit Tillamook Coast to offer weekly giveaways to folks who got take-out and used #TillamookTakeout on their social media. We created a Facebook group to track takeout entries, that has more than 4,200 members and is still actively supporting restaurants. Fast forward to the second shutdown this December, we knew we had to make another run at and hit it hard, and thanks to sponsorship from the Tillamook County Creamery Association we were able to do just that. We knew from the get go that Tillamook Takeout had the ability to be successful, but we were overwhelmed by the impact this had on our restaurant community with more than $3 million dollars generated through takeout orders.

We hired new staff: In 2020 we brought on a new Programs & Events Manager, Ashley Christenson, and a new Communications Manager, Ashley Rushing. Yes, it does get complicated around here with two Ashleys, but we are really benefiting from their fresh eyes, positive attitudes, and artistic perspectives on our projects and programs. Together they have revamped Sip + Shop and turned it into a cohesive downtown event, even through COVID, and launched a new family-friendly downtown event: Treats + Sweets.

#WereStillOpen: Through some grant dollars from Visit Tillamook Coast, we were able to produce a video for our downtown retail community reminding residents – and visitors – that we were still open for business. Stay tuned as we expand on this idea for 2021.

Shop Small Sweepstakes: For one final blow to 2020’s efforts to ruin everything we ended the year with the Shop Small Sweepstakes. This year we expanded the sweepstakes to all locally-owned businesses in Tillamook County and for community safety we added an extremely popular text entry option. With video highlights of businesses and many more entries, we ended 2020 with an extremely successful sweepstakes sponsored by US Bank.

It was a stressful year – no question about that – but overall, I was incredibly thankful for my board, staff, and our Chamber members for their willingness to fight for our business community. We will come out of this stronger, and I am just blessed to be a part of it. So take that, 2020.

December 17, 2020December 22, 2020

Nominations Due for the Community Impact Awards

By Justin Aufdermauer

Let’s think positive for a minute. This past year has thrown an enormous amount of curveballs at our community and it’s easy to get discouraged, especially as we adjust once again to shut downs and limitations. Instead of focusing on the negative, I am encouraging everyone reading this to think back on the last year and ask yourself: who (or what) has made a positive impact in my life?

I ask because we at the Chamber want to start the New Year by recognizing those people, businesses, development projects and programs that have gone the extra mile in 2020 and made a positive impact. We are now taking submissions for the Community Impact Awards over on our website, tillamookchamber.org/nominate. The form is very simple this year: just tell us who you are nominating and why. We will take the list of nominations and compile the majority of them into a Community Impact video that we will share out on our social media channels and other digital platforms.

This is your chance to say “thank you” to a local restaurant, a thoughtful shop owner, a first responder, an event or program that you enjoyed, a development project that made your life better, or a dedicated volunteer. Who took the time to make you smile, or meet a need that you had? The 10 most impactful submissions in each category – person, business, development project, or program – will be given highlighted in this year’s Community Impact video.

Traditionally we have always announced the winners of the Community Awards at our annual banquet, which has always been a highlight of the evening. We love being able to start the year off by recognizing the best of Tillamook County and celebrating the people behind the projects, the passion behind the business, the sweat and tears of development projects and the heart of our citizens. We don’t want to lose that celebration, even if we can’t gather together for a formal banquet quite yet. We believe it’s more important than ever that this year we don’t focus on a winner, but more so the positive things that have happened in Tillamook County during 2020.

There is no limit to the number of nominations a person can submit. Just visit our website, tillamookchamber.org/nominate and fill out the form before December 31, 2020. I think it will do us all a lot of good to focus on the positive impacts of 2020 and recognize those who made a difference in our lives. Let’s end the year on a high note and give a big (virtual) hug to those in our community who need it most.

December 10, 2020December 22, 2020

There is Still Time to Shop Small – and Win $1,000

By Ashley Christensen

Programs and Events Manager

There is still three weeks left of 2020, and while that in itself is something to celebrate, it also means there is still plenty of time left to shop small and enter the Shop Small Sweepstakes! While you’re out finalizing your holiday shopping, remember that every receipt you collect from a locally-owned business could be your ticket to winning $1,000!

You can enter once per day, every day. All entries throughout the entire sweepstakes are entered into the grand prize drawing of $1,000 Shop Local Dollars, redeemable at any locally-owned business in Tillamook County. The grand prize is graciously sponsored by US Bank.

While there might be only one grand prize winner, we also draw for weekly prizes as well. These gifts are sponsored by our local businesses. For the remainder of the contest we will have weekly prizes from Salty Raven, Tangled Yarns, West Elliot Boutique, Lucky Beach Soap Co., the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce and Recurrent. There are still plenty of chances to win so keep shopping and keep entering your receipts!

To enter your receipts, bring them into the Chamber HQ at 208 Main Ave. during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9-5) or you can text in a picture of your receipt and your full name to 503-389-0631.

Shopping small is the best way to support our local business community, but there are also other ways you can help them without spending any money. If you’re on social media, like their Facebook and Instagram pages, and share their posts. Comment on things you like; it can help them gain exposure. When you find something you like at a specific shop – tell someone about it! Word of mouth goes a long way in a community like ours.

A lot of our downtown shops are still offering curbside pick up, or can arrange special shopping times for you if you like to do your shopping without other people in the store. Some even have online options and can ship directly to your house, so you can still support local with the convenience and safety of online shopping. And, chances are they can get you your items quicker.

There are so many great reasons to support local businesses. Don’t forget to enter the Shop Small Sweepstakes while you do, and there might just be a fun prize in there for you as well!

November 24, 2020

Support Small Businesses this Small Business Saturday

By Ashley Christensen

Programs & Events Manager

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is tomorrow? That also means Small Business Saturday is Nov. 28. Always the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday is an important “holiday” to help draw attention to the importance of shopping small.

Even when we aren’t in the middle of a global pandemic, shopping small is the cornerstone for a thriving community. Did you know that 92% of small business owners personally donate to charities and non-profit organizations, according to a study by Community Business Finance. Small business owners are also more likely to encourage their employees to volunteer their time and support local causes. And, $68 of every $100 spent at a local independent store is reinvested in the community, versus only $43 with a larger retailer.

Local small businesses also use the goods and services of other local businesses, creating both social and economic relationships and helping the entire community thrive. I think it goes without saying that they are pretty important, and these businesses deserve our help now more than ever. COVID has been hard on us all, but small businesses have been thrown through the ringer this year and hit with unexpected rules, regulations, shut downs, and restrictions. It has been hard to keep up with all the changes, and it’s enough for anyone who owns a business to want to throw in the towel.

So, while you’re celebrating Thanksgiving – with or without family or whatever that might look like for you this year – and contemplating your holiday shopping, I encourage you to make Small Business Saturday another holiday tradition. Look local first for those things on your Christmas list, and make a point to visit as many businesses as you can. Several of our small businesses will be open offering great deals and sales to satisfy every style and every need.

The Chamber office will be open on Nov. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a pre-packaged hot cocoa bar so you can come in and grab a warm treat either before you start shopping, or if you just need a pick-me-up. Or hey, use it as a bargaining chip for the kiddos and reward them with something yummy after you get your shopping done. Our hot cocoa bar is graciously sponsored this year by Umpqua Bank.

We are also offering unlimited entries into the Shop Small Sweepstakes that day, so everywhere you shop you can text in your receipt or bring it by the Chamber HQ or text your name receipt photo to 503-389-0631 to be validated and be entered to win the grand prize drawing.

We look forward to seeing everyone who comes out to shop that day, and hope that together we can show our small business community how much we care about them and value what they do. Of course, we ask that everyone follow all safety guidelines while they are indoors shopping. Masks are required, and social distancing is a must.

November 18, 2020November 18, 2020

Tillamook Takeout 2.0

by Justin Aufdermauer | Executive Director

Last Friday, Governor Kate Brown held a press conference that outlined statewide guidance changes for a two week period starting Nov. 18 – Dec. 2.

There were several key takeaways from this two-week pause:
· Restaurants and bars will be takeout only; no indoor or outdoor service.
· Retail stores (indoor and outdoor) will have a limited capacity of 75%*.
· Venues that host indoor or outdoor events are closed.
· All gyms and fitness organizations are closed.
· All indoor and outdoor recreation facilities are closed.
· Social gatherings (indoor and outdoor) are restricted to no more than 6 people, with a maximum of two households.
· Churches are limited to a capacity of 25 people indoors OR 50 people outdoors.

The freeze does not affect current protocols for personal services like barbershops, hair salons or non-medical massage therapy. It also does not change protocol for lodging providers, homeless sheltering, outdoor recreation and sports, youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools, K-12 sports currently allowed, and higher education. All will continue to follow previous guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority.

I’ll just be real with you: it’s a bummer that we’re back here and the State got this call wrong. You have done a great job through Covid-19, Tillamook County, and there is bo reason for us to bare the brunt of other regions problems. Yet as I sit write this frustrated and disappointed by this move, i am reminded that we have done it before and survived, and we will do it again.

To help, we are bringing back the #TillamookTakeout challenge for this two week period of Nov. 18 – Dec. 2. The rules are the same: every time you get take out from a local restaurant, snap a photo and post it on Facebook or Instagram using #TillamookTakeout. Just posting the photo with the hashtag will automatically enter you to win gift cards to local restaurants. There is no limit to how many times you can enter; the more you eat out, the more likely you are to win!

We had immense success with this campaign earlier this year and were able to show our restaurants and eateries how much they mean to us. And, I think some of us loved the excuse to not cook every now and then. So I am calling on each and every one of you reading this to channel that same energy and let’s show the rest of the state what Tillamook County is made of. We are hopeful that this latest shut down will not last more than two weeks and even more hopeful that we can use this time to make an impact on the businesses most affected. So grab some take out, get a picture, and use #TillamookTakeout. Be sure to follow along in our Facebook group Tillamook Coast Takeout + Delivery as well, for up-to-date menus and other information.

We can do this, Tillamook!

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020

Nominations Open – 2020 Community Impact Awards

By Justin Aufdermauer | President/CEO

Drum roll please… Many have been waiting patiently to hear our plans for the annual Chamber Banquet and Community Awards Ceremony. Well, it’s no surprise at this point that our banquet will look different than it has in past years. With a limited capacity on crowds at the state level, we are reimagining how to host a meaningful banquet for folks, fundraise for Chamber programs, and recognize our business community, organizations, and individuals.

One way we are doing that this year is by modifying the awards to honor as many of the businesses, people, organizations and programs that we can who have made a positive impact in 2020. Take a look at the last 10 months and ask yourself: who made a difference for me? Who went above and beyond to be there for their community, and make the most of a tough situation? Yes, it’s been a weird year to say the least, and we’ve all had to make changes and sacrifices that we haven’t liked. But now it’ .s time to take a look at the basket of lemons and ask ourselves: while we were busy being frustrated, who was making lemonade?

Let me get you started with few to get your thoughts flowing: When the YMCA was shut down, they refocused their efforts to collecting food and other essential items and delivering it to people in need. Madeline’s Vintage Marketplace and the Tillamook Liquor Store property have undergone beautiful transformations, while Pelican Brewing Co. added a completely new brewhouse in their Tillamook location. Pacific Restaurant and Blue Heron French Cheese Co. started offering family-sized take-out meals on their menu to give working families a week-night break. Instead of canceling, the Tillamook County Fair organized a walking tour of fair exhibits. During the Pike Road Fire, several local restaurants, businesses and individuals donated food and essentials to those on the frontlines. (And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the phenomenal dessert auction organized by PNW Fire Relief that raised thousands of dollars in a few hours.)

We have seen immense challenges this year, but we have also seen incredible generosity and positivity. Where COVID brought new regulations, it also brought innovation. We saw curbside pick-up and people choosing to support and shop local over other options. Let’s take some time to focus on the good and nominate a person, organization, business or program for a 2020 Community Impact Award.

To make your nomination, text “iNominate” to 56525 or visit tillamookchamber.org/nominate and fill out the online form. At least the top ten nominees in each category will be recognized and celebrated in the community and at the 2021 Chamber Banquet and . And don’t worry, we will be revealing more details about the banquet in the upcoming weeks. Until then, go make your nomination. There is no limit to how many nominations a person can make. I think it will make us all feel good to recognize the good work being done by those in our community.

November 4, 2020October 9, 2023

Shop Small Sweepstakes Official Rules

“THE TILLAMOOK AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (the “Sponsor”) is running the SHOP SMALL SWEEPSTAKES” (the “Promotion”)

OFFICIAL SWEEPSTAKES RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.

A purchase will not improve chances of winning.

CONSUMER DISCLOSURE

You have not yet won.

THE PROMOTION IS ONLY OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 U.S. STATES (D.C.) THAT ARE 18 YEARS OLD AS OF THE DATE OF ENTRY

By entering this Promotion, entrants accept and agree to be bound by these Official Rules. Any violation of these rules may result in disqualification, at Sponsor’s discretion. All decisions of the judges regarding this Promotion are final and binding in all respects.

PROMOTION PERIOD. Grand Prize Promotion begins 12:01 AM PT October 1, 2023 and ends 11:59 PM PT December 31st, 2023, when all entries must be received. (“Promotion Period”). Weekly drawing promotion begin at 12:01 AM PT of advertised open date and ends 11:00 AM PT of advertised closing date.
ELIGIBILITY. The Promotion is only open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. States (D.C) who are at least 18 years old as of the date of entry, except employees of the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Promotion is void outside the 50 U.S States (D.C.) and where prohibited.
HOW TO ENTER. There are three (3) ways to enter: 1) provide a receipt from a locally owned business within Tillamook County during the Promotion Period to the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce located at 208 Main Ave. and follow the instructions to complete and submit the entry form; 2) Text message first and last name along with a photo of your receipt to 971.410.7458, 3) visit the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce located at 208 Main Ave. Tillamook, OR 97141 during regular business hours, fill out provided questionnaire, complete and submit an entry form. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Receipts will be stamped which will void that receipt from future entry use. Limit: One entry per person, per day until the promotion period ends. All entrant information, including e-mail addresses, may be used by Sponsor for future solicitation.
WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. Grand Prize winner selection will be conducted by random drawing from all eligible entries on or about Jan. 4th, 2024 (the “Grand Prize Drawing Date”). Weekly prize winner selection will be conducted by random drawing from all eligible entries within, or about, 24 hours from that week’s closing date (the “Weekly Drawing Date”). Any potential winner will be notified by mail, email and/or telephone. If a potential winner: (i) cannot be contacted; (ii) does not respond within five (5) days from the date the Sponsor first tries to notify him/her; (iii) fails to return the Affidavit and Release as specified in Rule 9; (iv) refuses the prize; and/or (v) the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, such potential winner forfeits all rights to win the Promotion or receive the prize, and an alternate potential winner may be selected. Upon contacting a potential winner and determining that he/she has met all eligibility requirements of the Promotion, including without limitation the execution of required waivers, publicity and liability releases and disclaimers, and, at Sponsor’s discretion, successful completion of a background check, such individual will be declared the “winner” of the Promotion.
PRIZE DESCRIPTION. There will be one (1) Grand Prize winner. Winner will receive One-thousand dollars ($1,000) in Shop Small Dollars to be spent at participating locally owned business in Tillamook County. There will be twelve (12) weekly prizes that are to be individually determined and identified on the Facebook group Shop Small Sweepstakes.
TAXES. All federal, state and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner’s sole responsibility.
ODDS OF WINNING.The odds of winning this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries received.
NO PRIZE TRANSFER OR SUBSTITUTION. No prize or any portion thereof is transferable or redeemable for cash. No substitutions for prize except by Sponsor, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted.
CONSENT AND RELEASE. By entering the Promotion, each entrant releases and discharges the Sponsor, judging organization (if applicable), and any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, their parent, subsidiary, and affiliated entities, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, independent contractors, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, “Sponsor Entities”), from any and all liability whatsoever in connection with this Promotion, including without limitation legal claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages, demands or actions of any kind (including without limitation personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction or property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation, or portrayal in a false light) (collectively, “Claims”). Except where prohibited: (i) entry into the Promotion constitutes the consent of each entrant , without further compensation, to use his/her name, likeness, biographical data, and contact information for editorial, advertising, marketing, publicity, and administrative purposes by the Sponsor and/or others authorized by the Sponsor; (ii) acceptance of a prize constitutes a release by any winner of the Sponsor Entities of any and all Claims in connection with the administration of this Promotion and the use, misuse, or possession of any prize; (iii) any potential winner may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility (including social security number) and a liability/publicity release; and (iv) if prize involves travel or activities, any potential winner and travel companion (if applicable) may be required to execute releases of the Sponsor from any and all liability with respect to participation in such travel/activities and/or use of the prize. Fully-executed Affidavits and releases must be received by Sponsor within five (5) days from the date that Sponsor first tries to notify the potential winner. Sponsor may conduct a background check to confirm any potential winner’s eligibility and compliance with these rules. By entering, you agree to cooperate reasonably with any such background check. If the prize includes participation in any public event(s) or publicity, or if Sponsor Entities intend to publicize the winner in any way, and if a background check reveals that a potential winner has engaged in conduct that could damage the reputation or business of any Sponsor Entity, as determined by Sponsor in its discretion, the potential winner may be disqualified and the prize may be awarded to an alternate winner.
DISCLAIMERS.(i) Sponsor not responsible for entries that are lost, late, misdirected, incorrect, garbled, or incompletely received, for any reason, (ii) Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or the operation of the web site or otherwise attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion. (iii) Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Promotion if it is not capable of completion as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, force majeure or technical failures of any sort. (iv) Sponsor Entities are not responsible for errors in the administration or fulfillment of this Promotion, including without limitation mechanical, human, printing, distribution or production errors, and may cancel, terminate or modify this Promotion based upon such error at its sole discretion without liability. In no event will Sponsor be responsible for awarding more than the number of prizes specified in these rules. (v) In the event this Promotion is cancelled or terminated, pursuant to subparagraph (iii) or (iv), Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. (vi) SPONSOR ENTITIES MAKE NO WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR GUARANTEES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, AS REGARDS THIS PROMOTION OR THE MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING ANY PRIZE OR ANY COMPONENT OF ANY PRIZE. (vii) CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND/OR CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. (viii) The value(s) of the prize(s) set forth above represent Sponsor’s good faith determination of the approximate retail value(s) thereof; the actual fair market value(s) as ultimately determined by Sponsor are final and binding and cannot be challenged or appealed. In the event the stated approximate retail value(s) of a prize is more than the actual fair market value of that prize, the difference will not be awarded in cash or otherwise. No substitution or compensation will be given for any portion of the prize that is not used.
APPLICABLE LAWS AND JURISDICTION. This Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. If any court of law, having the jurisdiction to decide on this matter, rules that any provision of these Official Rules is invalid or unenforceable, then that provision will be removed from the Official Rules, and the remaining provisions of these Official Rules will remain in full force and effect.Issues concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to any principles of conflict of laws. All disputes arising out of or connected with this Promotion will be resolved individually, and without resort to class action, exclusively by a state or federal court located in Portland, Oregon. Should there be a conflict between the laws of the State of Oregon and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of the State of Oregon. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys’ fees) associated with participation in this Promotion and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages.
WINNER LIST. For the name of the winner, send a self-addressed stamped envelope, within six (6) months of the Drawing Date, to: Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, 208 Main Ave., Tillamook, OR 97141.
SPONSORSHIP. This Promotion is sponsored by the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce at 208 Main Ave. Tillamook, OR 97141, US Bank Corp and individual businesses as identified weekly within the Tillamook County Shopper (individually and collectively, the “Sponsor”).

