By Justin Aufdermauer
Executive Director
You’ve no doubt seen in the news recently that the Tillamook County Creamery Association plans to rebuild their visitor center to accommodate more people and enhance the entire experience.
Well, TCCA isn’t the only one in the infancy of a remodel. The Chamber was awarded an $80,000 grant from the Tillamook Urban Renewal Agency to remodel and update our current building at 208 Main Street. We estimate that to complete our vision it will take $100,000 and we are committed to making the investment to make this place the best it can be for the community and visitors.
Our goal is to create a first class visitor information center, as well as having staff offices, and work space and a meeting room for our members and community use.
The remodel will include new faux wood flooring, new interior paint, a new roof, HVAC system, office and meeting space addition, ADA restroom remodel, and redoing the front façade. Both inside and out, this new visitor’s center will reflect an industrial farmhouse look and feel to coincide with the authenticity of The Dairylands branding.
This property remodel is possible thanks to TURA, who fortunately saw the importance of creating a downtown visitor and business center that will help brand our community in a professional and inviting way. The generous investment in the new Chamber headquarters will assure that visitors who come to pick up maps, guidebooks and information have a comfortable launching point for their downtown exploration.
Along with our TURA grant, we received a grant through Visit Tillamook Coast to build a reception counter, several industrial style visitor information racks and signage to match our new building. And as you might assume, all the work on our building, as well as the new racks and signage, will be done through local contractors.
The remodel began this Monday with Daniel Werner Construction framing up office walls with lumber donated by Hampton Lumber. We anticipate the full project will be completed by mid-April. You will still be able to reach Sierra, Tammy, or myself at the office working as best we can through the remodel phase, and of course we appreciate your patience and persistence through this process. Just think, by next summer we will have a functioning highway intersection, a Second Street pedestrian plaza, some brand new sidewalks with added curb appeal, a brand new visitor center at the Cheese Factory, and last but not least a fully-functioning Chamber of Commerce office and first class visitor information center. If that isn’t enough to get you excited, I don’t know what will.
The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact us anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.