Category: Featured Posts

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.

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!

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.