October 27, 2020October 29, 2020

Shop Small Nov. 9 through Jan. 4

By Ashley Christensen | Programs and Events Manager

It’s hard not to be cheerful around the holiday season, and even though we just passed Halloween, we are feeling the holiday spirit around here. Probably because we are gearing up for the Shop Small Sweepstakes that kicks off November 9th.

For the last several years we have organized the Downtown Sweepstakes to encourage people to shop small in downtown Tillamook the last few months of the year. Shoppers who validate their receipts are entered to win weekly prizes and a grand prize drawing at the end of the Sweepstakes. You might recall, the Chamber started this endeavor during the Hwy 6/101 redesign when getting downtown and finding parking was challenging. Sidewalks were torn up, signage was down, windows were boarded and businesses were hurting. At the time, it felt like one of the most challenging things we had been through as a community.

Then 2020 hit. So this year we are revamping the sweepstakes to take on the new challenges facing our business community and continue to encourage people to shop small. The rules this year are similar, but I’ll go over them anyway:

Anyone who shops at a locally-owned business in Tillamook County from Nov. 9 through Jan. 4 is eligible to enter the Sweepstakes.
Shoppers can enter once per day during the duration of the Sweepstakes.
To enter, bring your receipts to the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce during business hours (M-F, 9-5) or feel free to text a picture of your receipt to 503.389.0631 along with your full name.
Each week receipts turned in that week will be entered to win a weekly prize sponsored by a local business and entered into the grand prize of $1,000 sponsored by US Bank.
Weekly drawings will take place each Tuesday, and the grand prize drawing will take place early in January.
Remember to check out our ongoing Facebook event for weekly drawing sponsoring businesses and winners.

So while you’re starting to think about holiday gifts, remember that shopping locally helps our community thrive. It supports your neighbors, your friends, and your family. It keeps our community vibrant and unique. And, when you enter the Shop Small Sweepstakes there is something in it for you, too. Join us in supporting our local businesses as they strive to recover from this last year. Let’s show them how much they mean to us.

We will be updating everyone soon on our Small Business Saturday plans, so stay tuned for that.

October 1, 2020

Thank you for supporting the Tillamook Farmers Market

By Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager

The 2020 Tillamook Farmers Market was one for the books. Granted, not a book I ever want to read again, but still one for the books.

When the Chamber took over the Market three years ago, we wanted to bring back some of that old-fashioned farmers market fun that had been missing for so many years. We brought in upscale, talented musicians. We did an enormous amount of vendor recruiting. We added kids’ games and activities to encourage families to come down and spend the afternoon with us.

And people responded. Our foot traffic increased exponentially, we had new vendors wanting in, sales were up, and better yet morale was up.

Then COVID hit. All our grandiose plans for our third year managing the market were shot. Yet while farmers markets all around us were canceling their in-person events, we decided to strip the market to the bare bones and hold it anyway.

It wasn’t ideal, but it worked. The old adage “build it and they will come” kind of rang true. Every Saturday we set up, and every Saturday the shoppers came. Maybe not in the large crowds that we had grown accustomed to, but they still came. They bought plant starts for their gardens. They bought fresh produce to feed their families. They bought soap, and outdoor furniture (like, so much furniture) and honey and bonsai trees.

During a pandemic it becomes incredibly important to shop small first and they don’t come much smaller than vendors at a farmers market. Our community met the challenge and supported these farmers, producers, artists, beekeepers and crafters. To that, we say thank you.

I would be remiss without thanking my vendors as well, who had to endure not only new rules and regulations due to the pandemic but also windy, rainy weather for the majority of the season. They still showed up with a smile and kept me company every single Saturday with their warm, caring attitudes. Being a farmers market manager is not a thankless job. Hard work, yes, but I have the most amazing vendors who consistently let me know how much they appreciate and care about me and the feeling is mutual.

Again, thank you to everyone who came out amidst COVID and bad weather to support our vendors. Thank you for shopping small. We can’t wait to see everyone next year, and hopefully we can see more than everyone’s eyes this time!

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020

Our Newest Chamber Teammate

We are excited to introduce our newest team member to the community: Ashley Rushing is joining us as our Communications Manager.

Ashley is originally from Woodland, Wash. and moved to Tillamook six years ago. She and her husband own their own construction business, AR Northwest, and you may also know Ashley from her other roles as the talent behind Ashley Rushing Photography or as a youth cheerleading coach.

We hired Ashley because of her passion for the community and her ability to fit into the culture of the Chamber. She is an excellent photographer and will play an integral role in helping tell our story and visually represent both the brand and the mission of the Chamber along with our membership. She is also very detail-oriented and will be able to support our other team members with her knowledge and kind disposition.

When asked why she was interested in this role, Ashley told us that she applied because there was an opportunity for creativity and structure. “I’m excited about enhancing the member experience, and also being a part of work that is making Tillamook an even greater place to live and work,” she said. “I want people to be proud to live here like I am. This is where we are raising our children and where we have started our own business and I want it to be the best place it can be for my family, my neighbors, my fellow business owners and everyone in between. I see the Chamber as a key player in making that happen and so that’s where I want to focus my time and energy and use my talents for the good of the community.”

As the Chamber continues to grow in membership and community engagement, we have been working to build the right team to grow with us, and fine-tuning the work that we want to accomplish over the next year. It is important to have the right team to be successful and I am confident that Ashley is the right choice for our organization.

Ashley will be implementing our communications plan, which will include growing the Chamber’s social media channels, creating our weekly e-newsletter, keeping the website updated, design work and utilizing communication strategies to keep telling the Chamber’s and local businesses story.

Ashley will be working Tuesday – Thursday from 9-2 if you would like to come meet her and welcome her in person. You can also reach her by email at ashleyr@tillamookchamber.org.

June 18, 2020June 18, 2020

Reminder: June Dairy Parade June 27

Line up at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds starting at 10:30 a.m. to travel the parade route

The June Dairy Parade is returning to downtown Tillamook on June 27^th.While this event typically draws thousands of people who show up before sunrise to mark their seats along the parade route – this year will be a bit different.

Instead, load up your family in your vehicle and drive to the Tillamook County Fairgrounds where groups of 30 cars will be escorted through the parade route, every five minutes, starting at 10:30 a.m. The last group will leave the fairgrounds at 1:30 p.m.

“Vehicles driving though the parade should expect about a 30 minute drive with parade entries on both sides of the road for approximately ¾ of a mile one you hit the route,” said Tillamook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Justin Aufdermauer.

Each group of vehicles will be led through the route where parade entries will be carefully staged with social distancing in mind. Parade goers will still be able to see all their favorite dancers, bands, and colorfully decorated entries that will be passing out candy and other parade goodies to cars as they go by.

“Normally we release the parade route by now so that people can plan where to sit,” Aufdermauer added, “but this year we are keeping it under wraps the best we can to do our best to limit traffic impacts. So, you will just have to show up at the fairgrounds to find out.”

Aufdermauer also said that for those who are feeling festive there will be a new award category this year for the best decorated participation vehicle. Other award categories include the Mayor’s Choice Award and People’s Choice Awards.

Looking for something else to do with the family after the parade? Be sure to check out the Tillamook Farmers Market on Saturdays between 9-2 on Laurel between 1^st and 3^rd St.

May 19, 2020

Inside Out: June Dairy Parade Gets Creative for 63rd Anniversary

It can’t rain on our parade.

For 63 years the June Dairy Parade has graced the streets of downtown Tillamook, drawing thousands of people outside to watch this old-fashioned event that honors the dairy industry and its impact on our community.

For over six decades this Tillamook tradition has marked the beginning of summer and a chance for our community to come together and celebrate. And while events are being canceled left and right in Oregon due to mandated orders from the state – the June Dairy Parade isn’t one of them.

No, they aren’t breaking the law. They’re just going inside out this year.

“We are flipping it on its head,” said Justin Aufdermauer, Executive Director of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, which manages the June Dairy Parade each year. “We will be operating under the restrictions of Phase 1; each entry will be staged along the parade route with enough space to hold up to 25 people, while maintaining a physical distance of six feet. Spectators will then be able to drive through the route to enjoy the floats from the safety of their vehicles.”

As the parade entries stage at their designated locations, parade goers will gather at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds parking area, remain in their vehicles, and be released in piloted groups of 20-50 vehicles. Parade processionals will begin at 10:30 a.m. from the Tillamook County Fairgrounds with the last one being at 1:30 p.m.

“For those who are feeling festive there will be a new award category this year for the best decorated participation vehicle,” Aufdermauer said – so get your window paint, balloons and streamers out and have some fun.

And, fear not! The traditional snacks and swag will still be handed out at the parade – just safely by masked individuals who may have to throw it into your vehicle to have some fun with the physical distancing requirements.

“Many of the details are still being worked out,” Aufdermauer said, “but what we do know is that we are aiming for safe fun. The Tillamook June Dairy Parade is an important part of our community and the Chamber is committed to keeping our community’s spirits up during this challenging social and economic time.”

If you would like to be a staged entry in the 2020 June Dairy Parade, please submit your application by May 31 at Junedairyparade.com.

And be sure to mark June 27, 2020 on your calendars for the 63rd annual June Dairy Parade and the first ever Inside Out June Dairy Parade.

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020

#WereStillOpen

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

It’s been over a month now since the Governor released her Stay Home Save Lives order for the state, that required many types of businesses to close their doors to the public and has put a lot of people out of work. We’ve all been living with this “new normal” and trying to adapt our work and home lives to something that they’ve never been before.

But, I want to let you in on a cool little “life hack.” Ready?

Many of our businesses in Tillamook County are still open. In fact, most of them are. We have had a very small percentage of businesses have to close following the executive order – due in part to the fact that we are a smaller, rural community and we don’t have arcades, aquariums, or malls in our community. Our shops and stores are already small, and were already providing a safe space to shop.

Now, to adapt to these never-before-seen times, our business community is doing even more to keep their shoppers safe and keep their doors open. Things like curbside pickup, online ordering, local delivery, and even allowing shoppers to make appointments so they can be the only one inside the store while shopping.

You don’t have to take my word for it, though. We just launched a new video campaign #WereStillOpen to help showcase just how easy it is to shop small and support local businesses who are still open – in some cases, without even having to leave your home. Just a few great examples that we featured in the video include Salty Raven with their online ordering and shipping right to your door; Anderson Florists with their easy-to-use website and delivery services; Food Roots is taking call-in orders and curbside pickup; Madeline’s Vintage Marketplace is offering appointments for shoppers and posting their sale items to Facebook for easy, virtual shopping. Lot 35 Homes + The Shoppe also has an online shopping option.

We have seen how incredibly well the community has rallied around our restaurants and cafes through the #TillamookTakeout initiative but let’s not forget that we have many other businesses in our community that need our help, and we would be lying if we said we didn’t need them too. Because when we come out of this pandemic, we are going to want those small businesses to still be around, to still be open, and to still be thriving. To make that happen we need to support them now as best we can.

Head over to the Chamber’s Facebook page to check out the video and share it with your friends. Let’s help remind each other that our local businesses are still open and still serving their community in big ways. I encourage you to use #WereStillOpen to share your shop local photos with us.

April 23, 2020

Not Canceled: The Tillamook Farmers Market

By Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager

Let’s share some good news: The Tillamook Farmers Market is returning in 2020, with a new opening date of June 13. Per Gov. Brown’s Executive Order, farmers markets are still allowed to operate.

Why? Because they offer communities the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally-grown foods that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise and support farmers who are making a living by feeding their communities.

However, it won’t be the Market that you’ve come to expect from us the last two years. And that’s OK. We are all making adaptation to normal life, and the Market will be no different. Here is what you can expect to find at the Market this year:

Many of your favorite vendors selling produce, plant starts, craft, baked goods, hand-made soaps and lotions, flowers and more. They will just be spaced out more to allow each vendor enough space to keep them safe.

New signs welcoming you to the Market and reminding you to utilize the hand sanitizer and hand washing stations, maintain social distancing with other customers and vendors, and only touch what you’re going to buy.

SNAP customers will still be able to spend those dollars on food, and receive a match for fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms and nuts via the Double Up Food Bucks program.

You won’t find live music, kids games and activities, or tables and chairs to hang out with friends at. This isn’t the time to be hanging out, lingering, or meeting up with friends. We all want to be there again someday (maybe even before the season end) but in order to do that we have to make some sacrifices now in the interim.

My hope is that the community will continue to come out and support these farmers and small business owners who rely on the Market to help sustain their businesses. We know traditionally our Market attracts a lot of out-of-town visitors who won’t be able to patronize our vendors this year, so we need our local community to be intentional about buying their produce, berries, bread, and other goodies from our vendors. Now is the time to shop small and shop local as often as possible to ensure that all of our businesses – including farmers market vendors – make it to the other side of this pandemic. It is these small businesses that make our community vibrant, fun, and full of soul and losing them would be devastating. So many of them give back to the community in abundance year after year and now it’s our turn to give back to them.

So shop small, shop local, and come June shop the Tillamook Farmers Market.

If you’re interested in being a vendor this year, you can find a link to the application at tillamookchamber.org. Our season opens June 13, and we are still accepting new vendors up until the season starts. You can also help support the Market and its vendors by becoming a sponsor. For sponsorship details, please email me at sayde@tillamookchamber.org.

April 10, 2020April 11, 2020

Keeping up with Morale

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

There is no getting around it: Times are challenging right now. Everyone is feeling the weight and the stress of staying at home; home schooling and distance learning for the rest of the academic year; going to work when you know you’re putting yourself and your family at risk; and on it goes. No one is immune to the restrictions, changes, and challenging of life right now – not even the Chamber. It’s no longer “business as usual” as we also have had to adjust to all the changes and shift our focus on what we would “normally” be doing to what is needed.

One thing we need right now more than ever is positivity. It is so easy to get caught up in the bad news, the curves, and the projections. It’s easy to get frustrated by the inconveniences, or, on the other side of that coin, it’s easy to be frustrated by people who aren’t sheltering at home the same way you are. We get it.

Here is the thing though: We are all in this together. Most people most of the time are doing the best they can. One of the best things we can all do right now is focus on the silver linings. That’s our goal at the Chamber, and we hope you will follow along with us. Every week we are posting tips and “Quarantine Life Hacks” on our Facebook page to remind our community not to sweat the small stuff. There are good things happening too, and they are worth celebrating.

We’ve been able to quickly implement some of the good things here at the Chamber – things like our #TillamookTakeout challenge, which is helping our restaurants and bars get through this tough time, and giving our community something to do and look forward to every week. We’re seeing such positive conversation happening in our Facebook group: Tillamook Coast Takeout + Delivery as people are stepping up to the challenge. More restaurants are offering delivery than before (another positive), and recently were awarded a $7,500 grant from Northwest Oregon Works to enhance those services for some local restaurants.

Thanks to our amazing partnership with the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association not only are we able to host weekly giveaways totaling over $2,500, we’ve also created some other “challenges” on our Facebook group (because let’s face it, the time we’re all spending on social media these days is off the charts) with giveaways that support some of our essential organizations like Senior Meals on Wheels, CARE, and Oregon Food Bank. Go check it out if you haven’t already, and help us give away $500 in gift certificates to this program that is taking care of our seniors during this challenging time.

And, feel free to share our posts with your own friends and followers because we need to be taking care of each other right now more than ever. We may be isolated, but we can still check in, and social media is a perfect way to do that.

