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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2020)
Business AgLife B Thursday, March 19, 2020 The Observer & Baker City Herald Small-business & Ag Coronavirus HAPPENINGS Northwood, Outdoors RV shut plants EO Media Group staff OLCC provides ‘Bottle Bill’ relief to retailers PORTLAND — The Oregon Liquor Control Commission has tem- porarily ceased enforcement action against Oregon retailers for failing to accept empty beverage containers for redemption. The agency announced the move Sunday in response to the outbreak of the new corornavirus. During the period, the OLCC will not issue stores a notice of violation for not taking back empty bev- erage containers, “Grocers and supermarkets are over- whelmed with an unprecedented volume of customers attempting to purchase pro- visions so they can spend time at home to help in the effort to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19),” the commission stated in a news release. Maintaining on-site redemption and collection areas is taking time away from in-store customer service, supply re-stocking, store cleaning, and managing social distancing. Stores have requested relief from bottle bill redemption so employees can focus on the high cus- tomer traffi c. “Supermarket and grocery retailers are short-staffed; like many other businesses and institutions their employees are also managing their own health and family issues during this challenging time,” the announcement stated.v”With the surge in consumer grocery shopping, food retail employees are working long hours to help customers as grocers prioritize their efforts on keeping shelves stocked.” Providing this temporary relief allows grocers greater fl exibility to more effec- tively manage and maintain a safe and healthy store environment. The action remains in place through March 31. Disaster loans available for small businesses WASHINGTON — The federal Small Business Administration has put in place disaster loans for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 virus. Greg Smith, director of the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, reported while this situation is evolving, only the following counties are eligible to apply: Morrow, Sherman, Gilliam, Hood River, Umatilla and Wasco. “We are being told that no doubt assis- tance will become available throughout the state,” Smith stated in a news release. The application and other information can be found at https://disasterloan.sba. gov/ela/ . “We recommend you check the site often so you can see when other counties become eligible to apply,” Smith said. Cattlemen’s Association weighs in on governor’s cap-and-trade order SALEM — The Oregon Cattlemen’s Association last week issued its opposi- tion to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown’s exec- utive order for the curbing of greenhouse gas emissions. “OCA supports businesses, family operations and those linked to transpor- tation of goods and services who will be dramatically impacted by this decision,” according to the news release from the organization. “The Oregon Cattlemen’s Associa- tion stands with the 28 out of 36 Oregon county commissions representing Orego- nians who oppose cap and trade.” OCA’s Executive Director Jerome Rosa stated it was discouraging Brown “would ignore the outspoken opposi- tion of cap and trade from Oregon’s rural communities.” The association also stated it will work with natural resource partners in opposing this decision and anticipates legal action on challenges over state agen- cies’ authority to implement the order. Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative closes offices to public By Phil Wright EO Media Group LA GRANDE — La Grande-based North- wood Manufacturing and its related company Out- doors RV announced tempo- rary shutdowns of their recre- ational vehicle manufacturing facilities. Northwood Investments, the parent company of Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV, issued a news release explaining the closures are a “measure to protect workers and the community as a whole as the coronavirus crisis spreads across the country.” Lance Rinker, director of purchasing and marketing for the companies, said each plant has 240 line workers. Add in offi ce staff and the total number of employees exceeds 500, and they live throughout Union County. And the nature of manufacturing presents hur- dles to following recommenda- tions for sanitation and social distancing. “People can’t pick up that staple gun and go over here and wash their hands,” he said. The better move, then, Rinker said, is to cut out the risk of transmitting the virus, protect employees and protect the wider community. “You don’t know who all you’re going to impact,” he said. “We’re going to err on the side of caution.” That attitude is coming from the top down, he said, starting with owner Sherry Nash and right through to Northwood Investments CEO Craig Orton, who in a news release stated, “The well-being Staff photo by Ronald Bond/EO Media Group Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV are