By Sierra Lauder
Director of Events and Downtown Promotions
With the passing of Labor Day, it seems like change is the name of the game. The fall and winter phase of the highway project has brought a new footprint for the traffic pattern, which will continue to shift and adjust as crews focus on different areas downtown. There is a weekly email that we send out to help inform folks about the progress of the construction, and I would encourage you to be in touch if you would like to be added to the email list. You can also sign up for that email or view past emails on our Chamber website: www.tillamookchamber.org/highwayprojet. Often people will pop in to the Chamber office to talk about highway project or other matters, and that is one of my favorite ways to interface with people. We are open at 208 Main Ave. (next to the Dutch Mill Diner) Monday through Friday, and you are welcome to park on Ivy and use the rear entrance, especially now that parking on Main is closed.
While we welcome and encourage dropping by anytime, we continue to host the Mornings on Main Street gatherings each month, 8-9 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month. These events are always casual, and full of representation from many businesses, agencies, and non-profits in the community. It’s a great chance to meet and visit with others. This month, Anna Shapiro from the SBA will be joining us. We’re excited have her and build a connection with the SBA, who offers some really great resources for new and established businesses. Anna sent me this quick description:
“The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides critical support and resources across every state and in every congressional district to help small businesses grow and create jobs. SBA’s core operations are focused around what we call the “Three C’s”: Capital, Contracting and Counseling.
Additionally, SBA plays an increasing role in helping to spur innovation and strengthen the nation’s competitiveness through successful investment and research and development (R&D) focused programs, as well as export and trade assistance. Finally, SBA also serves as one of the leading federal agencies providing assistance to businesses of all sizes, homeowners and renters following natural disasters.”
This Saturday, September 16th, the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce will also be at the Tillamook Farmer’s Market! We will of course be happy to talk highway project, Mornings on Main Street, or any business, but what we really expect to be popular is much more light hearted: the second run of our “Umbrella Swag!” We sold out of our new sweatshirt designs at the Fair this year, and local printing company PSI has been working hard to get us another round. Anyone who has pre-ordered will have their order set aside, and if you miss us at Farmer’s Market this Saturday, don’t despair! We will have everything available at our office.
Planning has started for the fall and winter downtown events schedule, and we anticipate many fun activities in the coming months, including Tillamook classics like Downtown Trick-or-Treat, Small Business Saturday, and The City of Tillamook’s Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. A quick reminder to all to be safe and patient and keep in mind that there is lots of parking available along Ivy.