Page 5 – Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce

September 7, 2016November 17, 2016

September 7th Bulletin

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, the City of Tillamook is finally fully involved in the US 101/OR 6 Highway Intersection Project. The reader board signs are up, the warnings about night work have been circulated, and the men in orange vests and hard hats are cropping up everywhere. It is time for this bulletin to go weekly.

Every Tuesday, except for delays during holidays, we will be receiving the contractor’s schedule revisions with all of their proposed activities for the following three weeks.

Today’s three week look-ahead revealed that the night work warnings would not be going into effect right away, but that there will be daytime lane restrictions on Pacific Avenue between 8 AM and 4 PM instead. It is anticipated that Pacific Avenue will be restricted to one lane of traffic from 4th to 1st Street for the foreseeable future as drilling for temporary signalization poles, preliminary drainage, and other preparatory work commences. This may cause some traffic queuing, particularly in the afternoons. The 911 Center has been alerted to this change and emergency adjustments will be made.

The balance of the three-week schedule is focused on tasks in the new bridge area with clearing and grubbing, removal of old non-functioning bridge structures and contaminated soils, and installation of a new work bridge.

The big heads up for the downtown businesses is that the full closure of Second Street between Main and Pacific is scheduled to start on September 26th, the same time that sidewalk demo work on the westside of Pacific Avenue from 4th to 3rd will commence. The full closure will allow for the total demolition of Second Street and its sidewalks. While vehicles will be prohibited, one access point for pedestrians will be maintained for Second Street businesses which do not have an alternative access off of another street.

The closure is anticipated to remain in place for over 90 days as the street is rebuilt into a Plaza that allows for downtown events and activities to occur on a leveled curb-free, danceable surface which can be closed off and accommodate performance stages and features such a fountains in the near future.

Hang in there and standby for a little turbulence as we ascend to our construction attitude.

September 2, 2016November 17, 2016

Work to Begin After Labor Day

The ‘Meet The Contractor’ event last Tuesday was a great launch point for the 33 million dollar Highway 101/6 Project with business owners taking the opportunity to rub elbows with the friendly folks from Oregon State Bridge Construction (OSBC) and ask some direct questions while grabbing a free Pelican Pub/Creamery Association rootbeer float at the same time.

One of the critical announcements at that event was OSBC’s unveiling of their two-year construction schedule, which is presented in a simplified form on the following pages for your review as to how it might affect your operations. Please remember that the dates are approximate and may change with circumstances. We will be receiving a three-week ‘look-ahead’ schedule at the regular construction meetings and will try to keep you posted on key changes as the project proceeds. Click here for Hwy 101/6 Schedule.

A much-discussed topic was maintenance of access to the businesses. It was highlighted that, throughout the project, sustaining two lanes of traffic on both Main and Pacific is a key goal. There may be temporary lane closures, but there will not be a bypass around the downtown. The couplets will flow, but, as noted on the schedule, parking on Main or Pacific may be removed for extended periods of time. Some side streets, such as Second Avenue where the new plaza is being built, may face extended closure while they are being reconstructed.

There is also a contractual requirement that ADA-compliant pedestrian routes be maintained through the downtown. The exact configurations of those routings remain to be determined, but, again, as such information is produced, we will strive to get the word out to you as soon as possible.

In summary the project schedule has been developed in response to commitments made to the City and business community. These include:

Avoiding construction that impacts traffic in the downtown couplet area during the summer months.
When working in the downtown area, the contractor is limited to replacing the sidewalk on one side of the roadway at a time within a city block.
Access must be provided to one corner of a city block at all times.
Access to business doorways must be maintained.

Another recent OSBC announcement was that nightwork will begin on Tuesday the 6th at the intersections of First Street with Main & Pacific. This will continue into the next week with intersection work on Third and Pacific. The nightwork is to prepare for the new signal light installations and may involve such noise-producing activities as concrete-cutting, drilling, and back-up beepers, in addition to bright lighting.

September 1, 2016November 17, 2016

Downtown walking maps aim to increase visitor spending

Last winter, the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce was fortunate enough to receive a Tourism Promotions Grant from Visit Tillamook Coast to create a downtown walking map. Our goal was to produce a tool that would generate more foot traffic in the heart of Tillamook.

The rational behind these maps is that people shopping downtown – particularly visitors to the area – aren’t aware of how many different types of businesses are just within walking distance.

As you probably, know, our downtown has a lot to offer. From frozen yogurt to gourmet cupcakes, yarn and fabric stores, handmade soaps, florists, and vintage thrift shops… There are all kinds of things to explore and do in an afternoon.

And one thing our downtown business owners continue to be great at is interacting with their customers and making sure they know of other nearby places to visit. Now, thanks to the downtown walking map, they have a convenient tool they can reference and that helps visitors gain a better picture of our downtown.