As always, if you have any questions for the Chamber of Commerce, you can email me directly at justin@tillamookchamber.org or call our office at 503.842.7535. Our offices are open from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Monday – Friday, and we are available by phone and email from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

March 30, 2020April 2, 2020

Helping Local Businesses During COVID-19

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

If you received our e-newsletter #HowWeChamber last week, you’ve likely already heard some of this news but I just wanted to share it with the broader readership of the newspaper. In unprecedented times like these, we are seeing a number of agencies, non-profits, individuals, and businesses coming together to help each other out. Here are some things we at the Chamber are helping with:

Tillamook Takeout: You might be a member of our Facebook group Tillamook Coast Takeout + Delivery – which grew into thousands of members seemingly overnight. Every day we are witness to how our community is being intentional about what they buy and helping out our local restaurants, cafes, and eateries by patronizing their businesses. We truly are our best when we work together. This group is free to join, and if you’re on Facebook and like takeout then I encourage you to join in. We will be randomly selecting folks who post pictures of their takeout with the hashtag #TillamookTakeout on Facebook and Instagram to win gift certificates to local restaurants.

Signage Restrictions Loosened: The City of Tillamook has decided to loosen the signage restriction on businesses within the City of Tillamook to help them out during this time. What’s more, they have loaned the Chamber their inventory of a-frame barricades so that businesses can check them out to use as sandwich board signs. To ensure compliance, quality, and care for the frame, only signs made and installed by PSI will be permitted. And while the a-frame will eventually be returned to the City when this is over, the sign is yours to keep for future needs. So if you own a business that is remaining open and would like to effectively reach your customers so they know your hours, and any new orders-to-operation that you are implementing to keep yourself and your shoppers safe, a brand new sign might be incredibly beneficial to you.

Hours of Operation: Speaking of hours of operation, starting April 1 we are limiting the number of hours our office will be open to the public. We feel that staying open is important so that people can reach us when they have questions, concerns, or something to share. Our office will be open from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Monday – Friday with access available from the front door only. We ask that anyone entering please respect and maintain social distancing. Our staff will also be available by phone from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each weekday so feel free to call or email as well.

COVID-19 Business Resource Page: We have created a resource page regarding COVID-19 on our website, tillamookchamber.org. You can access it from the home page. We are updated it as more information comes in that will affect our business community.

March 24, 2020May 26, 2020

Takout Time Restaurants – hours + phone numbers

For a full list of takeout options in Tillamook County, download one here: Takeout Time 5.22 (1)

Updated 5.22.20

March 9, 2020

Travel to Italy and Greece with the Chamber in 2021

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Picture this: you’re basking in the warm Mediterranean sunshine. Before you, the Temple of Zeus towers above you, claiming its space as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Temple, as you know from the informative tour guide, was built in the second quarter of the fifth century BCE on the ancient religious site at Olympia and dedicated to the god Zeus.

It’s not every day you get to explore one of the Seven Wonders of the World – but that’s not all you’ll do that day. You will also visit the ancient Gymnasium and site where the first Olympic Games took place, and peek inside the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.

Oh, and did I mention that’s just one day? Now picture 12 days of exploring not only Greece but Italy as well. Discover historic churches, winding canals, and picture-perfect piazzas; step inside the iconic St. Mark’s Square; view the legendary Florence Cathedra; enter the massive Colosseum in Rome; and visit the Temple of Apollo where, according to legend, the gods once communicated with mortals.

If Venice, Rome, Florence, Athens, Delphi and Olympia are on your travel bucket list then you will want to join us for our next Chamber Travel Adventure in May of 2021. The trip includes 12 nights in handpicked hotels, breakfast each morning, guided sightseeing tours with local experts and a private deluxe motor coach. A few of the trip highlights include Temple of Apollo, Ruins of Olympia, and the Archaeological sites of Mycenae, Acropolis, Parthenon. There are also free days to explore Rome and Florence at your leisure.

Sounds intriguing, right? If you’re ready for more information about the itinerary, pricing, or just group travel in general then please join us on March 19^th at 5:30 p.m. at the Chamber Headquarters (208 Main Ave.) for an informational travel meeting. This is just an informal meet and greet with snacks and an opportunity to have your questions answered. (Yes, we will be discussing coronavirus and what that might mean for international travel.) If you plan on attending, please call our office at 503.842.7525 so we can get a headcount.

So far we have already pre-registered about 14 people for the trip, so we are about half way there. That means if you have traveled with us before or have been sitting on the fence for awhile there is still plenty of room for you on this trip exploring some of the greatest historical ruins in the world and partaking in their fresh cuisine, dynamic cultures and stunning views.

If you can’t make the meeting on March 19^th but would still like more information, reach out to me via email at justin@tillamookchamber.org or call the office at 503.842.7525. We would love to have you join us next spring.

March 3, 2020March 3, 2020

Welcome Lisa Greiner and Adam Schwend to the Chamber Board of Directors

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

It’s been awhile since we have introduced our Board of Directors to the community, so I wanted to take this opportunity to share a bit about our newest board members: Lisa Greiner and Adam Schwend.

Lisa came on board a few months ago and was recently elected as Vice Chair. She is the owner at Oregon Coast Dance Center and currently teaches ballet, tap, jazz, and tumbling in two locations in Tillamook County. She is also the voice of Tillamook Today on the local radio stations and serves on many other boards including the Tillamook Futures Council, and the Tillamook County Arts Network.

When asked why she wanted to join the Chamber Board of Directors Lisa said, “Tillamook County is a small, but mighty, community, and I am passionate about being involved and helping where I can. As a Chamber member, I saw that same passion from the Chamber and felt that the board and organization’s values aligned well with mine.”

She added, “Every summer I travel to various parts of the US for studio owner/dance teacher training, and often get into conversations with individuals from other states who are flabbergasted by what our Chamber does. It makes me proud to be a part of an organization that is actively striving to improve our economy and supports our local businesses.”

Lisa said she is excited to be involved in the Young Professionals of Tillamook and to see more trainings and leadership opportunities available for young professionals in our area. Lisa has experience as a small business owner as well as working for a multi-billion dollar corporation and we are excited to have her business-savvy expertise serving on our board. She has also played an instrumental role in helping proofread and format Chamber publications.

Our newest Board Member is Adam Schwend, Principal broker at Coast Real Estate Professionals. Adam is also the Director of Cultural Events for the Monday Musical Club of Tillamook and has been in that role for the last five years.

Adam said he wanted to join the Chamber board because, “I think we as a community – especially a business community – are stronger when we work together. I wanted to be able to give back to a community that’s done so much for me and the Chamber has been a big part of making the community what it is.”

Adam said that during his time serving on the Tillamook City Council he was able to work closely with the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce to make sure the City maintained a business-friendly environment and he looks forward to keeping that relationship going, now from the other side of the table.

Adam added that, “We as business owners are running businesses and don’t always have time to go to a City Council or Planning Commission meeting, and can feel good about the fact that even though we can’t be there as individuals we know the Chamber is stepping up and advocating for us and for a pro-business climate here in Tillamook.”

If you would like more information regarding the Tillamook Chamber Board of Directors, visit our website tillamookchamber.org.

March 3, 2020

Chamber Member Recognition: Dutch Mill Diner

We have to give a shout out to Chamber member, The Dutch Mill Diner, for their most recent building upgrade. The new neon lights on the back side of the building are elevating the entire parking lot area and are quite eye catching at night! Congratulations to the Dutch Mill Diner Team and thank you for your continued investment in our downtown.

February 24, 2020February 24, 2020

Chamber Board of Directors sends Letter in Opposition to SB 1530

Below is a letter that was sent on behalf of the Tillamook Chamber Board of Directors to the members of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means in opposition to SB 1530:

RE: Opposition to SB 1530 with amendment comments

Dear Honorable Members of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means,

On behalf of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, I wish to express our opposition to SB 1530. If passed, SB 1530 will have significant adverse impacts not just on our local businesses, but families in Tillamook County.

In addition to the opposition to SB 1530 in its entirety, we wish to specifically address proposed amendments to SB 1530 and political posturing currently before the legislature. The Tillamook Chamber:

• Supports amendment A52, which removes the emergency clause from the bill.

• Supports amendment A43, which refers the entire bill to the people for a vote.

• Opposes amendment A41, which removes the ability for utility companies to pass through rate increases to citizens to offset the cost of Cap and Trade projects.

• Opposes amendment A 51, which is the fiscal allocation of an estimated $20 million to SB 1530.

• Additionally, the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors is strongly opposed to any changes to the sitting members of the Joint Committee on Ways & Means during this session. Any changes of committee positions at this point in the session is clearly be identified as a deliberate attempt to rig votes and, while legal, will be viewed as highly unethical.

I plead to your integrity and respectfully request you support local businesses and the citizens in our state and oppose SB 1530. Oregonians, particularly, those of us in rural Oregon, cannot afford to bear the burden of this legislation. Thank you for your consideration.

Respectfully Submitted,

Natalie Rieger
Board President

Downloadable Version: SB1530_TillamookChamberOpposition

February 24, 2020

Winter Planters Receive Refresh

Earlier this month our downtown planters received a facelift. They have been restocked with winter-hardy plants to get through the rest of the cold weather to keep them looking full and eye-catching. Thank you to the talented Cindy Gardner for her hard work on this and attention to detail! Each planter is unique and adds a decorative element to our downtown.

These downtown planters are a program of the Chamber and we handle their planting and placement around downtown. If you would like to have one in front of your storefront or office, reach out to our office at info@tillamookchamber.org. Planter “parents” pay an annual fee that keeps the planter in front of their business. We handle the cleaning and semi-annual planting to make sure they look their best so all you have to do is enjoy them.

February 21, 2020

Tillamook Farmers Market opening Memorial Day Weekend

Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager

If you’re dreaming of sunnier days and fresh, locally-grown produce you buy directly from the farmer, well, you’re not alone. And you’re in luck, because the Tillamook Farmers Market is returning three weeks earlier this year; our opening day is May 23 – Memorial Day Weekend.

While it’s still a little early to get all your produce in May, you will be able to purchase plant starts for your own garden as well as peruse our many other talented vendors. So far you can expect to find Brickyard Farms; Bewley Creek Woodworking; Pacific Roots Coffee; Pitch n Plow Farm; Bea Shea’s natural skin care products and many more on opening day!

And, if you’d like to join us as a vendor this year, we are now accepting applications from both new and returning vendors. You can fill out the form on our website, tillamookfarmersmarket.com. If you have a secret hobby, a crafty passion or grow something in your back yard you’d like to share with the world the Farmers Market is a great place to start.

We do have a list of requirements you have to meet in order to be eligible (sorry, no multi-level marking products). The items for sale must be hand-made, produced or grown by you the vendor. Some exceptions do apply, but our first priority is always to vendors who are also producing what they sell. We would especially love to have more farmers apply and more prepared food vendors. (I have it under pretty good authority there will be waffles made to order this year.) Our Market averages more than 1,500 visitors on any given Saturday, and that number is much higher during the warmer months of summer, holiday weekends, or special events.

If you have any questions or would just like to talk over your options, feel free to reach out to me via email at sayde@tillamookchamber.org. Food vendors also have to apply through the health department, which can take up to two weeks to be approved, so if you’re on the fence just be sure to give yourself enough time to get through the application and approval process.

As always we will have live music each day from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., hands-on kids activities and games, and are putting together some fun and educational demonstrations for market-goers. The Tillamook County Master Gardeners will be on hand again throughout the season to help answer your gardening questions.

If you are involved with a community organization that would like to participate in our Community Table, please reach out to me and I will get you scheduled. This table is offered to local non-profit organizations free of charge and is a great way to get in front of thousands of people to spread awareness about your mission, recruit volunteers, or fundraise.

I hope everyone will come down this summer and support the Tillamook Farmers Market and its 50 plus vendors!

February 18, 2020

Get Walking… Downtown

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Spring is only four weeks away (or less if you follow the Groundhog) and with it comes better weather; weather perfect for walking and enjoying our downtown.

Just in time for spring, we have revamped and relaunched our Downtown Walking Map which highlights the downtown Main Street District. It had been a few years since the map had been given any fresh life, and we felt it was time to shake it up a bit. The new map is larger, easier to read, and conveniently folds up to travel with you. The map highlights many downtown events and has been refreshed with new photography that showcases the places, people, and events that make Tillamook special.

The purpose of the Downtown Walking Map has always been to encourage visitors and others shopping downtown to see what else is around them. Once you’ve parked the car to take a closer look at something you saw in the window of Madeline’s Vintage Market Place, you might be encouraged to keep shopping if you are aware of what else lies within a few blocks. Vintage clothing store? You got it! Fresh flower arrangements? Of course! A bite to eat? Take your pick!

To further support the downtown Main Street District, we are also launching a new quarterly rack card that highlights what’s happening downtown each quarter. This quarter’s card just arrived last week and highlights dates and times of things like Art Walk, Mornings on Main Street, Sip + Shop, and our other regular downtown events. As the year progresses, we will include things like the Tillamook Farmers Market, Second on Second Street events, Small Business Saturday, Moonlight Madness and more.

I challenge you, locals, to pick these items up at a downtown store or at the Chamber Visitor Center and take a look. Get downtown, support your local businesses and I bet you even find a few businesses that surprise you once you walk in! Grab the quarterly event calendar and hit up some downtown events. Actually, grab a few while you’re at it and give it to the next person that says “there is nothing to do.” Things are happening; you just have to join in. Steffen Aalykke joined in this winter and came away $1,000 richer after winning our Downtown Sweepstakes!

The Tillamook Main Street District is an important part of our local economy and we focus a lot of our efforts within this district as an affiliate. If you are a downtown business, please help us stay abreast of what community events are happening downtown by emailing sayde@tillamookchamber.org. You can also email her to request cards and maps for your business.

We love downtown, but there is so much more to the area. I still encourage folks to visit tillamookchamber.com/events to look for things happening in their area. And if you are hosting a meeting, event, speaker series, or anything open to the public you can submit your event for free. This calendar is used on over a dozen websites in the County and is sure to build traction around your event. I also have it under good authority that it is the only calendar that our local radio stations use for their newscasts, so if you want the added publicity it is a great way to get more traction around your event.

February 14, 2020

Come Join the Chamber Team this Spring

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Happy Wednesday everyone! It’s been awhile since we’ve released a Chamber Chatter, and we’re excited to get back in the habit of updating you every week with all things Chamber: what projects we’re working on, what community events we’re hosting, and other exciting news happening in our local business community.

To kick things off, we are officially hiring for a Program & Events Manager. Britta Lawrence, who has filled the role these last several months, has accepted a job at Tillamook Bay Community College as their Development Director. Her exceptional organizational skills and “can-do” attitude will take her far at the college and we are excited that she is staying in the community to continuing to do important work.

While she was with the Chamber, Britta made huge strides in writing and putting procedures in place for all aspects of Chamber business. She was also instrumental in the planning and implementation of the Oregon Main Street Conference last October and our annual Chamber Banquet just a few weeks ago. Britta’s energy, fresh ideas and follow-through made both of those events go off without a hitch. She also managed the Downtown Sweepstakes for 2019, where we saw instrumental growth in the amount of receipts turned in, the amount of money spent downtown and in the community engagement throughout the sweepstakes.

Needless to say, our next Programs & Events Manager has big shoes to fill, but we are excited to see how this new person can continue to improve and build upon the programs and events of the Chamber. This position will be responsible for planning, organizing, and directing programs and events of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce – including the management of existing and the development of new programs and events that align with our mission.

In a nutshell, this position will manage the Tillamook Main Street Program, in affiliation with the Oregon Main Street Program, as well as all events both initiated and co-hosted by the Chamber. This includes things like our annual Community Awards Banquet, quarterly What’s Brewin’ socials and semi-annual How It’s Done series. This position will also oversee development seminars, ribbon cuttings, the downtown planter program, coordinate our monthly Mornings on Main Street gatherings, oversee annual events like the Cork & Brew Tour, June Dairy Parade and Small Business Saturday, and handle logistics surrounding the Chamber’s travel abroad programs.

The official job description is available on our website, www.tillamookchamber.org/jobs. Resumes can be emailed to me at justin@tillamookchamber.org before Feb. 21. We will conduct the first round of interviews after that.

This job is perfect for someone who likes to multi-task, can meet deadlines, and wants an avenue to pursue creativity inside a supportive environment. So if you have experience managing a significant variety of community events, can manage volunteers and committees, and above all are excited about the work the Chamber is doing in the community and the potential to grow our impact then we would love for you to apply for this job!

February 14, 2020

Tillamook Living Magazine

We are excited to announce the arrival of our newest publication: Tillamook Living Magazine. This publication premiered at the Chamber Banquet, and serves as a lifestyle and relocation guide for the Tillamook area. This project was born out of conversations the Chamber has had with employers, real estate agents, and other organizations that need a way to recruit people to the area, and a resource for those who have just landed.

The magazine is packed full of information about the industries in the area, local services, where to shop, where to hike, how to get involved in the community and so much more. If you would like a stack for your office, please call the Chamber office at 503.842.7525 or stop by the office at 208 Main Avenue.

January 22, 2020

Tillamook PUD Community Support Grant Applications Open

Tillamook PUD is once again offering a Community Support Grant program to local non-profit organizations for their community projects in 2020.

Organizations interested in applying must complete and submit an application by February 27, 2020. Grant applications and procedures are available at the Tillamook PUD main office, or online at www.tpud.org/news-community/community-supportgrants/.

