BUSINESS COMMENT
8 • May 2020
Coast River Business Journal
After the coronavirus pandemic is over
Preparing for the economic recovery of our business community
By Kevin Leahy
Executive Director
Clatsop Economic Development Resources
We are entering the next phase of what we all
hope will be a smooth transition to reopen our
businesses in the phases laid out by Gov. Kate
Brown for the State of Oregon, but we know from
experience and especially the past two months that
there is nothing smooth about any of this.
At CEDR and the Clatsop SBDC, we have gone
from, and in many cases are still working on, a
“response” to “recovery” strategy, especially as it
relates to navigating the complexities, regulations
and processes regarding the SBA EIDL (Economic
Injury Disaster Loan), PPP (Payroll Protection Plan)
and State of Oregon unemployment programs.
Progress is being made each day in small steps that
we hope will soon become at a running pace for our
businesses who so desperately need help,
I cannot stress enough the importance and strength
of the collaboration we have with our economic
development partners. Regionally this includes
the Governor’s North Coast Regional Solutions
team, Oregon Small Business Development Center
Network, Business Oregon, Col-Pac, SBA, Sen.
Betsy Johnson, Rep. Tiffiny Mitchell, U.S. Rep.
Suzanne Bonamici, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and
Ron Wyden, and their very engaged and committed
field staff.
A special thank you and call-out to Sen. Johnson,
who is never too busy to take a call, field a request,
give me direct input, and has such respect that just
saying her name “Betsy” makes everyone stand
At the Clatsop Small Business
Development Center,
We are here to
help you.
—
CLATSOP COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Our services are designed to help business owners and operators in all
stages from start-ups and businesses in their first year, to mature business
looking to grow.
As an entrepreneur, your path to start, run, and grow a business is likely to
be filled with a variety of challenges that you’ll need to overcome to avoid
costly setbacks or even failure. The journey can sometimes be overwhelming
and risky- but you don’t have to do it alone. The Clatsop SBDC’s team of
professional business advisors are available to help you navigate your way to
success!
For more information visit bizcenter.org/clatsop
SCHEDULE A FREE AND
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVISING SESSION
Call 503-338-2402 or email sbdc@clatsopcc.edu
Clatsop Community College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. ADA accessible. For the complete Non-Discrimination and Accommodations statements, please visit https://
www.clatsopcc.edu/ada. Clatsop Community College es una institución de igualdad de oportunidades y de discriminación positiva. Para las declaraciones completas de No-discriminacion y de
Ayuda a las personas discapacitadas, por favor visite https://www.clatsopcc.edu/ada.
up and pay attention, something she has earned
over her many years of being a passionate (that is
an understatement!) advocate for her constituents
throughout District 16.
I would also like to thank our local economic
development partners; the cities of Astoria,
Cannon Beach, Gearhart, Seaside, Warrenton,
Clatsop County, the Port of Astoria, Sunset Empire
Transportation District, the CEDR Board of
Directors and the over 60 private sector members
of CEDR who support the work we do.
Being part of Clatsop Community College gives
us a special “lens” not common in the world of
economic development, and combined with what I
consider a world class team at the Clatsop Small
Business Development Center, uniquely positions
us to set a very high bar as we represent and
support the business community of Clatsop County.
There are twice weekly covid-19 cabinet meetings
with the CCC leadership, led by President Chris
Breitmeyer, which I participate in.
Other critical covid-19 response/recovery efforts:
• Clatsop SBDC business advising, free and
confidential. We have served over 160 business
covid-19 clients since early March, more than we
advised for the entire year in 2019.
• Clatsop SBDC training webcasts that break
down SBA loan programs, HR, sector specific
updates, workshops related to QuickBooks training,
and much more. 800 participants over the past
several weeks! Currently all are free, and can be
accessed via our website at bizcenter.org/centers/
clatsop-sbdc/our-classes to view “on demand”,
when you have the time, or even better to register
and participate in “real time” live sessions.
• SBDC directors meetings: Our statewide
network of 19 Centers in each corner of the state
associated with the 17 Community Colleges and
two universities is now meeting on a weekly
basis with each center director and state SBDC
leadership. The SBDC serves as the business
response and assistance organization within each of
the communities we serve in Oregon.
Covid-19 updates are vetted and posted daily on
the home page of the SBDC. Go to bizcenter.org
and covid-19 is on the home page on a big and bold
banner. Click on that for anything covid-19 related
from a business guidance standpoint.
• CEDR has organized a monthly business
meeting for many years with the city and county
managers, including our Tillamook County
neighbors of Manzanita and Nehalem. Since the
Pandemic started, we have weekly meetings that
starts with Clatsop County updates, and each
City and other partners share updates, questions
and concerns that face everyone, and end with
a solutions driven mindset to bring back to our
elected officials for discussion, clarity and decision-
making.
• CEDR is a member of the North Coast
Regional Economic Recovery Team, the
Economic Development Partners group, and
Kevin Leahy
the North Coast Regional Economic Recovery
Planning Subcommittee. Included also are our
partners at the Astoria-Warrenton, Cannon Beach
and Seaside Chambers of Commerce, ADHDA,
Seaside Visitors Bureau, and other members
mentioned earlier in my article.
Recent work was receiving input from our
business owners related to proposed reopening
guidelines from the governor’s office on the sectors
of retail, restaurants, child care and personal
services. We summarized those over 60 responses
to Regional Solutions Coordinator Jennifer Purcell,
who submitted our local input to the governor. We
like being a “squeaky wheel”!
• CEDR sits as a core member of the Clatsop
County Cooperators leadership, providing
weekly economic-recovery updates on covid-19
work, challenges and progress with member that
are focused on public health and safety, cities,
school districts, law enforcement, military, special
districts, chambers. It has been very productive
to share economic updates with this group while
getting feedback on public health, emergency
operations, and reopening framework planning.
• CEDR/Clatsop SBDC has been a host and
participant in a Business Zoom Forum with
ADHDA, Astoria-Warrenton Business Forum,
Cannon Beach Chamber Virtual Breakfast
meeting, and worked with the City of Seaside on
the $250,000 grant program for businesses in the
community.
Thank you to CEDR Board subcommittee
members who spent quality time reviewing each of
the 135 applications.
We are all working tirelessly to prepare our
businesses for the “new normal” for the hopefully
short-term period ahead. Each and every business
in our county inspires us to do the best job possible.
We have been in your shoes as small business
owners, and know that in everything we do, we are
stronger together.