Jackie Ripley, who co-owns Madeline’s Vintage Market Place on Third Street, said that her customers have responded positively to the new map – particularly those from out of state.

Jackie is one who has always done a great job of recommending her fellow downtown business (such as Sunflower Flats, Blue Moon Café, and the Phoenix Exchange) to her customers depending on what else they’re looking for. Now, she said she can easily show them how to get anywhere in downtown Tillamook.

And, she’s had several people in her shop who found her thanks to the downtown walking map.

Along with a printed version that can be picked up for free at the Chamber Visitor Center and different downtown business, there is also a web-based version available at www.gotillamook.com under the ‘downtown’ menu.

The web-based map utilizes GPS and the location services available on mobile devices to direct mobile users easily throughout the downtown area. Users can enter their location and see exactly how close they are to different downtown businesses. It also lets user search for what type of business they’re looking for. So whether it’s a cup of coffee, a place to eat, a manicure or an ice cream cone, the map lists the different options available, as well as how far away they are, addresses and phone number. Users can click ‘take me there’ which redirects to Google maps with an exact walking route to their destination.

This new downtown walking map is a free service for Chamber members in downtown. Other businesses can have their listing added to the map for a small fee by contacting the Chamber at the email below.

The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact us anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.

September 1, 2016October 28, 2016

BOLI Supervisor Training Comes to Tillamook

With a variety of recent changes in workplace laws, the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Tillamook Bay Community College to bring a six-part supervisor training series to Tillamook. Trainers from the Bureau of Labor and Industries Technical Assistance Program will conduct the trainings. Each session is held at the TBCC campus.

“There has been a lot of changes in workplace laws in just this year alone,” said Justin Aufdermauer, the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “We wanted to offer an opportunity where supervisors, managers, and business owners could get up to speed on what these new laws are and how they may affect their business and business practices.”

Over the course of three months, the training will focus on the basics of supervision and employment laws. Each session is three hours and addresses a specific aspect of supervision and applicable laws.

Those interested can choose to attend only one session, pick a few, or take the entire series. Sessions build on knowledge skills attained from prior sessions, and useful reference materials and handouts will be provided.

“We want to make sure our business owners and supervisors feel supported as they navigate through these new laws,” Aufdermauer continued, “and that they come away from the series with the knowledge and understanding they need to implement best business practices.”

The first session begins Sept. 23 and the last one wraps up on Nov. 23. Each session is from 9am – 12 pm at the main Tillamook Bay Community College campus.
Attendees are encouraged to register ahead of time by contacting Tammie Samagaio at info@tillamookchamber.org or by calling (503) 842-7525. Sessions are $60 a piece, or $225 for the full series.

Schedule:

Session 1 – The Basics (9/23: 9am – 12pm)

Discussion of effective supervisory practices; at-will employment and its exceptions; Civil Rights laws and protected classes; and understanding and avoiding workplace harassment.

Session 2 – Hiring Employees (9/30: 9am – 12pm)

Effective and legal hiring practices; starting employees on the right foot; employee orientation; the use of employee handbooks and policies; setting goals and expectations.

Session 3 – Protected Leave (10/14: 9am – 12pm)

Basics of family leave laws including OFLA, FMLA, injured workers and ADA.

Session 4 – Basics of Wage and Hour Laws for Supervisors (10/28: 9am – 12 pm)

Hours worked; overtime; rest and meal periods; timekeeping; and paydays.

Session 5 – Employee Management – Part 1 (11/4: 9am – 12pm)

Setting expectations; position descriptions; performance appraisals; coaching for desired employee performance; and documentation.

Session 6 – Employee Management – Part 2 (11/18: 9am – 12 pm)

Workplace investigations; conducting disciplinary meetings; termination; post-termination issues; and best practices of effective supervisors.

August 30, 2016November 17, 2016

Hwy 101/6 Project Update

Thank you to everyone who showed up last week for the “Meet the Contractor’ event. It was a great launching point for the 33 million dollar Highway 101/6 Project, and gave business owners the opportunity to rub elbows with the friendly folks from Oregon State Bridge Construction (OSBC) and ask some direct questions – all while grabbing a complimentary rootbeer float courtesy of Pelican Brewing Co. and the Tillamook County Creamery Association.

During the event, OSBC unveiled their two-year construction schedule. While the dates are approximate and may change under circumstances, we will be receiving a three-week ‘look-ahead’ schedule at the regular construction meetings and will keep you posted on key changes as the project proceeds.

A much-discussed topic was access to businesses during construction. It was highlighted that, throughout the project, sustaining two lanes of traffic on both Main and Pacific is a key goal. There may be temporary lane closures, but there will not be a bypass around the downtown. The couplets will flow, although parking on Main or Pacific may be removed for extended periods of time. Some side streets, such as Second Avenue where the new plaza is being built, may face extended closure while it is being reconstructed.