Applications are evaluated and selected by the PUD Board of Directors in mid-March. During evaluation, the Board considers each project and its potential for economic development, community outreach and financial need.

Individual grant awards will not exceed $10,000 and will not be awarded to the same entity more than twice in a five-year period. Additionally, projects must be completed by the end of the 2020 calendar year.

Some examples of past projects that have received Community Support Grant funding include lighting and electrical upgrades at various civic organizations, purchasing updated energy efficient appliances for community facilities, and supporting improvement projects at local organizations utilized by the community.

January 22, 2020

Visit Tillamook Coast awards over $100,000 in Grant Funding to Local Organizations

Each year, the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (Visit Tillamook Coast) provides $100,000 in grant funding for tourism-related projects. This year, the organization received 23 applications totaling nearly $180,000. The applications were carefully reviewed, scored and ranked by the board of directors of Tillamook Coast Visitors Association. Thirteen of the applicants received full or partial funding, for a total of $100,299.

Recipients include Food Roots, North County Recreation District, Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership Explore Nature Series, Tillamook History Alliance, Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, Garibaldi Maritime Museum, Friends of Netarts Bay (WEBS), Lower Nehalem Community Trust, Kiawanda Community Center, Tillamook Bay Community College Foundation, Art Accelerated and Three Arch Inn.

“Grant submissions included a wide variety of projects, and with so many submissions — more than ever for a single grant round — much discussion took place in the decisions to award funding,” said Nan Devlin, executive director of Tillamook Coast Visitors Association. “We would liked to have given every applicant funding to do their projects; however, we are encouraging organizations to re-apply when the 2021 grant round opens later this year.”

Since 2015, Tillamook Coast Visitors Association has awarded more than $500,000 in funding to county businesses and organizations

January 22, 2020January 22, 2020

2020 Community Award Winners

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us for the annual Community Awards Banquet. It is always such a rewarding evening to see everyone and celebrate our award winners.

So without further adieu, help us congratulate our winners:
Salty Raven for Small Business of the Year
Zwald Transport, Inc. for Business of the Year
Garibaldi Portside Bistro for Development Project of the Year
Ultimook Running Camp for Program of the Year
and Ron Smith for Citizen of the Year

Thank you to everyone who attended, who made a nomination, who donated an auction item or prepared a food dish. We call this the Community Awards Banquet because it takes the entire community to make it possible.

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019

Chamber Member Recognition

Throughout the month of December we were able to recognize a few of our Chamber members who are really excelling at making our community a better place to live and work. In case you missed our Facebook posts, help us thank Sheltered Nook on Tillamook Bay for their remarkable customer service and unique cabins; The Schooner Restaurant & Lounge for installing a wind turbine, and also raised more than $25,000 for the Oregon Food Bank Tillamook County Services during their annual Thanksgiving dinner; and Les Schwab Tire Center for their successful Holiday Toy Drive, which also raised $1,050 to fully fund the Adventist Health Tillamook’s Reach Out and Read Program for 2020.

Our business community is awesome!

December 27, 2019

And the Nominees Are…

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a person, business, project or program for the community awards. It is always so exciting to honor and recognize those who are making a difference in our community at the annual Community Awards Banquet.

In case you missed our video announcement on Facebook last week, here is the list of nominees, in alphabetical order:

Business of the Year

• Les Schwab Tire Center

• Tillamook Coliseum Theater

• Tillamook Early Learning

Center

• Zwald Transport, Inc.

Small Business of the Year

• Salty Raven

• SaraSotas

• Shear Bliss

• Tillamook Headlight Herald

• Tillamook Meat

Development Project of the Year

• Garibaldi Portside Bistro

• Lot 35 Homes

• Tillamook PUD Operations Center

Program of the Year

• Art Accelerated

• Food Roots Farmtable

• Ramps & Rails

• Tillamook Coast Derby Dames

• Ultimook Running Club

Citizen on the Year

• Cami Aufdermauer

• Erin Skaar

• Nan Devlin

• Ron Smith

Congratulations to all the nominees! If you’d like to attend the banquet, sure to reserve your tickets by calling the Chamber at 503-842-7525.

December 27, 2019December 27, 2019

Oregon Mess Hall Grand Opening: Jan. 3

You’ve probably seen the lights on inside the former Blue Moon Cafe. The newest tenant on the Second Street Plaza is the Oregon Mess Hall. They are serving up coffee, internet, and a safe place to hang out. Fifty percent of all proceeds are donated to Veteran programs. On January 3rd they will be hosting a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony.

December 10, 2019

Annual Chamber Banquet

What: A Night in the Swiss Alps

When: Jan. 18, 2020, 5 p.m.

Where: Tillamook County Fairgrounds

Tickets: Get yours at the Tillamook Chamber HQ, located at 208 Main Ave in downtown Tillamook.

December 10, 2019December 27, 2019

TOY DRIVE: Now through Dec. 16

For the month of December the Young Pros of Tillamook are collecting toys that will be delivered to Les Schwab Tire Center for their annual toy collection event. All donated toys are distributed to families in need at Tillamook Regional Medical Center. You are welcome to bring your new, unwrapped toys or cash donations to the Chamber HQ through Dec. 15, and join the Young Pros on Dec. 16 at 12 p.m. to deliver the toys to Les Schwab. Also – Les Schwab will be matching ALL cash donations, so it’s a great way to give back this holiday season.

December 10, 2019

Advertise in the 2020 Tillamook Coast Visitor Guide

The 2020 Tillamook Coast Visitor Guide will hit shelves all over the state of Oregon next Spring. A total of 60,000 copies are printed and distributed at all Oregon Welcome Centers, including PDX, Pioneer Square, and the Tillamook Creamery – as well as more than 50 local stands and dozens of local businesses. The guide is also available online.

For an ad rate sheet, click here. There is a special discount for Chamber members.

If you’re interested in placing an ad, reach out to Justin by email: justin@tillamookchamber.org.

November 27, 2019December 10, 2019

Small Business Saturday Nov. 30th

The Thanksgiving holiday is officially here, and that means amidst travel plans and cooking dinner you are probably thinking about your Christmas and holiday shopping. While Friday is, of course, Black Friday, Saturday is Small Business Saturday – a day dedicated to supporting the local, small businesses that make our community vibrant and unique.

To celebrate, we have compiled a list of festive events and specials happening all over downtown on Saturday:

Complimentary hot cocoa bar at the Tillamook Chamber & $5 off sale
Pop up Market at Chamber office featuring Donuts 24:7
Wreath Fundraiser for TELC at Chamber office
Ornament Making and Tiered Sales at Re:Current
Gingerbread House Building Competition at Yo Time Frozen Yogurt
Photos with the Nutcracker at Oregon Coast Dance
Brunch with the Grinch and Photos with Santa at Pacific Restaurant
Letters to Santa at the Dutch Mill Diner
Art Card Workshop at the Art Accelerated Gallery
Mystery Goodie Bags for the first 20 shoppers at Lot 35 Homes + The Shoppe
Bucket Sale at Kimmels Hardware
15-20% off Sale at Salty Raven
20% off Sale at Sunflower Flats
20% Off Sale at Kristi Lombard Pottery
Movie Gift Card Special at Tillamook Coliseum Theater

We will also have postcards and maps available at the Chamber office to help guide you through each sale and activity. What’s more – we will have UNLIMITED entries to the Downtown Sweepstakes all day on Small Business Saturday. So everywhere you shop you can be entered to win our weekly drawing as well as the grand prize of $1,000 Downtown Dollars sponsored by US Bank.

November 21, 2019November 21, 2019

City of Tillamook Christmas Lighting & Decorating Contest

The City of Tillamook is once again hosting their annual decorating contest for both businesses and residents living within Tillamook City Limits. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners. The deadline to apply is Dec. 16 by 4 p.m., and application forms are available at city hall. Judging will take place between Dec. 18 – 19 so please leave your lights on from 4:30-8 p.m. those days. Winners will be announced on Friday, Dec. 20 via the City’s Facebook page and website.

And, the community is invited to the 17th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festivities on Dec. 7th on the Second Street Plaza. The fun will start at 3:30 p.m. with yummy snacks and treats, cookie decorating, a coloring contest, Christmas entertainment and photos with Santa. The tree lighting is at 5:30 p.m. The Holiday Light Parade will immediately follow the tree lighting ceremony.

November 21, 2019November 21, 2019

Downtown Holiday Lights Available

The holidays are upon us, and we know you’re feeling festive over there 😉 That’s why we are continuing our downtown holiday lights program this year to encourage our downtown businesses to deck out their businesses and storefronts.

We hope as many businesses as possible will light up our downtown area for the upcoming holiday celebrations such as the City’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, Holiday Light Parade, Small Business Saturday, the New Years Eve Celebration, and more.

We have just over 50 strands of white lights 25 feet long. Check out as many strands as you need for your business, while supplies last. Please go see Tammy at the front desk for the check out form and she will get you your lights! We simply ask that you return the lights by Jan. 10, 2020.

October 17, 2019November 21, 2019

Downtown Trick or Treat: Oct. 31 from 3-5 p.m.

Grab the kids and head downtown for the annual Downtown Trick or Treat event from 3 – 5 p.m. Participating downtown businesses will be passing out candy to any kid in a costume – and even those not dressed up. They start at 3 p.m. and go til 5, rain or shine. We will see you there – if you dare!

October 9, 2019

Nominations Open for Annual Community Awards

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

I always enjoy this time of year; there is a bit of a pause between summer ending and the start of the school year before we head full force into the holidays. It’s brief, but it’s a chance to catch your breath a little and settle into new routines – like grabbing a jacket before you leave work each morning.

This is also the time of year we start requesting the community to make nominations for our annual community awards. There’s a reason we always do it this time of year; the busy season is over and we are nearing the end of the calendar year. It’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on all the growth we’ve seen over the last year, and what (or whom) we are thankful for.

A great way to let members in our community know that you appreciate them is by nominating them for a community award. We have five categories: Business of the Year (10 employees or more); Small Business of the Year; Citizen of the Year; Development Project of the Year; and Program of the Year.

Any and all businesses, projects, and people in Tillamook County are eligible, and nominees will be honored at the annual Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet in January. To make your nominations, visit tillamookchamber.org/nominate and fill out the online form. Those nominations are due by the middle of December so we have time for the selection committee, comprised of prior year’s award recipients, to review applications and make their decisions. We as the Chamber staff don’t choose the winners, or make nominations, but rather this is a community effort.

The nomination is a small gesture, but I can assure you it means a lot to those in our community who work tirelessly to provide us with goods and services that enrich our lives and sustain our economy. Just knowing that someone out there appreciates the work they are doing and took the time to say “thank you” is a great blessing this time of year. You can remain anonymous as the nominator if you wish, and if you would like to attend the ceremony in January you can request an invitation.

We will announce the nominees in December – so until then, go over to www.tillamookchamber.org/nominate and fill out the form. There is no limit to how many businesses, projects, and people you can nominate. And as always, thank you for your help in making this another successful Chamber event. We literally could not do this part without you.

September 25, 2019September 25, 2019

New Salary Threshold for Overtime Rule Finalized

brought to you by Cascade Employers Association

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new salary threshold that increases the minimum annual salary for exempt positions from $23,660 ($455 per week) to $35,568 ($684 per week). According to the DOL, this threshold is estimated to make 1.3 million American workers eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). A similar change was supposed to take effect in 2016, but the rule was enjoined at the last minute before the effective date.

As we saw with the 2016 rule, employers can include up to 10% of an employee’s salary from non-discretionary bonuses, incentives and commissions in meeting the salary threshold. These payments must be paid at least annually. There will be no changes made to the FLSA’s “duties test.” This rule will take effect January 1, 2020.

Employers should start reviewing their compensation structures for the impact this will have. Employers may need to increase employee salaries, move some employees from exempt to nonexempt and consider any overtime they may now accrue, look at incentive options, restructure work to eliminate or minimize overtime, or a combination of these actions.

Employers should also watch out for wage compression which can occur if employers increase employee pay and salary range minimums, similar to what happened when Oregon changed its minimum wage law.

If your organization needs to evaluate its salary structure for the new overtime rules, Cascade is here to help. We offer extensive compensation services to ensure your organization is competitive and compliant.

September 25, 2019

$100,000 in tourism marketing and promotions grants now available for Tillamook County non-profit organizations and for-profit businesses

Tillamook Coast Visitors Association (dba Visit Tillamook Coast), the destination marketing organization for Tillamook County, announced today the availability of $100,000 in tourism marketing and promotions grant funding for 2020 calendar year.

Application forms can be downloaded at www.tillamookcoast.com/grants. The deadline for submission is December 2, 2019. Those organizations and businesses awarded grant funding will be notified in mid-January, 2020.

Non-profit and not-for-profit organizations, as well as for-profit businesses involved in tourism activities, are eligible for the grants. Up to $10,000 can be awarded for a tourism marketing and promotion project or event. Applicants focusing on shoulder season activities (late September through late May) are given priority in scoring of their application.

Non-profits and not-for-profits are awarded 50% after approval of the project, and receive the remaining 50% after satisfactory completion of the project and fulfilling grant reporting requirements.

For-profits must first get approval of the project, then are eligible for 50% reimbursement after satisfactory completion of the project and fulfilling grant reporting requirements.

The grant applications are first reviewed for completeness and eligibility by the tourism executive director and tourism grants administrator. If eligibility is questionable, legal counsel is consulted. Eligible applications are then reviewed and scored according to the grant criteria (found in the grant application), and then ranked and approved by the Tillamook Coast Visitors Association 11-member board.

This is the fifth year in a row that $100,000 in grant funding has been made available to community organizations and businesses involved in tourism. Visit Tillamook Coast has awarded a total of $420,000 to date in grants. Projects range from digital marketing campaigns, rack cards, websites and videos to walking maps, event marketing, tradeshow needs, media campaigns and print advertising.

For more information, contact grants administrator Amy Blackburn at 503 842-2672 or emailamy@tillamookcoast.com

September 25, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks & Rec District Meeting Minutes: 8.29.19

To read a full copy of the Tillamook Mid County Parks & Rec District Meeting Minutes click here: Parks&RecMtgMinutes.8.29.19

September 25, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks & Rec District Meeting Minutes: 8.15.19

To read a full copy of the Tillamook Mid County Parks & Rec District Meeting Minutes for 8.15.19 click here: Parks&RecMtgMinutes.8.15.19

September 24, 2019October 9, 2019

The People’s Coast Summit Returns Oct. 7-8

The People’s Coast Summit is returning to the Old Mill Marina in Garibaldi on Oct. 7-8.

Hosted by the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, this annual summit is an end-of-season industry gathering where participants can gather to decompress from the busy season, share experiences with colleagues and make new contacts.

Guest speakers provide opportunities for big picture thinking about our industry, and workshops offer nuts and bolts skills which business owners can return home and apply immediately.

September 24, 2019

YPT First Annual Banquet Oct. 19

The Young Professionals of Tillamook is pleased to announce their first Annual Banquet. This year’s banquet will be hosted at Garibaldi PortSide Bistro’s brand new location from 6 – 9 p.m. and includes a fun evening of networking, food, drinks, music and a silent auction.

This is a ticketed event and space is limited. On-going details and sneak peeks will be posted on the Facebook event page.

Find tickets here.

September 24, 2019September 24, 2019

Health Plan Options for Chamber Members

Chamber members have a unique opportunity to partner with the Bend Chamber of Commerce and Corey Bush at Hudson Insurance to access a new association health plan option in Tillamook County. This is a new avenue of accessing health care which we haven’t had in Tillamook and is only available through your Chamber membership.

We know health insurance is not one size fits all, and with the plans offered by PacificSource (six in total) you can customize what plans you’re able to offer to your employees. You can give your employees the opportunity to choose a plan that best suits their needs, with competitive rates that might be less than what you’re paying now. Or, if you’ve been unable to offer employee health benefits, it might now be an affordable option for your business.

All of the health plans through PacificSource cover essential health benefits, no-cost preventive care, calendar-year benefits and all member out-of-pocket costs for covered services apply toward the annual out-of-pocket limit. PacificSource is a great network both in Tillamook and throughout the state of Oregon.

For more information, reach out to Corey Bush at Hudson Insurance to learn more and see if it is a good fit for your business.

September 20, 2019

Join the Chamber Board of Directors

Chamber members are invited to apply for a vacant position on the Chamber Board of Directors. Terms are for three years. To apply, fill out an application and return it to the Chamber HQ at 208 Main Ave. in Tillamook or email a copy to info@tillamookchamber.org.

The application can be downloaded here: Board Application_Chamber

September 16, 2019September 19, 2019

Oregon Main Street Conference Coming to Tillamook Oct. 2-4

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

We are excited and honored to tell you that the annual Oregon Main Street conference is landing in Tillamook this year, and we at the Chamber are the hosts.

Tillamook has been part of the Oregon Main Street Program for many years and it wasn’t until early 2015 that it became a part of the Chamber. The Tillamook Main Street Program is part of a nation-wide program that works with communities to develop comprehensive, incremental revitalization strategies based on a community’s unique assets, character, and heritage.

They chose Tillamook this year because the vibrancy of downtown is quickly being realized by both residents and visitors enjoying their time and patronizing local businesses, and Tillamook has recently underwent a tremendous amount of revitalization with new streetscapes, food-trucks, breweries, restaurants, and parks in a short amount of time.