on hiatus. The related companies announce they are temporarily shutting down in the wake of the coronavirus. of our employees, their fam- ilies and our community is our top priority, so we have decided our best course of action at this time is a tempo- rary shutdown.” Rinker said everyone at the plants would much rather have them humming along, but the leadership at the company is evaluating the shutdowns weekly. The closures came Monday afternoon in the wake of Gov. Kate Brown’s order prohib- iting gatherings of 25 or more people, urging Oregonians not to convene in groups of more than 10 people and banning on-site consumption of food and drink at restaurants and bars to help contain the new coronavirus. The governor late Tuesday ordered schools closed for six weeks. “This is a challenging moment for everyone,” North- wood Investments CFO Cerise Smallwood said in the announcement, but added the community has risen to chal- lenges of the past and will do so in this crisis. Rinker said Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV will do the same. The companies go back 27 years, he said, and “have seen some things,” such as the eco- nomic downturn in the wake of 9/11 and the Great Reces- sion. RV manufacturing and sales also are a harbinger of the economy, he said, and can be the fi rst to feel the pinch when people stop spending disposable income. But, he stressed, RV manufacturing also is one of the fi rst indus- tries to bounce back. “As long as there is going to be RV sales, we feel confi dent we will get ours,” he said. That’s not so much a boast, he added, but the reality of the resale value of the company’s RV, and that quality is a result of the dedication from the front-line workers. Northwood Investments must protect itself and its employees, he said, to ensure the jobs are there to keep the products coming. Oregon Trail Electric Coop- erative in a similar move announced it is closing its offi ces in Baker City, La Grande, John Day and Burns to the public effective Tuesday at 5 p.m. “The offi ces will remain closed to walk-in traffi c until further notice,” according to the cooperative’s announce- ment. “The drive-through window at our La Grande dis- trict offi ce will remain open. Appointments for in-person business will be available by calling 541-523-3616.” Oregon Trail Electric also announced it is temporarily suspending late fees and dis- connections. Customers can call the companies offi ces at 541-523-3616 if they are having diffi culty paying the electric bill. Teen entrepreneurs show their stuff New advice for loss of employment due to virus By Stacey Green For the EO Media Group BAKER CITY — Teens from Wallowa County’s Mentor Match Youth Entre- preneur Program on Friday traveled to Baker City to participate in the fi rst Rural Teen Entrepreneur Summit. The summit brought together the teen entrepre- neurs from Lostine, Enter- prise and Joseph to meet with teens from Harney County and Baker County. Launch Pad Baker, a non- profi t incubator space, and its director, Bryan Tweit, hosted the summit. The daylong event celebrated rural teen entrepreneurs. “I enjoyed learning ways to respond to failure,” said Enterprise junior Katrina Haines, whose business, KH Custom Stickers, launched last fall. “I also got good ideas for how to make my product better.” Foster Hobbs, founder of Lostine River Forge, brought examples of the decora- tive hooks and door pulls he makes out of a blacksmith shop he created in an old shed on his family’s property outside Lostine. EO Media Group staff Contributed photo Contributed photo Foster Hobbs, a senior at Enterprise High School, pre- sents his business, Lostine River Forge, at the fi rst Rural Teen Entrepreneur Summit on Friday in Baker City. Enterprise High School junior Katrina Haines presents her business, KH Custom Stick- ers, at the fi rst Rural Teen En- trepreneur Summit on Friday in Baker City. “I learned a lot today about improving sales and marketing.” Zoey Leith, a junior at Joseph Charter School “I liked hearing about the other businesses and talking with young entrepre- neurs,” said Foster, a senior at Enterprise High School. “I learned that the most important thing isn’t talent, it’s perseverance.” Aubrina Melville, an Enterprise junior, founded Laundry Lambs, chemi- cal-free dryer balls made 907826-B 2106 Cove Ave. La Grande 541.963.4969 prosper@eoni.com See, Teens/Page 2B SALEM — Oregon Sec- retary of State Bev Clarno and Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle this week issued some guidance on a few employment laws concerning coronavirus. “As always, it is critically important to understand and adhere to state laws that pro- tect both workers and busi- nesses,” according to the news release from the state offi cials. Oregon has resources available for businesses and employers, and employers can call the Technical Assistance hotline at 971-673-0824 or email bolita@boli.state.or.us. Below are issues Clarno and Hoyle address. Sick time •All employees get sick time. If you have 10 or more See, Jobless/Page 2B Let us help you sort out the new tax law changes.