There is also a contractual requirement that ADA-compliant pedestrian routes be maintained through downtown. While the exact configurations of those routings remain to be determined, we will let you know as soon as possible.

In summary, the project schedule was developed in response to commitments made both to the city and business community. These include:

Avoiding construction that impacts traffic in the downtown couplet area during the summer months
When working in the downtown area, the contractor is limited to replacing the sidewalk on one side of the roadway at a time within a city block
Access must be provided to one corner of a city block at all times.
Access to business doorways must be maintained.

OSBC also recently announced that nightwork has begun at the intersections of First Street with Main and Pacific. This will continue into the next week with intersection work on Third and Pacific. The nightwork is to prepare for the new signal light installations and may involve concrete-cutting, drilling, and back-up beepers, in addition to bright lighting. It might get loud, so have patience because it will be short lived.

August 29, 2016October 28, 2016

5 Benefits to being a Chamber Member

Here is a question I hear a lot: “why should I be a member of the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce? What’s in it for me?”

It’s a valid question. If you’re spending money on any service, you want to know that it’s working for your business and making a difference. So here are five benefits your business could experience right now by being a member of the Chamber today:

As a Chamber member, we are here to be the best resource possible for you and your business. Admittedly the Chamber cannot help you with everything, however we are positive we can help point you in the right direction. Although we will help anyone and everyone, being a member clearly puts you at the top of our to-do list. We partner with different agencies to bring business development trainings to our area and will be expanding this service over the next year. And, in the near future we will be offering assistance to help member businesses write and obtain local grants. As a member you are the first to know about these programs and will receive discounted registrations, or be able to attend for free in some cases.
Enhanced Livability. The intangible benefit of becoming a Chamber member – yet the most beneficial – is being the financial support that allows the Chamber to continue to do the work in the community that we do for the good of everyone. This includes organizing events such as the Cork & Brew and the June Dairy Parade. It means designing the downtown walking map and new Tillamook Living Calendar. It also means addressing community needs – like working with ODOT on local traffic issues and organizing the downtown cleanup. There are a significant number of things the Chamber is involved in that enhance the livability of our community. A financial contribution in the form of Chamber membership supports all of these things and more. Together we are making our community a better place to both live and spend money.
Having an Advocate. You’re probably too busy to keep up with everything that happens in government – both locally and statewide. And that’s OK. Being a Chamber member means you always have an advocate in local and state-wide government issues. We work to create a balanced dialogue between government and the business community. We always advocate for free enterprise and oppose new taxes and fees that are aimed directly at businesses. You can rest assured that you will have a voice in issues that affect you.
Direct referrals. It may be hard to believe in this Internet age where Google is a household name, but often when people are looking for a particular type of business, product, or service they contact the Chamber. We get calls from people every day inquiring about potential vendors. A primary group we hear from are local businesses asking if anyone in the area provides what they are looking for. We may be a small community, but that doesn’t mean everyone knows everything about the business community and what is available. As a Chamber member, you have more opportunities to gain these valuable referrals, both from the Chamber directly and other Chamber members.
Indirect referrals and visibility. Not to devalue the last point, but membership is relatively inexpensive, averaging from $195 to $330 per year. The amount of visibility you receive online and in print is the best exposure you can spend your advertising dollar on. We say that with confidence! Your business is included in three different online directories, receiving tens of thousands of visits. This helps your own business website retain a higher listing on Google searches. Our membership directory is also printed in 100,000 visitor guides each year, and we have another local publication in the works. And for those who thrive from tourism, don’t forget that Chamber members can display their marketing materials in the Visitor Center. We love knowing that whether you provide a local service or a tourism-related service, we are your best investment dollar for dollar.

Those are just five ways you generate more income for your business by being a Chamber member. I would love to talk to you more about other ways the Chamber can help your business thrive. If you have questions or would like a membership application please email us below.

The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact us anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.

August 24, 2016November 17, 2016

Welcome to the Dairylands

If you haven’t visited our website, www.gotillamook.com, in awhile, then I encourage you to check it out soon. We just completed a massive, comprehensive redesign that will better serve our community and those visiting the area.

In fact, gotillamook.com was redesigned with the visitor in mind. We needed a venue where we could share experiences available in our region. If someone is looking for great fishing, the best place to go for breakfast, a rigorous hike or a unique family adventure, they can find all that information in an easy-to-navigate website. Because the last thing we want to do is make it harder for our visitors to find the information they need. If they’re looking for a hotel number, website, directions or prices we’ve made sure that information is easily accessible.