This year’s conference will focus on techniques participants can use to forge deeper connections in their community and be inspired to take their Main Street efforts to the next level by connecting to resources, connecting to their place, and connecting to partners to help them get work done in their downtown.The events kick-off with Keynote Speaker, author Melody Warnick, discussing place attachment and how to lead longtime residents and newcomers alike to commit to a more passionate relationship with their community.

The conference will welcome 150-200 people from outside the area to our downtown for three days of learning, engaging and of course patronizing our local restaurants, hotels and businesses. We are arranging three walking tours that participants can join in on focusing on the heavy lifting we’ve seen in the last few years to revitalize downtown. Yes, that includes the highway project. While I’m sure many of us would rather leave those memories far behind us, other communities are facing similar challenges and see Tillamook as an integral learning opportunity to understand how and why we kept communication at the forefront of the conversation, advocated for businesses and worked as a liaison with ODOT.

The walking tours will also focus on the Tillamook Urban Revitalization Association and the work they’ve been able to accomplish within the downtown district to eliminate blight and stimulate economic growth.

Above all, we are excited to show off our downtown area and will be utilizing several spots downtown during the course of the conference, including the Tillamook Coliseum Theater, Pacific Restaurant, Flavors on First, and the Tillamook County Library. We’ve been able to make this happen thanks to several local sponsors, including US Bank, Pelican Brewing Co., Visit Tillamook Coast, the Tillamook Creamery, Werner Beef & Brew, Five Rivers Coffee Roasters, Jacobsen Salt Co., TURA, Zwald Transport and the Tillamook County Library and Tillamook Coliseum Theater.

Be sure to visit the Oregon Main Street Conference website here for information on the schedule of events and on sessions. And if you would like to attend, you can register here.

September 12, 2019

Downtown Sweepstakes is Returning; Just Three Weeks Away

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

With the kids back in school and the days getting shorter, it is inevitable that fall is on the way – followed shortly by the holidays. With this transition also means it’s time to revamp the annual Downtown Sweepstakes.

The official kick off date is October 1, and as always the Sweepstakes runs until the end of December.

For those who don’t remember the rules, it’s simple: Whenever you shop downtown between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, bring in your receipts to the Tillamook Chamber to be entered into a weekly drawing. You can enter one receipt per day. Each week a downtown business will sponsor a giveaway and we will draw from that week’s tickets to pick a winner. Then, every ticket will be entered into a grand prize drawing of $1,000 shopping spree in downtown Tillamook, sponsored each year by US Bank. The more you shop, the better your odds are of winning the grand prize. It’s that simple, and it’s that fun.

Our kick off week business sponsor is Salty Raven, and we have other great weekly prizes from Pacific Restaurant, the Tillamook Coliseum, Sunflower Flats, Recurrent and more. We will post the weekly winner to the Chamber’s Facebook page, along with special shout outs for our sponsor businesses.

We’re also going to try something new this year: We are creating a Facebook group specifically for the Downtown Sweepstakes. (Go check it out; Tillamook Downtown Sweepstakes.) This group will give shoppers a chance to post their own photos, our business community an opportunity to showcase what they have going on each week (sales, specials, promotions, etc.) and help connect merchants with their customers during the Sweepstakes. We will also keep a full list of the rules there, and offer special incentives to group members only. This could be extra receipt entries on specific days, or surprise giveaways exclusive to members of the group. So if you’re planning on participating this year and have a Facebook account be sure to go join that group so you’re not missing out on more downtown fun.

If you have questions about the sweepstakes or wish to become a sponsor, contact Britta Lawrence at 503-842-7525 or britta@tillamookchamber.org.

August 23, 2019

Welcome Britta, our Programs & Events Manager

It’s about time that I officially welcome our newest staff member to the Chamber, Britta Lawrence. Many of you might have met her already at the Tillamook County Fair – her very first week on the job. Talk about trial by fire!

But, we didn’t hire Britta because of her excellent folding skills (not that those weren’t greatly appreciate with all the new apparel). Britta, who recently moved here from Montana with her husband Dane and dog Ruby, had all the key components we were looking for in a Programs & Events Manager; she’s friendly, outgoing, and eager to be a part of the community. But even more than that – her background is in economic development and working with business owners to help them reach their long term goals. She has her Bachelors from California State University in Business Administration with an emphasis in HR and though she spent the last three years in Montana, she and her husband are both Oregon natives who are excited to be returning to their home state.

Britta said she was interested in this position at the Chamber mostly because she loves being involved in her community and saw this as a great opportunity to meet new people and make a difference. She also loves planning events and is excited to be tackling our many events and programs here at the Chamber.

“I’m excited to familiarize myself with our downtown businesses and shop the different places and really just get to know everyone on a personal level,” she said.

Britta is also planning to join Rotary and look for other ways to make an impact in her new home. “That’s probably what I’m most excited about,” she said. “I love volunteering and being involved in my community; I did a lot of that in Montana and look forward to find ways to so that again.”

When she’s not out volunteering, her role at the Chamber will be planning, organizing, and directing the programs and events of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce including the Tillamook Main Street Program. She will be taking the lead on things like What’s Brewin’ – our quarterly membership social gathering; the How It’s Done series; our travel program; and our monthly Mornings on Main Street. Presently she is helping coordinate the upcoming Main Street Conference that we are hosting in October. This is Tillamook’s first time hosting this statewide event and we are feeling enthusiastic about the people it will bring to our downtown and the variety of projects we will be showcasing as a result of the Main Street Program. If you’d like to learn more or find a way to get involved with this conference, reach out to Britta by emailing britta@tillamookchamber.org.

Other things you might need to know about Britta: She doesn’t like sushi or hot wings (and we still hired her) and she once went to the Junior Olympics for jump roping.

August 23, 2019September 16, 2019

Lot 35 Homes + The Shoppe Ribbon Cutting Sept. 7

Lot 35 Homes + The Shoppe is officially open, and are hosting a celebration on Sept. 7th with food, drinks and a drawing for prizes – including a $250 gift card to the Shoppe. Come down from 3 – 5 p.m. that day with a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m.

August 23, 2019August 23, 2019

Back to School Sale!

For a limited time, all youth sweatshirts at our Visitor Center are only $10! Come grab one while supplies last and make sure your children go back to school in style. We have a variety of colors and sizes for youth still available, and are open from 9-5 Monday – Friday.

August 23, 2019August 23, 2019

Let’s Talk Downtown

Join the Chamber for a series of informational meetings regarding downtown

As summer starts to wind down we are gearing up for several downtown events and opportunities for business owners to get involved in and stay connected. On the horizon is:

The Oregon Main Street Conference ( Oct. 2nd – 4th)
Downtown Sweepstakes (October – December)
Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30th)
Other downtown events

We are hosting several informational meetings for business owners to come learn more about these opportunities, meet our Programs & Events Manager, Britta (if you haven’t already) and discuss your involvement in one or all of these events.

Join us here at the Chamber HQ on one of these dates and times:

Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.

Aug. 27 at 12 p.m.

Aug. 28 at 9 a.m.

Email Britta for more details. We hope to see you there!

August 19, 2019August 19, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District July 18, 2019 Meeting Minutes

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on July 18, 2019 click here:

July 30, 2019

Saying goodbye to Alex, saying hello to housing solutions

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Over the last nine months the Chamber has been fortunate to play a role in helping tackle the housing crisis within the City of Tillamook. We applied for and were accepted into the RARE program (a division of AmeriCorps) and with that came our newest staff member, Alexander Jonas.

Alex came to us as a recent graduate from Florida State where he studied political science and international affairs with a focus on economics. He was relocated to Tillamook to serve as our Housing Policy & Development Coordinator.

In this role, having Alex in this role at the Chamber has allowed us to make a housing impact greater than we could ever imagine. When we set out with this program our goal was to help make various policy changes to assist developers, but we have done so much more and Alex will have a mark on Tillamook for many years to come.

Alex was able to make great strides to help the City improve their development process. He collaborated closely with the city to put together what is essentially a System Development Charges (SDC) financing plan, which they adopted earlier this summer. This plan allows developers to finance their SDCs instead of paying them all up front. SDCs can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for multi-family housing developments and are typically paid in full before a building is even occupied. By deferring these costs a few years (but not waving them), this would alleviate the financial frontload for the developer without undercutting the needed long-term funds for the City. And, since the City may collect interest during the deferral period, it would theoretically equate to more long-term revenue than had the SDCs been charged upfront.

Garibaldi has had success with a similar model, as well as other Oregon cities that Alex was able to pull data from in helping draft the policy for the City of Tillamook.

To put his stake in the ground, Alex drafted a $200,000 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant to build four market-rate apartments above Lisa Griener’s Oregon Coast Dance Studio. This is a competitive statewide grant awarded to downtown areas in Oregon in need of economic development, and Lisa’s project was awarded the grant. The current project timeline estimates that the renovation will begin next Summer, with a targeted end date around the beginning of 2021.

As if that wasn’t enough – having this housing program in the Chamber and its connection to the Tillamook County Board of REALTORS – we were asked to assist in finding available property for a Oregon developer looking to build 50-100 market-rate units within the City. Through grinding to find property and with the City’s help with a rezone – always hate to count my blessings too early – but as of a phone call received just last week it looks like Tillamook should be getting another 73 unit apartment complex within the next year.

Needless to say, Alex’s time has been well spent here at the Chamber. What you can be sure of is that because of the willingness of the Chamber Board of Directors to venture into our economic crisis of housing – the funding put forward by the Tillamook County Board of REALTORS, Pacific Seafood and other generous donors – Coupled with Alex’s hard work – Tillamook will have a much different housing landscape in a very short amount of time. Alex is about to transition from a Seminole to a Duck as he has decided to stay in Oregon to pursue his Masters Degree at the University of Oregon – that’s a big deal that college football fans everywhere will understand. Be sure to stop in to the Chamber HQ and wish him well before he goes.

July 30, 2019

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Aug. 7th

Last year, Marlene Putman, administrator, Tillamook County Community Health Centers, had a glint in her eye and a very big idea. This idea was fueled by the vision of the patient-driven Community Health Council and their a passion for improving patient access. Today, she is proud to announce a new member of the team that arrived by special delivery earlier this month.

“We are so proud to announce our new team member, which has yet to be named. But she came in at a whopping 22,000 lbs. She is 39 feet long and 12 ½ feet tall,” said Putman. “And she’s a real beauty. I know that everyone who meets her will really love her.”

“We are very proud to announce the arrival of our new mobile community health center,” said Putman. “We can’t wait to get her ready to start delivering dental, physical and behavioral health care to Tillamook County,” said Putman.

Please join the Tillamook County Community Health Centers to meet their newest family member at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 2 – 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at Tillamook Bay Community College, 4301 Third St., Tillamook.

Please RSVP to Donna Gigoux at dgigoux@co.tillamook.or.us.

July 15, 2019

Celebrate Tillamook Bay at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum Aug. 3 – Sept. 28

Twenty five years ago, Tillamook Bay was just one of many estuaries in the country. An integral piece of the North Oregon Coast’s economy, a few grassroots volunteers felt Tillamook Bay deserved to be protected for generations to come.

It was around that time that Tillamook Bay was designated as a “Bay of National Significance” by the Environmental Protection Agency. This designation secured Tillamook Bay’s spot in the National Estuaries Program, which works to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries located along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts and Puerto Rico.

With this new designation came the birth of the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP).

“Even all those years ago, marking Tillamook Bay as significant was about promoting clean water, abundant wildlife and a vibrant way of life,” said Kristi Foster, TEP’s Executive Director. “It’s about conserving America’s iconic estuaries, and Tillamook Bay is special enough to be one of them.”

To celebrate, TEP is collaborating with the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum on a new art exhibit to highlight the beauty of Tillamook County’s estuaries and TEP’s vital role in keeping them vibrant and productive.

Titled ‘Discover the Bounty of the Bays’ the new exhibit opens August 3rd and runs through September 28^th and features the history of Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, information about TEP’s work and programs, and artwork from local artists featuring the natural landscapes, wildlife, and communities TEP works to enhance.

“It’s an opportunity to celebrate local artists and learn more about the work that TEP has accomplished over the last two and a half decades, and the work still left to be done,” Foster said.

“Within the national estuary program we’re probably the only one that can still fix all of our problems,” she continued. “We still have salmon; we still have oysters; we still have the ability to clean our water; it’s very exciting.”

And, a healthy estuary is at the heart of the community, noted Claudine Rehn, Deputy Director. “Without clean water, we’re not going to have a healthy economy or a healthy community… Having these five estuaries that we are lucky enough to have, they are the touchstone for everyone who lives here. In some way, we are all impacted by the health of our estuaries and we want to raise awareness of what that means for everyone involved – farmers, fishermen, foresters; we are all in this together.”

The gallery opens August 3^rd, and TEP will also be present at the Tillamook Farmers Market that day from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Stop by their booth to help create an estuary inspired window mural made from marine debris with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program’s Trash Talk Project. This is a great opportunity to meet TEP’s staff, Board Members and volunteers, and learn more about TEP’s programs while creating a beautiful piece of artwork.

Other celebratory events are planned throughout the summer including guided walks and hikes of conservation areas such as Kilchis Point Reserve and Hoquourton Slough. These events are part of the Explore Nature program and will provide an opportunity to Discover Tillamook County’s estuaries in person. .

For more information, follow the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership on Facebook or visit their website www.tbnep.org.

July 15, 2019July 15, 2019

Iconic Tillamook Movie Theater for Sale

When the Tillamook Coliseum Theater first came up for sale in 2014, Shiela Zerngast was immediately intrigued.

“I grew up watching movies in this theater,” she recalled. “I remember standing up in the balcony and throwing popcorn on my sister down below. When it first went up for sale, I instantly wanted to purchase it.”

After watching it sit vacant, Shiela convinced her husband Matthew to go look at it with her.

“I basically told him to tell me no so I could stop obsessing, or come look at it with me. Either way, he had to put me out of my misery.”

What she wasn’t expecting was for her husband to fall in love with the building as much as she did. The couple made an offer, and officially closed on the theater on their 22 wedding anniversary.

They went to work the very next day.

“I had big plans,” Shiela said. “I wanted to clean it, fix it up and give everyone the experience of watching a movie that I feel every time I enter a good theater: my heart races, and I get giddy at the thought of getting to watch a good movie. I believe this experience comes with good customer service, and a love of people, movies and the area.”

For the first 10 weeks, friends, family and complete strangers showed up every day to help the Zerngasts remodel and get the theater ready for opening day on November 1, 2014

“Contractors fit us into their schedule, and community organizations came to lend a hand,” Shiela said. “It was like an amazing episode of Extreme Makeover.”

Since 2014, the Zerngasts have poured their heart and soul into the remodel of the Coliseum, which was originally built in 1923. They remodeled the concession and lobby rea; installed original light shades from the 1920s; installed black and white deco-style tile in the lobby; added new carpet and paint throughout and refurbished the vintage neon sign. Among other massive upgrades, they also expanded the concession selections to include local food, beer and wine items. We sell Tillamook ice cream, Tillamook Cheese, Tillamook Country Smoker jerky, Fat Dog Pizza, Pelican Beer, and other food items

“We see it as the theater for the whole community, not just ours alone,” Shiela explained.

And now, Shiela and her family are ready to hand over the reins of their successful theater to the next set of owners who will keep the legacy alive and continue to integrate the Coliseum into the revitalization of downtown Tillamook.

“We are choosing to sell now, because we feel that we have taken it through the downtown construction and revitalized it be a thriving business,” she explained. “Now someone that is looking for a fun, exciting business can jump right in and continue on with the amazing foundation we have established.”

The Coliseum, which shows first-run movies, is approximately 6,000 square feet with a 245-seat theater and an unfinished balcony.

“We have the movie, projector and concession relationships and support team to assist whoever takes it over to step into,” said Shiela. “We have established a great system of support companies, that help us navigate seamlessly through the cinema magic business.”

The theater also enjoys a lucrative on-screen advertising business with very little overhead.

The Coliseum still has many historical elements including both original projectors, the original light dimmer, phone and electrical boxes, projection room, pulleys and curtains behind the screen, along with many other items that are character building from the original theater. The original decorative emblem is still on the ceiling theater.

“We love the Coliseum,” Shiela said. “It’s hard to think about selling something that feels like part of your family, but we really feel like we saved the theater, and a historical piece of our community, and now it’s ready for someone else to step in and keep the momentum going. The heavy lifting is finished, and while there is still potential to grow the theater, it’s now a thriving business again that’s ready for someone to step in and take over.”

Shiela noted that they would be holding out for the right owners, and the theater will continue to operate as usual until the business sells.

For more information contact Shiela Zerngast at 503-812-9647 or email Shiela@tillamookcoliseum.com.

July 15, 2019

OHA Grant to help Tillamook County Wellness Partners Improve Patient Health Outcomes

Tillamook County Community Health Centers, our local public health authority, has been awarded a Sustainable Relationships for Community Health (SRCH) grant from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA). The one-year grant will provide added staff capacity and technical assistance to address chronic disease prevention and management in Tillamook County. Funds from the grant will be used to hire a coordinator who will manage the project in conjunction with the Tillamook County Wellness Health Screening committee.

The OHA SRCH initiative is very aligned to the mission of Tillamook County Wellness, a collective of community partner organizations working together to reduce chronic disease rates, especially type 2 diabetes, by addressing the Social Determinants of Health. SRCH funds are intended to foster collaboration, reduce health disparities and healthcare costs and improve population health outcomes. This includes optimization of community and clinic-based health screenings, program referrals and reimbursement pathways.

Local healthcare partners, including the Tillamook County Community Health Centers (TCCHC), Adventist Health – Tillamook, Columbia Pacific CCO and Rinehart Clinic each play a key role in the Tillamook County Wellness Health Screening committee, with representatives from each organization serving on a core leadership team charged with fulfilling the grant requirements. Additionally, several community-based organizations such as the YMCA, NCRD, OSU Extension and Northwest Senior & Disability Services, among others, will participate in the project.

Together, committee members will:

Assess existing health screening practices in clinical as well as community-based settings, including workplaces.
Identify current chronic disease prevention and self-management programs and services to which people are being referred.
Co-design recommendations for ways to modify or enhance screening and referral practices.
Generate agreements for implementing improvements to systems processes and program access.
Track and analyze screening, referral and program participation data to determine impact on health outcomes and identify areas for improvement.
Develop recommendations for supporting programs and processes that are most effective for reducing chronic disease rates and improving individual health.

“With 90% of all healthcare costs being spent on the treatment of chronic and mental health conditions, it is imperative that we connect people with the resources they need to get and stay healthy,” states Marlene Putman, Tillamook County Public Health Administrator and Tillamook Community Health Centers Director. “There are so many great programs already in place here – the Diabetes Prevention Program, CHIP, cooking classes and fitness programs through the YMCA, NCRD and OSU Extension. We know these programs work. We have data that shows how people who take advantage of these programs improve their health. We just need to be more intentional about how we connect people, programs and processes so that everyone wins.” Putman adds that increasing access to programs by reducing cost and transportation barriers are among the strategies being explored. One of the goals of the project is to better understand the factors that lead to increased program participation and adherence, as well as where people are experiencing barriers. These considerations can then be built into the design of community and clinic-based support networks to optimize system workflows, program delivery and population health outcomes.

To learn more, visit at tillamookcountyhealthmatters.org or follow Tillamook County Wellness on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

July 15, 2019July 15, 2019

The Place to be on a Saturday

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

July 6th was a record breaking day for us at the Tillamook Farmers Market. More than 3,000 people visited the market over the course of the day – probably even more than that. It was a holiday weekend and there were ample people in town enjoying the 4th of July activities and record low tides, and a good portion of them also stopped by the Farmers Market to patronize our local, small business owners and area farmers.

Statistics show that a high percentage of people who travel will visit a local farmers market while they’re traveling. Having a thriving, interesting and lively market in a community is a great way to draw in travelers and visitors and give them a reason to stop and enjoy our area. It’s also a great spot for locals, and here are just a few reasons why you should consider stopping by the Farmers Market on Saturdays:

Live Music. Many of our musicians playing this season would require some sort of cover charge to see in any other venue. This is your chance to enjoy these talented folks for free from 12 – 1 every Saturday.
Kids Activities. We’ve expanded the kids section this year to include more than just corn hole and Connect Four. Every Saturday you can find some kind of free, hands-on activity for kids – from rock painting, seed plating, veggie stamping and paint a pot. To find out what’s happening on any given Saturday follow the Tillamook Farmers Market on Facebook. Kids activities can be found near the HQ Trailer – usually near the center of Market or tucked back next to the trailer under a tent if it’s rainy.
Food Hero Program. The Food Hero program offered by OSU Extension is back and this time they’re sticking around for the full season. You can find them under the blue tent offering all kinds of food experiments and tastings for kids. Those who participate get a $2 ‘Kids Buck’ to purchase fruits, vegetables or honey. These Kids Bucks are sponsored by TLC Fibre Credit Union.
More than 50 unique vendors. We’ve really worked hard on growing the number of vendors at the Market this year and if you haven’t been in awhile I think you’ll be surprised by the amount of unique, hand-made and artistic items you can find on any given Saturday. We have fresh produce, plant starts for your garden, baked goods, hand-crafted furniture, fresh cut flowers, honey, tie dye, and everything in between. Come for lunch, enjoy the music and grab some one-of-a-kind gifts.

The Market runs every Saturday from 9 – 2 in front of the Tillamook County Courthouse until Sept. 28. Be sure to like Tillamook Farmers Market on Facebook for all the latest news and activities. And, a big thank you to this year’s sponsors including TLC Fibre Credit Union, Bizeau Dentistry, the Tillamook Revitalization Association, Sheltered Nook on Tillamook Bay, Guild Mortgage and Food Roots.

July 8, 2019July 8, 2019

We’re Hiring! Come Join the Chamber Team

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Now that our main summer events are behind us and we’re starting to get back into a somewhat normal routine here at the Chamber, I wanted to let you know that we’re looking to add to our team. We are currently hiring for a Program & Events Manager.

This position will be responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing programs and events of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce. This includes the management of existing and the development of new programs and events that align with our mission.

In a nutshell, this position will manage the Tillamook Main Street Program, in affiliation with the Oregon Main Street Program, as well as plan, organize and direct events both initiated and co-hosted by the Chamber. Things like our annual Chamber Banquet and Awards Dinner, quarterly What’s Brewin’ socials and semi-annual How It’s Done series, to name a few. This position will also oversee development seminars, ribbon cuttings, and our downtown planter program, coordinate our monthly Mornings on Main Street gatherings, and handle logistics surrounding the Chamber’s travel abroad programs, the Cork & Brew Tour, June Dairy Festival and Small Business Saturday. All of these programs are well established however they have room to grow and expand under the right person’s leadership.

This job is perfect for someone who likes to multi-task, can meet deadlines, and wants an avenue to pursue creativity inside a supportive environment. If you like to problem solve, make connections and facilitate a cooperative climate between businesses, community organizations and local government then this job might be a great fit for you. We’re open to both part-time and full-time job seekers.

Who is the right person, you might be asking? Someone self-motivated who can work independently but also collaborate in a group setting, manage multiple projects and set priorities, has exceptional organizational skills and the ability to think critically, and is excited to support and grow our downtown businesses.
So if you have experience managing a significant variety of community events, can manage volunteers and committees, and above all are excited about the work the Chamber is doing in the community and the potential to grow our impact then we would love for you to apply for this job.

A full job description is available on our website, tillamookchamber.org – just click the job posting on the front page. To apply for this position, send cover letter and resume outlining your interest and qualifications to:

Tillamook Chamber of Commerce
Attn: Justin Aufdermauer
208 Main Ave.
Tillamook, OR 97141

This position will be open until filled. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to me and we can talk about it more.

July 5, 2019July 10, 2019

Chamber Job Posting

Program & Events Manager Job Description

The Program & Events Manager is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing programs and events of the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce. This includes the management of existing, and the development of new, programs and events that align with the mission of the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Tillamook Main Street Program of the Chamber will be managed by the Program & Events Manager, in affiliation with the Oregon Main Street Program.

The Program & Events Manager is open for those seeking a part-time or full-time position. Part-time position can range from 20 to 30 hours-a-week, with additional hours required in correlation with significant events.

Find the full Job Description here: Programs-Events-Job-Description

June 23, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting Minutes: May 16 2019

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on May 16, 2019 click here: Parks&RecMtgMinutes.5.16.19

June 18, 2019June 20, 2023

June Dairy Parade Route

The June Dairy Parade is set for June 24th! Start time is 11am, road closures will begin around 10:45am.

The parade route is marked in orange on the map below:

Grab your seat early – and don’t forget to stop by the Tillamook Farmers Market while you’re out!

June 4, 2019

Mornings on Main Street: Meet with Ruth Miles, Small Business Advocate

Have you ever had a question or concern about government that you couldn’t resolve? You’re not alone. Simple or complex, we don’t know what we don’t know – and that can cost money or cause trouble when government is involved. You can relax, though. If you can’t resolve the issue, turn to the Small Business Advocacy Team at Secretary of State. They provide free, confidential help to small businesses and nonprofits. Got a federal issue? The Advocates can connect you.

At our next Mornings on Main Street gathering, come meet Ruth Miles, the Chief Small Business Advocate. She’s excited to meet you in person; and she’ll be spending a few extra hours with us. If you have a burning issue to discuss, she’s there for you.

Please remember that you are encouraged to come and go as your schedule allows; even if it means 5 minutes for coffee and a quick hello. No shame in coming late or dashing out. There will be coffee and light snacks, of course and time to introduce yourself and share what is happening in your world.

See you at 208 Main Avenue on June 18th at 8 a.m.!

June 4, 2019June 4, 2019

Don’t be Fooled, Summer is Coming

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

This bout of rainy, overcast weather might have you feeling the blues but summer is almost here. I can tell because of the organized frenzy we are all feeling around the office as we gear up for our major summer events.

First on the docket is the 2019 Cork & Brew Tour on June 14th. This is the 7th year of this Chamber event that started as a way to engage the downtown businesses and community members with a “pub-crawl.” The idea is simple: each participating downtown business serves a tasting of wine, beer and locally-prepared appetizers. Folks get their passport and tasting glass at the launch party – hosted again this year by Pelican Brewing Co. – and after enjoying some complimentary drinks, food and live music get to meander through downtown visiting the different stops. You can stop at all or some, it’s a totally customizable evening.

Tickets are $45 each and must be purchased in advance. You can get yours either at the Chamber HQ or online at corkandbrewtour.com. Some of our featured breweries this year include Werner Brewing Co., Reach Break Brewing, Fort George Brewing, and Buoy Brewing Co. We’re also excited to have Werner Beef & Brew, SaraSotas, the Blue Heron French Cheese Co., The Rendezvous, Debbie D’s Sausages, and Pacific Seafood serving appetizers.

Then, the very next morning (June 15) at 9 a.m. sharp is the season opening of the Tillamook Farmers Market. Laurel Street from First to Third will be shut down for the largest Farmers Market in the county. We saw a lot of growth and excitement around the Market last year, and this year that is already continuing as we have even more vendors and exciting things to see and do. Be sure to come down between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and see what the Market has to offer. It’s a great spot to get your produce for the week, connect with local artisans and crafts people, grab lunch and enjoy some live music. Again this year we are offering a SNAP match at the Market HQ Trailer, so if you are an Oregon Trail Card customer, you can spend those dollars at the Market and we will match you $1 for $1 up to the first $10 you spend.

But that’s not it yet for June events. The June Dairy Parade returns on June 22 and promises to be “Udderly A-Moo-Sing.” If you want to participate in the parade, get those entry forms in ASAP as May 31st is the cut off. You can find the form at junedairyparade.com or on the homepage of the Chamber website. This is going to be a parade of epic proportions now that our downtown corridor is free of construction. For the first time, the parade will begin on 11th and Main, head down Main all the way to First Street, wind around the Tillamook Rodeo and head back up Pacific to Third – officially taking back our downtown. Come out and cheer them on!

Because summer is such a busy time around here, we are looking to add a new person to our Chamber team. We’re looking for a Visitor Services Associate to help assist visitors to our area on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The position would begin June 15th and run through October 12th. This team member would work in our Visitor Center and provide general tourism information for the Tillamook region and Oregon Coast. To apply, send us your resume to info@tillamookchamber.org. Before June 3rd.

May 23, 2019June 23, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting Minutes: April 18, 2019

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on April 18, 2019 click here: Parks&RecMinutes4.18.19

May 9, 2019

June Dairy Parade Returns to Downtown June 22

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

This is the year, folks. Construction in downtown is over, and our beloved annual parade will be returning to encompass our entire downtown for the first time in years. The route will begin at Tillamook PUD and head down Main Avenue before turning onto First, in front of the Rodeo, heading south on Pacific and back up Third Street to its end at Good Speed Park. So let’s be sure to fill downtown from 11th to first with smiling faces and really show what this parade is all about: the community coming together to celebrate such a huge piece of our heritage.

This year’s theme is ‘Udderly A-Moo-Sing’ and our entry forms are available online at junedairparade.com or at the Chamber HQ at 208 Main Ave. Those are due by May 31st, and if you have a motorized entry form you will want to leave enough time to collect insurance information and get that to Tammy, our office manager. In other words, don’t wait til the last minute to enter.

Our kids coloring contest is also in full swing, and again you can pick up those forms at either the Chamber HQ or YoTime Frozen Yogurt. If you return your completed coloring form to YoTime you will receive a $1 off an 8-ounce yogurt. We’ll display the entries in the windows of Oregon Coast Dance Center for everyone to enjoy.

And, I should mention that the Grand Marshal nomination form is also available online at junedairyparade.com, and those are due by May 31st. Each year we pick a Grand Marshal to lead the parade, and should be someone with ties to the dairy community and a history as a community leader. So please, take some time to consider making a nomination for someone you think deserves this honor and meets the criteria.

Of course our other summer activities are also right around the corner, including the Tillamook Farmers Market that opens June 15th, and the Cork & Brew Tour on June 14th. Tickets are on sale for the latter at corkandbrewtour.com. We are highlighting some new stops in downtown this year to switch things up a bit, and will be sharing more of that information in the near future. But as always, you can expect wine, beer and locally-prepared foods at each stop to keep you tasting and sipping your way through the self-guided tour.

May 1, 2019

Waterfront Walk: Celebrating An End & A Beginning

By Sierra Lauder
Director of Events and Downtown Development

Two weeks ago, I found myself in Bend with crowds of people waiting eagerly on the sidelines of their “Marathon and a Half” event, where Bryan was laying it all out there- sharing the fellowship of the course with hundreds of runners who, like him, are training and practicing to grow in to their personal best. On the rail, I shared my own fellowship- looking left and right at hundreds more friends and family who crowded in on a rainy, cool morning to cheer our people, waving signs and secretly hoping that there would be enough extra burritos that excited onlookers might also partake…

There is little that can dull a burrito craving, but I like to believe that serious overthinking can dull just about anything, and as I clapped and cheered and watched the runners, I reflected on how much we all crave (even more than burritos) moments and opportunities for fellowship and human connection.

Here at home, we have recently run our own race and crossed our own finish line. While the traffic impacts of construction downtown wrapped up about six months ago, the weather is turning promising just as the paperwork comes to a close on the highway project. We could let the moment pass with a declaration or a simple ribbon cutting, but why? The highway project is complete, and now it’s time to celebrate. This was one race that we all ran – whether we wanted to or not – and it seems like the perfect opportunity to gather (no running required) and share the potential of what we have created.

Waterfront Walk is happening on May 4th, and I want to personally invite you down to a lovely, reclaimed section of our city to officially cut the ribbon on the highway project and take some time enjoying our new community space.

The event begins at 11am, and activities stretch out from Sue H Elmore Park on the west where City and ODOT officials will be hosting a ribbon cutting at 11:30. Pelican Brewing Co. will be serving their house made root beer, there will be live marimba music, and Pacific Restaurant is supplying the cake. (Because seriously, it’s not a real party without cake.)

Folks are encouraged to walk the new ADA accessible path that winds across Hwy 101 and along the historic Hoquarten Slough before heading over Hwy 6 and tying into the northeast end of Goodspeed Park. This half mile stroll is officially the first completed segment of the Salmonberry Trail, and on the day of May 4th the entire path will be hosting several activities, booths, friendly faces and even shuttles for folks who want to walk to one end and be shuttled back. Werner Beef & Brew is getting in on the fun at the eastern end with an outdoor stage featuring Tillamook School of Dance performers and music. Come see just how easy it is to walk from downtown to Werner Beef & Brew!

There’s going to be so much going on it’s almost too much to list here, but some highlights are the Tillamook County Historical Society who will be on hand discussing the progress on the Hoquarton Interpretive House. Together with the Tillamook Bay Watershed Council, they’ve been spearheading a lot of the Hoquarten Slough clean up work parties, and have uncovered some long-forgotten reminders underneath all the brush that this Slough was once a bustling port and industrial zone. The Tillamook Family YMCA and Tillamook County Wellness will also be on the trail with family-friendly activities; Oregon Coast Railriders will be giving short demos at Goodspeed Park; The Tillamook Bay Watershed Council will have a driftwood boat building station; The Tillamook Estuaries Partnership will also be hosting family activities and highlighting their TIllamook County Water Trail Guides and the Explore Nature Series as well as their restoration and water quality programs; and Tillamook PUD will be giving demos of their electric vehicles. Art Accelerated will host a “fish print” station where artists of all ages can leave with a fun print in hand.

This event is an embodiment of the highlights of the Main Street model. It brings together all kinds of partners to create a sense of place and a time to connect. The timing couldn’t be more poignant to me as it marks my transition out of my role at the Chamber. One of the highlights of my time here has been the Highway Liaison work, and I’m incredibly proud of that work and the way our government, businesses, city police, contractors and community all have evolved through this effort. I would love to share and celebrate with you on Saturday, and hope you’re able to make it out for the day.

April 12, 2019

Celebrate Cinco De Mayo at Pacific Restaurant and support the Tillamook Farmers Market

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Summer is fast approaching and that means our busy season with events like the June Dairy Parade, Cork & Brew and of course the Tillamook Farmers Market every Saturday starting June 15th.

To kick off the beginning of the market season, we are again partnering with Pacific Restaurant to host a family-friendly Cinco De Mayo party with live music, an authentic Mexican buffet prepared by the master chefs of Pacific Restaurant, raffle prizes and even some cool games.

Tickets are only $20 and kids under 12 get in free. All proceeds will benefit the programs offered at the Tillamook Farmers Market, including our SNAP match, an expanded kids activities section this year, the community table for local non-profits and of course the great lineup of live music.

Speaking of live music, Dante Zapata will be performing for Cinco De Mayo, and if you had a chance to catch him at the Tillamook Farmers Market last year you know you’re in for a real treat. Dante is a real crowd pleaser and we’re excited to have him back for both the Cinco De Mayo celebration and performing at the Market later in the season.