In addition to being easy to navigate, gotillamook.com highlights the lifestyles and attractions of our region in a visually appealing format. We’re showcasing the very best that Tillamook County has to offer with bold, vibrant photos. These are photos of our business owners, our families, our favorite activities, and of course our beautiful scenery. We believe this visual approach tells our story better because visitors will know exactly what to expect when they get here: they can expect friendly faces, plenty of things to do, delicious food, and new friends.

We’ve also added a link on the homepage that links to our Tillamook Living calendar. The Tillamook Living calendar is a one-stop shop for meetings, events, classes, performing arts, and more. It will eventually be fully integrated across the county so that you never miss what is going on in the area.

And finally, last winter we received a Tourism Promotions Grant from Visit Tillamook Coast for a downtown map. There are print versions available at the Visitors Center and local businesses, and a web-based version can be found under the ‘downtown’ menu on gotillamook.com. The web-based map utilizes GPS and the location services available on mobile devices to direct mobile users easily throughout the downtown area. The goal is to help visitors discover more things to do in our downtown.

As with all websites, gotillamook.com is not stagnant. As information and needs change, we will work to continually build and adjust this website to best suit the needs of our visitors.

The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact us anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.

August 1, 2016November 17, 2016

Tillamook Living Calendar

Almost since the day I was hired as Executive Director of the Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, members of the community have been asking for a calendar of all events that spans the entire region.

I know what you’re thinking: we already have calendars that do that. True, we have calendars. There are several out there that offer information about local events, meetings, volunteer opportunities, and more. However if you’re not checking all of these calendars then you are missing a lot of great opportunities to explore new things, attend a local government meeting, or learn a new hobby.

What I’ve learned through listening to people and organizations is that we don’t need another calendar – we need an integrated calendar.

That’s where the Chamber’s new, community-wide calendar comes in. Currently located at tillamookliving.com, this calendar will not only be cohesive, it will also soon integrate with other calendars across the entire region and be available in multiple locations.

What that means is when an event is entered into one of the pre-existing calendars, it can automatically show up on the Tillamook Living calendar. Or, when you submit an event directly to the Chamber’s calendar, it will populate the other calendars across the county. Now, no matter where you go to find information on what is happening in our community, you won’t miss a thing.

The Tillamook Living calendar is a one-stop shop for meetings, events, classes, performing arts, and more. The search function allows you to narrow your results by a specific organization, type of activity, or by date and time. If you’re only interested in family-friendly activities, or live music, you can search specifically for those. What about a local author reading in the area? Or a photography class? It’s easy to narrow your search to only see what you’re interested in. And, it’s fun and simple to use.

Submitting an event is just as easy as searching for one. All you do is click on the ‘submit an event’ button and fill out the form. You can select more than one category that describes your event so it will show up in the proper searches. You have the option to upload a photo, a link to your website, or a Google map link. If it’s a reoccurring event, fill out the requirements under the ‘reoccurrence rules.’ It’s that simple.

While this calendar is still a work in progress and is not yet fully integrated across the county, you can still visit it at tillamookliving.com to search for things to do and/or upload your events.

If you want to install this calendar on your website or integrate your current calendar please let us know. The calendar is open for everyone and we look forward to forging lasting partnerships for the betterment of the region.

The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact us anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.

August 1, 2016November 17, 2016

Welcome to Chamber Chatter

The Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce has been a staple in Tillamook County since 1931. We are the largest network of businesses and organizations in the county.

But what exactly does that mean?

It means we are a community; a community of business owners, entrepreneurs and organizations who all want a robust and vibrant community for our citizens. We have more than 280 members in the Chamber who actively work together to create this type of business community. We are always growing, improving, and learning from each other.

When people think of the Chamber of Commerce they may recall the Tillamook Bay Run, or perhaps they’ve attended our awards ceremony in January. What they may not know is how myself, the Chamber Board of Directors, and Chamber members are constantly advocating for economic growth in Tillamook County.

With this new column, I will be bringing you weekly updates about the Chamber and the things we are involved in within the community. You’ll learn about new developments downtown, new businesses, and you’ll learn about the tools and resources that we offer our members to help them succeed. You’ll read more about our events, and what being a member of the Chamber means. I’ll share with you some exciting updates we are working on at the Chamber that will help visitors to our community experience more of what we have to offer.

The idea behind Chamber Chatter is to better inform our readers about the many ways the Chamber is involved in the community, and how we continue to be a leader for economic growth and vitality in our county. This column will be your “go to” place for Chamber news and information.

Speaking of which, stop by and see us at the Tillamook County Fair on Aug. 10-13. Each day our booth will feature one of our Chamber-member businesses, as well as information about the Chamber and some brand new apparel.

The Chamber Board and myself value your input and insight. Feel free to contact me anytime at info@tillamookchamber.org.

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