Tickets for our Cinco De Mayo party are $20 per person over the age of 12, and can be purchased on Eventbrite.com (you can find the link on the Chamber’s Facebook page). We are limiting the number of tickets to 200 people, so get yours early as we might not have any left to sell at the door.

We’re very excited to grow the programs offered at the Market this year, and continue to build on the concept of creating a community gathering space where people come on a Saturday for produce, shopping, and entertainment. Our music line up is bringing back several favorites from last year, including the Buffalo Kitty Band, MetalMantra, Bryan Nichols of ZuhG and Jazzatti-tude. We offer live music from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day in the Market center.

We’re also expanding our SNAP match program this year to offer more choices for shoppers with an Oregon Trail Card. Look for signs at Market booths indicating where those dollars can be spent, and as always come to the Market Trailer HQ to ask questions and exchange your SNAP dollars for tokens you can spend with eligible vendors.

Again this year we are bringing back the Food Hero Program, a partnership with OSU Extension where kids can try a new fruit or veggie and participate in an educational, health-focused activity. Kids who participate each week will receive a $2 “Kid’s Buck” voucher, courtesy of TLC Fibre Credit Union that they can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with from our local vendors. In addition to food tastings, children also get to participate in fun activities like scavenger hunts in collaboration with OSU Master Gardeners and local farmers, and the ever-popular blender bike.

We are also creating an additional space specifically for kids with fun activities like rock painting, fruit and vegetable stamping, seed planting, scavenger hunts and more. Each Saturday this will be a spot where kids can stay entertained and find hands-on things to do and take something home with them.

And of course, the Master Recyclers will be on hand once a month demonstrating how to make reusable grocery bags out of on-hand materials like chicken feed bags. The Master Gardeners will also be back several times throughout the season offering gardening advice and answering questions.

We hope to see you at the Market this year, and consider joining us on May 5th to help support our Market program during a night of great food and entertainment at Pacific Restuarnat.

March 29, 2019

The Chamber and Tourism

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

We haven’t talked in a while about the tourism work we do at the Chamber. A common misconception is that all tourism promotion entails is advertising here and there, and efforts to bring more people to our area, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. So much of what local tourism agencies like the Chamber do is manage tourism growth and provide services to create a better experience. Let me touch on a couple key services that are often overlooked.

If you haven’t been inside our visitor information center downtown you need to stop by! Yes, again, contrary to popular opinion, visitors still find a place to park and come visit us. But, we do a lot more than just keep our visitor information center stocked with brochures, maps and rack cards highlighting our area’s restaurants, lodging, and activities.

For example, we just finished putting together the 2019 Tillamook Coast Visitor Guide. This was our third year contracting with Visit Tillamook Coast to create and print this publication that is distributed not only all over Tillamook County, but all over the state. This publication is almost like a one-stop-shop for anything you might be looking for. Each year we pick several new places to highlight and feature. I personally love putting this publication together because you really start to see how much the county has expanded, diversified and blossomed since the Transient Lodging Tax was adopted. We have brand new restaurants featuring locally-caught and grown ingredients, new shopping experiences, restoration work happening of our historic buildings, and better awareness and marketing of the businesses that have been here all along.

In our continuing effort to help give our visitors a better experience, we are knee-deep into redesigning our website, gotillamook.com, to be more user friendly and give a more comprehensive, visual look at all the attractions based specifically around the City of Tillamook and outlying areas. While working with our web developer to create the specific “stops” along this virtual road-map, I’ve again been humbled by all the things to do in Tillamook – from farm tours, to clamming, crabbing, kayaking, touring the Quilt Trail, and everything in between. For those who say there is nothing to do around here, they haven’t stepped outside in a while. Sometimes we get caught up in focusing on our downtown and all the work that’s been put into its revitalization over the last few years, but there really are great things happening in every direction you look. I look forward to sharing this new website release with all of you soon, so stay tuned.

Then of course we have our downtown walking map. The goal of this map (which the Chamber prints and distributes semi-annually) is increased destination spending within downtown. The map highlights our membership businesses focused in the downtown area and is intended to entice further shopping. We will be reprinting those maps later this spring, and if you’d like to know how to get your business on there, call our office at 503-842-7525 or just stop by 208 Main Avenue.

Of course there are several others ways that the Chamber is influencing the tourism industry in our area – such as the upcoming June Dairy Parade on June 22, the Cork & Brew Tour which returns on June 14th, and the Tillamook Farmers Market, which opens for the season on June 15th. There is a lot of energy around farmers markets in the state and how they attract and draw people into a community. In fact, one study showed that more people look for a local farmers market when traveling than any other type of local event. With our newly-renovated downtown district and plenty of available parking, I think we’re going to see a huge uptick in visitors to the market this year.

And, before I forget, the Chamber and Visit Tillamook Coast are also providing locals and Tillamook County businesses with tide books, adjusted for our Tillamook Coast beaches. If you want a couple (or a handful) for yourself and friends or are a Tillamook County business that would like to hand them out to your customers (we offer the first 100 free) head over to our office at 208 Main Avenue.

March 26, 2019

Housing Policy Updates

By Alex Jonas
Housing Policy & Development Coordinator; RARE

If you’re keeping up with Chamber-related news, you may have heard of me. I am the Housing Policy & Development Coordinator for the Chamber, and came to Tillamook through the RARE Program. After spending a few months getting acclimated to the housing situation in Tillamook, I feel like we are finally hitting our strides in the race to mitigate the local housing crisis.

We recently submitted a grant application for $200,000, which would be utilized to remodel the Oregon Coast Dance Center’s second floor (historically known as the Jones-Knudson Building) in downtown. The grant in question is the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, a competitive statewide grant awarded to Oregonian downtowns in need of economic development. If awarded, this grant would turn the unused space above the dance studio into four market-rate apartments. The current project timeline estimates that the renovation will begin this summer, with a targeted end-date around the beginning of 2021. While we won’t know until May 3^rd if our grant application was accepted, the Chamber staff feels confident in the application’s strength, with a solid foundation of project quality, private investment, and Chamber reputation. This is exactly the type of project that the state is looking to fund, and our working relationship with Lisa Greiner, the building owner, has been strong.

In addition to that grant, I am in the process of drafting a System Development Charges (SDC) Deferral Policy – looking closely at similar policies in other areas of Oregon like Bend, Ashland and even Garibaldi, whose SDC Deferral Policy was instrumental in the construction of the Garibaldi Village Apartments. While I won’t go into the complexities of the potential policy here, SDCs can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for multi-family housing developments, that are typically paid before a building is even occupied. By deferring these costs a few years (but not waiving them), this would alleviate the financial frontload for the developer without undercutting the needed long-term funds for the municipality. And, since the municipality may collect interest during the deferral period, it would theoretically equate to more long-term revenue than had the SDCs been charged upfront.

The other policy that the Chamber is looking at is for the deferral of permit fees, a policy that would run parallel to SDC deferrals to help mitigate the financial burden from the early stages of housing development. Permit fees don’t hold a candle to SDCs in terms of the cost, so it’s likely we will propose a much shorter deferment period. Stakeholders have identified that all efforts to shift up-front costs are beneficial due to the way many financing and investment systems are set up.

These deferment policies would eventually be presented to the City of Tillamook for consideration. In the meantime, Justin and I are currently working with a developer who is ready to build, and have been successful in opening doors to help provide potential building locations to them. This is the type of on-the-ground work that is going to change the housing landscape in the City of Tillamook, and we are excited to help catalyze this development.

I still have several months left here in Tillamook, and depending on how the rest of this year’s work goes, the Chamber will have the opportunity to apply for a second year through RARE to keep this momentum moving forward. If you have any questions regarding housing policy or know of properties available in the City of Tillamook, please stop by our office at 208 Main Avenue and we will be happy to address your inquiry.

March 21, 2019June 23, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting Minutes: March 11, 2019

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on March 11, 2019 click here: Parks&RecSpecMtgMinutes3.11.19

March 21, 2019June 23, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting Minutes: Feb. 19, 2019

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on Feb. 19, 2019 click here: Parks&RecLtrhdMeetingMinutes2.19.19

March 19, 2019March 19, 2019

Behind the Scenes: ‘How it’s Done’

By Sierra Lauder
Director of Events and Downtown Development

I’m breaking out of my usual downtown role to share some Chamber news about an event series that is especially close to my heart, the “How It’s Done” series. The Chamber Board cooked this up during the 2018 strategic planning session, and we have now held two events in the series; one last fall at Pacific Seafood in Bay City, and one earlier this month at the Port of Tillamook Bay. The goal of the How It’s Done series is to provide a space to talk about different facets of the realities of economic vitality in an on-the-ground forum through the lens of a particular industry.

Sound esoteric, lofty, idealistic, and hard to imagine?

I’ll break it down: we get a behind the scenes tour and talk real talk about what it means to do that business – including the hard stuff. At Pacific Seafood, we talked at length about how tough it is to get and keep employees, and the variety of experiments that have been tried (some with more success than others) to keep things going in Bay City. We also learned that Pacific Seafood is more than seafood harvesting and yummy oyster platter; they have a huge distribution operation that includes all kinds of meat – not just seafood.

The operation in Bay City is only the smallest glimpse of their corporation, and from their Portland roots they have expanded into 41 states with more than 3,000 employees. The jobs that are available in the Tillamook location are diverse, requiring a variety of skill levels and schedules, and as an employer they recognize that housing and transportation are often major barriers to finding and retaining employees year round. During our tour of Pacific Seafood, we heard from other employers in other industries as well as representatives from the employment department and the robust discussion led to shared ideas and collaboration. Problem not solved, but new relationships were forged and we are confident that solutions are built out of teamwork.

At the Port of Tillamook Bay, an entirely different conversation was had. POTB hosts the majority of the industrially-zoned land in the county, has more than 250 tenants, and, in addition to being a successful business incubator, is a critical piece of the resiliency planning effort. Additionally, there is a commercial airport located at the Port where an estimated 3,500 flights take off and land each year.

There is a new lease in place on the digester out at the Port, and the Tillamook PUD has a purchase agreement in place to purchase the power created there and distribute it over the local grid. This new “Green Power” program that is available through the PUD is an opt-in option and PUD customers have the ability to buy varying percentages of their residential or commercial power as “Green Power.” The digester is run by processing local dairy waste, creating a huge opportunity for farmers to process that waste more efficiently; a significant benefit for another local industry. The company who has leased the digester and resumed operations is called BioGas, and they are looking at expanding the DEQ permitting, which would allow for additional compostable materials to be processed through the digester for power conversion; the possibilities are great. The Chamber is joining the TCCA and the Port of Tillamook Bay as purchasers of Green Power, and if you are interested in learning more about the options, you can call the PUD at (503) 842-2535 or visit their website: tpud.org.

We love these conversations; our business is business after all. Currently we are scheduling How It’s Done tours just a couple of times each year, and (due to limited space) we offer reservations to Chamber members and potential members first. If you have an idea for How It’s Done or would like to learn more about the series, we welcome you to pop by Chamber Headquarters, give us a call at (503) 842-7525, or send me an email: Sierra@tillamookchamber.org. Hope to see you soon!

March 19, 2019

Tillamook Futures Council Invites the Public to Discuss the Future of Tourism-Related Facility Improvements

Tillamook County citizens are invited to attend Community Engagement sessions to discuss the future of tourism-related facility investments. These sessions will be held March 19-22, as a follow up to the Think Tank workshop held on February 15^th.

The 2-hour sessions are being offered at a variety of times and locations throughout the County to encourage citizens to attend and give input:

Tuesday, March 19—5:30-7:30 pm (Pacific City—Kiawanda Community Center)
Wednesday, March 20—8:30-10:30 am (Tillamook—Tillamook Chamber of Commerce)
Wednesday, March 20—1:30-3:30 pm (Rockaway Beach—Community Center)
Wednesday, March 20—5:30-7:30 pm (Nehalem—North Coast Recreation Center)
Thursday, March 21—8:30-10:30 am (Manzanita—Pine Grove Community Hall)
Thursday, March 21—1:30-3:30 pm (Hebo/Neskowin—Hebo Fire Station)
Thursday, March 21—5:30-7:30 pm (Tillamook—Tillamook Bay Community College)
Friday, March 22—8:30-10:30 am (Netarts/Oceanside—Netarts Community Club)

These sessions will give County residents and stakeholder a chance to:

Hear about the tourism facilities planning outcomes from the February 15^th Think-Tank workshop http://lab.future-iq.com/tillamook-tourism-investment-strategic-action-plan/
Provide input on future tourism-related facility planning and development

The sessions will be highly interactive, with an opportunity for citizens to have direct input into shaping future investment priorities in the County. The workshops will also include a short survey, where citizens can record their individual perspectives. Citizens are encouraged to attend and may attend multiple workshops.

March 12, 2019

Chamber Exclusive Employer Health Plans

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

What’s one question we get asked at the Chamber regularly – I might even say daily: “What do I get out of a Chamber membership?”

There are a number of ways to answer this question. First referrals, networking opportunities, access to trainings, an advocate with local and state government, and the list goes on and on. (If you’re interested in seeing a full list, stop by our office and I’ll give you a copy of our Membership Guidebook that we just produced.)

One “benefit” that we haven’t talked openly about quite yet is a huge one: health insurance plans.

We have partnered with the Bend Chamber of Commerce and Corey Bush with Hudson Insurance to bring Bend’s health insurance program to Tillamook. Here’s how it works: as a good-standing member of the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce, you also become an associate member of the Bend Chamber of Commerce, which allows them to offer their rates and insurance plans right here in Tillamook. They are working with Corey as the local agent, so you have someone in town who can walk you through the process.

What I find most exciting about this new benefit is that health insurance is not one size fits all, and with the plans offered by PacificSource (six in total) you can customize what plans you’re able to offer to your employees. Employees appreciate having choices, especially when it comes to their healthcare. You can give your employees the opportunity to choose a plan that best suits their needs, with competitive rates that might be less than what you’re paying now. Or, if you’ve been unable to offer employee health benefits, it might now be an affordable option for your business. Plus, if you have a group of 10 or more enrolled employees, you may be eligible for a five percent wellness discount during your first year.

While I won’t get into the specifics of each plan here, all of the health plans through PacificSource cover essential health benefits, no-cost preventive care, calendar-year benefits and all member out-of-pocket costs for covered services apply toward the annual out-of-pocket limit. PacificSource is a great network both in Tillamook and throughout the state of Oregon.

The main takeaway here is that this is a new avenue of accessing health care which we haven’t had in Tillamook, and is only available through a Chamber membership. We’ve already had a handful of members sign up because they are able to offer better coverage to their employees at less cost to them.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, I encourage you to reach out to Corey Bush at Hudson Insurance to learn more and see if it is a good fit for your business. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

And for information on Chamber membership (which is step one of accessing these competitive health plans), call our office at 503-842-7525 or visit www.tillamookchamber.org.

March 6, 2019

Performing Pianist Building Bridges Between Artists and Communities

by Jill Timmons

It’s New Year’s Day and I am looking out on the beautiful Netarts Estuary. I’m excited to begin 2019, and here in Tillamook. I moved here three years ago to anchor my company in Oregon and to live close to nature. Although I am a fourth generation Oregonian, I have lived in various places throughout the US as well as in France. But the central Oregon coast beats them all!

Through my company, Artsmentor, LLC, I work as a performing artist (pianist), music educator, consultant, and author. I also enjoy grant writing and assisting non-profits. My company works mostly throughout the US but occasionally in France. My mission is to build bridges between artists and communities, bringing the power and inspiration of music to all ages, all cultures, and all locales, and to foster a thriving environment for the performing arts.

There are two things that can bring people together, and promote understanding, sometimes almost instantaneously: music and food. When we enjoy the music or cuisine of a community or locale, we can learn a lot from the foods and preparation from that particular region. Think of our own county. Where else can you get the best oysters?! When you partake of this special delicacy, you know that Netarts has been home to this harvest back to the Native American communities that were first here.

Music is much the same. If you visit the rugged Atlantic coast of Brittany, France, for example, you will find an ancient seafaring culture—much like on the Oregon coast. The Breton people are known for their heartfelt sea shanties and distinctive bagpipe and oboe. And of course their cuisine is filled with fruits de mer (seafood), just like here in Tillamook.

I grew up spending my summers in a modest cabin with my family in Manzanita. In those days, Manzanita was a one-horse town. When we weren’t exploring the local community, we were fishing out of Tillamook Bay. I still get a thrill landing a big salmon! My dad and I were even rescued at sea by the Coast Guard. But that’s another story…

These days in Tillamook, we are experiencing a wave of exciting growth and development in our community. Just think of Highway 101. All things are possible! I am proud to live here, to anchor my business in this community, to meet so many vibrant and entrepreneurial people, and to be a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I hope you will join me next September for the second annual Piano Arts in Netarts music festival. Our opening concert is September 5. All events are held at the Netarts/Oceanside Firehouse and the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce website will have details in a few weeks. This opening concert, by the way, is free and open to the public and will also serve as a freewill offering for the Firehouse rescue efforts in our community.

It’s stopped raining and the tide is out. Time for a walk to Oceanside!

Jill Timmons has performed internationally as both a solo pianist and ensemble artist and has offered performances and educational residencies on three continents. Timmons, has been a featured artist on National Public Radio, has performed under the auspices of the National Endowment for the Arts and has recorded on the Laurel, Centaur, and Capstone labels. Ken Burns chose music from her Amy Beach recording for the soundtrack to his PBS documentary, The War. She received an NEA fellowship award for the recording of the complete works for solo piano by American composer, William Bergsma. As an award-winning author, Timmons has written on topics that include entrepreneurship, and volunteerism within the arts and humanities. She is a recipient of the Wilk International Literary Prize from University of Southern California. In 2013, Oxford University Press published her career guidebook: The Musician’s Journey: Crafting Your Career Vision and Plan. Timmons holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington and is professor emerita at Linfield College. Currently, Timmons is an artist/teacher affiliate with Classic Pianos at their flagship Portland store and in their affiliate locations in Bellevue, Denver, Anchorage, Las Vegas, Boston, and Albuquerque. When she isn’t making music, you will find her exploring the natural wonders of Tillamook County.

February 28, 2019February 28, 2019

Tillamook Farmers Market – Now Taking Vendor Applications

By Sayde Walker
Tillamook Farmers Market Manager

If you’re like me, rainy days are best spent inside. They call for a second (or third) cup of coffee, a book, Netflix playing in the background and a fire in the fireplace. I love the rain just as much as the next #PNWnative, but I also can’t wait for longer, sunnier days.

Summer time of course means the start of the Tillamook Farmers Market, and thus my favorite of all my job titles. This year’s season opens June 15th and, per usual, will run each Saturday through the end of September from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the corner of Laurel Avenue and Second Street.

With only four months out, that means it’s time to start recruiting vendors. Our application is again online, and can be found on both the Tillamook Chamber website and TillamookFarmersMarket.com. You can also find the link on both Facebook pages as well.

This year we are specifically looking for more prepared food vendors to give people shopping (and vendors) more choices for lunch. You can find our policies and vendor requirements online as well, or just email me and I can send those to you if you have any questions about whether or not your products meet the standard for a farmers market.

I am also out and about looking for sponsorships for the 2019 season; sponsors are recognized throughout the year in various ways depending on the level.. We have all kinds of programs you can choose to sponsor – such as our music tent. I can’t say enough how incredible our music line up is this year. So many favorites from last year returning (Buffalo Kitty, ZuhG, Dante Zapato), and a few brand new acts as well. To bring in a high caliber of musicians, we have to be sure to compensate them and sponsors can help offset these costs.

Another great sponsorship opportunity are our Kids Bucks program, which works in conjunction with the OSU Extension Food Hero booth. Kids under 12 who visit the booth and participate in some kind of food related activity receive a $2 voucher that they can spend at the Tillamook Farmers Market. Those that participate each week can get even more fun prizes.

We are also raising money for the Double Up Food Bucks program, which is returning in 2019. Folks who have an Oregon Trail Card can spend their SNAP dollars with eligible vendors at the Market, and receive a dollar for-dollar match up to $10 to buy extra fruits, vegetables, nuts and more. Just bring your EBT card to the Market trailer during the season and we will run your card and give you the match. Last year our Market did just over $3,800 in SNAP and SNAP match sales. However there is no funding for the match, so we take it upon ourselves and the support we get from Food Roots to keep this program going.

If you’re interested in sponsoring the TIllamook Farmers Market, you can email me at sayde@tilamookchamber.org or call the office at 503-842-7535. And be sure to fill out an application online if you want to join us as a vendor. It’s going to be a great season!

February 23, 2019June 23, 2019

Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting Minutes: January 15, 2019

To read the full minutes of the Tillamook Mid County Parks and Rec District Meeting on March 11, 2019 click here: Parks&RecMtgMinutes1.10.19FINAL

February 14, 2019February 14, 2019

Switzerland – here we come!

Well Tillamook, you told us that you wanted to go to Switzerland and we listened. In case you haven’t heard the official word yet: we will be leaving this fall for a “Highlights of Alpine Europe” tour, and we’d love for you to join us!

The 14-day trip commences October 5th and includes 12 nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast, guided sightseeing tours by local and expert guides, a private motor coach and we’ll even be treated to a scenic train ride through the stunning countryside.

We’ll journey from Switzerland’s mountain-lined Lake Lucerne to France’s Lake Annecy (with a chance to see the Annecy open-air market, much like a Farmers Market), take in the picturesque Chamonix Valley and stroll along Italy’s Lake Como. In Como, a local guide will lead us through the medieval quarter, including a 12th-century defense tower that overlooked the old city and a stroll through the gardens at Villa Carlotta, a palace completed in 1960. Then we’ll cross Liechtenstein and hit the winter wonderland of Innsbruck (the site of two winter Olympic Games) before heading to Munich. While we’ll spend a day getting to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour, we also get a free day in Munich to go and explore whatever you wish before we head home.

During these 14 days, we’ll see the Chapel Bridge – a 17th century covered footbridge, Nymphenburg Palace, Mont Blanc, the Baroque Cathedral of St. James, Glockenspiel and enjoy the Bernina Express train ride to a Swiss resort town and popular hub of wintertime sports.

As always, we are able to offer an early registration discount. Anyone who registers in the month of February gets $100 off their trip. You can register online at grouptoursite.com/tours/alpineeuropewithtillamook.

If you have questions about the itinerary or how you can customize your trip, feel free to reach out to Sierra at 503-842-7525 or email sierra@tillamookchamber.org. Sierra, of course, will be leaving for Portugal with 15 people on March 15th, so she won’t be in the office to answer questions through the final weeks of March, but will be available through email and happy to talk travel while traveling. You can also call Go Ahead directly and ask for Nicole at 617-619-1170 or call Kait at 617-619-1191. Tell them you’re interested in traveling with the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce on the Highlights of Alpine Europe trip.

We don’t usually offer two trips in a single year, but this was too good of a deal to pass up, and the more people we can take on these trips the more we can build on what community means to us when we return home. Each country we visit represents its own unique culture, customs, problems and solutions and it’s an eye-opening way to learn about the world and bring some of that education and appreciation back home. We never get tired of hearing about how much people enjoy these trips and the friendships that they make along the way. You’ll just have to see for yourself.

February 6, 2019

Celebrate the Bounty of the Bays Feb. 23

Twenty-five years ago Tillamook Bay was designated as a “Bay of National Significance” by the Environmental Protection Agency. This designation secured Tillamook Bay’s spot in the National Estuaries Program, which works to protect and restore the water quality and ecological integrity of 28 estuaries located along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Coasts and Puerto Rico.

To celebrate this milestone with the community and the work being done to develop and implement science-based, community-supported management plans for all of Tillamook County’s estuaries and watersheds, the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership (TEP) invites the community to its Celebrate the Bounty on the Bay event at Pacific Restaurant on Feb. 23.

“This is a great chance to come meet the TEP staff, learn about water quality trends within our five estuaries, and the habitat restoration work that’s being done that’s beneficial to our fish and supports healthier fisheries,” said Chris Knutsen, Board President for TEP. “All while enjoying an extravagant seafood feast prepared by some of the best chefs in the region.”

Knutsen noted that traditionally TEP has hosted a premier fishing tournament that also served as their annual fundraiser, but this year the Board of Directors decided to switch things up a bit.

“Bounty on the Bay has traditionally been a fishing tournament,” he explained, “but with Chinook fisheries being at a lower abundance level for the next few years, we felt it was a good opportunity to expand the event and diversify our audience a bit more.”

Knutsen said they still hope that anglers and outdoor enthusiasts will join them on Feb. 23, as well as anyone and everyone who supports the idea of healthy watersheds.

“A lot of people who live in Tillamook County or visit our area don’t realize all the work TEP is doing on their behalf and for fish and wildlife resources,” Knutsen said.

Participants will be treated to a fabulous happy hour at Pacific Restaurant with fun trivia, prizes, a seafood dinner and a silent auction full of action-packed adventures.

“These are experiential-type opportunities that folks can bid on and help support TEP, and in turn allows them to get outside and see some of the area of Tillamook County that we serve and have an adventure while they’re out there,” Knutsen noted.

It’s also a chance for TEP to share their 2018 Year in Review and encourage the community to get involved with the protection and conservation of Tillamook’s five watersheds.

Tickets to the seafood feast and silent auction are only $60 for individuals or $330 for a table of six or $400 for a table of eight. You can purchase tickets on Eventbrite.com or at TEP’s website: www.tbnep.org. Ticket prices include two beer or wine drink tickets per person. Other drinks will be available for purchase at the bar. Limited tickets are available, and those interested are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance.

If you’d prefer to not indulge in the seafood feast, the community is welcome to attend the 2018 Year in Review from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. that night free of charge. Find a full schedule for the evening on the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership’s Facebook page.

The evening is made possible thanks to generous sponsors including: Visit Tillamook Coast; The Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa; Wood & Moore Construction Inc.; Pacific Byway Development Company; Pacific Restaurant; and Pacific Seafood.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for Celebrate the Bounty on the Bay, or would like to help support TEP’s work with a donation to the silent auction, please contact Kristi Foster at 503-322-2222 or email kristi@tbnep.org.

February 5, 2019February 10, 2019

Young Pros of Tillamook hosts Successful Kick-Off

Last week we hosted the first ever kick-off social for the Young Professionals of Tillamook. Roughly 80 people showed up, without knowing much about what the evening was going to entail or how they would fit in.

It was outstanding to see such a fantastic turn out, and my my hat is off to Chamber Board Member Beau Pulliam for spear heding this new group that I believe will have a substantial impact on the future of Tillamook County. Creating a young professionals group has been a goal that the Chamber has been working toward for several years as a way to connect and empower people in the community who might not yet consider themselves leaders.

So what is a Young Professional? A young professional is an individual that is or at the very least feels young in spirit, is employed, and has time, energy, and knowledge to collaborate with like-minded individuals.

As a group, Young Professionals of Tillamook seeks to provide the solution to the question: How do you provide a supportive environment for both young professionals and small business owners in Tillamook? One of YPT’s biggest goals is to highlight the aspects that many of us love about living and working in Tillamook County and engage the young people of Tillamook in a way that will encourage them to stay and build a career here.

By focusing on their four core pillars: leadership development, social engagement, community service and business revitalization, the YPT can help foster a community of young professionals and leaders that will carry the local businesses to the next level of success. Being a member of the YPT means being a member of a community of professionals with a vision of empowering their members to be leaders in business and in the local community. It means accessing leadership learning opportunities to expand your career, connecting with local projects and non-profit entities that need volunteers, and providing mentorship, insight and assistance to businesses that are in need of a youthful outlook.

The intent of the YPTis to provide an outlet for social, civil, and professional development. Throughout the year, they will host events that are focused on social engagement and leadership development, and that of course, provide an opportunity to have an all-out good time. (I think we all saw that was true last week.)

If one, or all of these aspects interest you then a membership to the YPT might be for you. Consider it a chance to grow your skills, professional contacts, and leadership abilities in the community, while simultaneously giving back and serving in ways that interest you and are valuable to others.

If you didn’t make it last week, but would like to learn more (or already know that you want to join and be a part of this quickly-growing group), you can email youngpros@tillamookchamber.org. They also have their own Facebook page, and you can follow what the YPT is doing there. Just go to Facebook.com/youngprostillamook.

Thank you to Pacific Restaurant for catering, and Pelican Brewing Co. for donating beer. Werner’s Gourmet Meat Snacks also donated the raffle gift basket.

January 28, 2019February 10, 2019

Welcome Joanna Stelzig (and Join us Jan. 30th for the Young Professionals Kick-Off Social)

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of introducing one of our newest Chamber Board members, Beau Pulliam, who hails from Werners Gourmet Meat Snacks and is spearheading our Young Professionals of Tillamook group.

When Beau was recruited for the Chamber Board last year, he was also joined by Joanna Stelzig, the Public Relations Manager at Tillamook PUD. Joanna is responsible for managing the internal and external communications for the PUD – including social media, print media, their website, radio advertisements and customer inquiries. She also coordinates and organizes community engagement opportunities such as job shadowing, the Community Support Grant Program, school presentations and community meetings.

Joanna is no stranger to community service. She has been involved in the community in a number of different capacities over the years, which lead her to the Tillamook Chamber.

“I like the mission of the Chamber and what the Chamber does for our businesses and the community,” she said. “I love that the Chamber is involved in a wide variety of endeavors throughout the community and that I will get to be a part of this.”

Joanna brings her communication expertise and extensive volunteer experience to the Board, and has already dove in head first. She was instrumental in helping plan and set up our annual Community Awards Banquet, and even showed up the day after morning to help us clean up. What’s more, she always has a positive attitude and is willing to help until the job is done.

Joanna said she’s most excited about being involved in our Chamber events – such as the June Dairy Parade, What’s Brewin’, the Tillamook Farmers Market and the brand new Young Professionals group (more on that below.)

“I’m excited to help with Chamber events that highlight our great businesses, connect our community, and bring people to our town,” she said. “I am thrilled to be a part of the Tillamook Chamber team and can’t wait to do fun and great things!”

OK – speaking of Young Professionals, the Chamber is hosting an informational gathering on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. for folks who want to learn more about the opportunities available through a new Chamber program; the Young Professionals of Tillamook (YPT). We’ll have light appetizers, drinks, and a group of people who want to further the mission of YPT: to foster relationship-building, career development, entrepreneurial endeavors and civic involvement among other young professionals.

This is a community of professionals in their 20s to mid-40s across Tillamook County, with a like-minded vision to encourage their members to be leaders in business and local communities and empower young professionals to freely determine the direction of their lives, pursue happiness and strive for professional success.

If you are a Young Professional, or know of someone who might be interested, please join us on Jan. 30 at the Chamber HQ (208 Main Avenue) to learn more.

January 24, 2019February 10, 2019

Tillamook PUD Offers Community Grants in 2019

TILLAMOOK, OR – January 22, 2019- Tillamook PUD is offering a Community Support Grant program to local non-profit organizations with projects promoting economic growth and community livability in Tillamook County.

Organizations interested in applying for a grant must complete and submit an application by February 22, 2019. Applications are evaluated by the PUD Board of Directors, with final project selection in mid-March.

During evaluation, the Board considers each project and its potential for economic development, outreach into the community, and financial need. Projects must be completed by the end of the 2019 calendar year.

Individual grant awards will not exceed $10,000 and will not be awarded to the same entity more than twice in a five-year period. Some examples of past projects that have received grant funds include lighting and electrical upgrades at various civic organizations, purchasing updated energy efficient appliances for community facilities, and supporting improvement projects at local organizations utilized by the community.

Grant applications and procedures are available from Tillamook PUD or on its website at www.tpud.org/news-community/community-support-grants/.

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019

Thank You for Celebrating with Us

Photo by Tillamook County Pioneer

By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director

Saturday was our annual Community Awards Banquet and fundraiser at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds. It was a packed house as more than 400 people came out to celebrate with us and all of our Community Award nominees.

Each year it feels like this event gets more and more recognition from the community and we look forward to seeing everyone and enjoying a phenomenal meal prepared by over a dozen of our most recognized restaurants, and all coordinated by Chef Nelia Seratista of Pacific Restaurant. Nelia was gracious enough to work the evening in the kitchen all while being nominated for Citizen of the Year.

We also had a robust silent auction with donations from 75 local businesses, and it was exciting to watch as folks tried to outbid each other on their favorite items. Overall we had one of our most successful oral auctions, and I can’t thank Brett Hurliman enough for once again being our auctioneer and crowd pleaser. I must also thank our dedicated team of volunteers who pulled the whole thing off; this wasn’t just an effort by our Board and staff, and together we easily put in a couple hundred hours. Thank you to local Boy Scout Troop 582 for being our floor service and tear down crew for the eventing; and to Bridgett Kinne, Ken Phillips and Emily Critelli for being spectacular bartenders.

The entire evening was one of high emotions. We were sadly aware of Tommy Flood’s passing and had a moment of silence in his honor. The Schooner crew honored him well by carrying out a flawless paella in what I dub as “Tommy’s insanely large paella pans.”

We also handed out our first ever Program of the Year award to the Shop with a Cop program, which received a resounding standing ovation from the crowd. This program is in its 15th year in Tillamook and has helped more than 650 children have a merry Christmas by taking them shopping with a police officer. The community pride for this program was electric, and it was a well-deserved win.

Ken Werner was awarded Citizen of the Year out of a lengthy list of 10 nominees. Ken delivered a heartfelt speech thanking his community for taking a chance on him all those years ago and helping him build his legacy. Both Werners Beef & Brew and Werner Brewing Co. received nominations in other categories, and I think we can all agree that we wouldn’t be enjoying either of these businesses without the foundation that Ken Werner has laid.

Our other winners included the Blue Heron French Cheese Co. for Business of the Year. Not only do they provide a world-class visitor experience, their community spirit is tangible. The love and support that the Pastegas have bestowed on Tillamook County is a testament to their long term commitment to both our visitors and our citizens.

Madeline’s Vintage Marketplace took home Small Business of the Year, due in part to their resilient and positive attitude when faced with both the highway construction project and then a building remodel that forced them to relocate for the summer. These ladies provide impeccable customer service and create a storefront that sets a high bar for the rest of our downtown retailers.

And finally, Development Project of the Year went to the Highway 6/101 Realignment project. In the end, I think we can all understand and agree that despite the hardships of the last three years the investment in our city was well worth it, and the economic stimulation is already positively impacting our business owners. While there are still kinks to be worked out in the project, I hope in the upcoming year we can lay down our negativity and embrace the worthwhile improvements.

Thank you for celebrating with us! We look forward to another tremendous year.