Coast river business journal., August 12, 2020, Page 13, Image 13

BUSINESS COMMENT
Coast River Business Journal
CEDR coordinates
$119,342 in state
grants
CLATSOP COUNTY — CEDR
awarded State of Oregon Small
Business Relief funding to 37
Clatsop County businesses
totaling $119,342. The dollars
available were $120,000 for round
one from Business Oregon.
There were 42 initial applications,
and 37 qualified, CEDR
announced on July 20.
Every corner of Clatsop County
was represented with qualified
awardees. Disadvantaged and
under-served businesses are
the focus of this grant program.
Women-owned businesses
totaled 25, or 68% of the total.
Latinx businesses were a total of
9, or 24%.
Businesses that were awarded
any CARES Act Funding were
not eligible to apply, and the
business had to have 10 or fewer
employees. Non-profits were also
eligible to apply.
The dollar amounts ranged from
$2,500 to $5,000 per business.
Checks are in the process of
being mailed now.
“CEDR was proud to bring
forward and deliver this State of
Oregon grant funding program
to Clatsop County businesses in
partnership with the Columbia-
Pacific Economic Development
District,” CEDR Executive Director
Kevin Leahy said. “We have heard
from several of the businesses
the importance of what this grant
program means for their business.
We continue to be inspired by the
entrepreneurs in Clatsop County.”
August 2020 • 13
Can passion save small business?
CCC’s Small Business Development Center helps business owners
By Jessica Newhall
Clatsop Community College
Small Business Development Center
Over the past five months we at the Small
Business Development Center have had the
unique vantage point of seeing “inside” over 150
local small businesses navigating the tumultuous
waves of this pandemic.
As we have been teaching business owners
critical business skills such as “cash flow
forecasting” and “how to pivot your business
model,” I have also found myself thinking and
analyzing what other characteristics seem to be
separating those who might survive and those
who will thrive in the future. This has led me to
the question, “is passion the differentiator?”
If you asked me 6 months ago what I thought
of the idea of “follow your passion” as business
advice, you likely would have witnessed an eye
roll. Too many times I have met with prospective
small business owners who had, upon hearing
this advice, proceeded from “I have an idea”
straight into business at warp speed — investing
significant resources, time and energy into
something that in many cases had a very slim
chance of viability. At the time, it seemed like
their “passion” for the idea gave them permission
and confidence to skip the critical steps of market
research, financial forecasting and business
planning. Unfortunately, the consequences of this
rashness often led to their finding out the hard
way that the market did not have enough potential
customers, the profit margins were slim or they
lacked critical business management skills. It was
heartbreaking to watch these business owners have
their dreams shredded and investments lost — and
as a result, I found myself resentful of those who
had doled out that “follow your passion” advice.
During this pandemic we have seen many
small business owners in our community who,
despite facing an endless stream of challenges and
incredible uncertainty, show up every day at their
shops, restaurants, and client appointments —
Jessica Newhall
masked up and ready to serve with a smile (under
their required PPE, of course!). What you might
not see as a customer is the incredible fragility
of their business. My colleagues and I have
Through all of this, I have
come to discover that a
common denominator exists
in the business owners who
keep showing up every day.
It is passion.
been given the honor to be a trusted confidant
to these owners, providing knowledge, insight
and emotional support as they battle their fear of
failure, attempt to overcome worries of not being
able to provide for their families, stay up late at
night filling out endless and complex applications
for federal, state and local assistance, and become
utterly exhausted “pivoting” to keep up with
ever-changing customer tastes and preferences.
Through all of this, I have come to discover
that a common denominator exists in the
business owners who keep showing up every
day. It is passion. Passion to serve, passion for
their products and services, passion for their
community and ultimately the passion to provide
for themselves and their families. It is this
passion that feeds the tenacity required to keep
fighting, innovating, and pushing forward in the
face of incredible challenge.
The unfortunate reality is that some of our
business community will not make it through
this pandemic. Complex issues like tightening
cash flow, shrinking margins, disrupted supply
chains, fickle customers and employee shortages
will leave some business owners with no other
choice but to shut their doors. For others, it may
simply be exhaustion and feeling ready to throw
in the towel.
To those who find yourself with waning energy
to keep up the fight to keep the lights on, this is the
time to take a step back and think about what drove
you to start your business? Was it independence
and the ability to be your own boss? Did you want
to harness your creativity and build something
of your own design? Did you want to provide a
greater life for you and your family? Likely it
started with a strong desire and now is the time
to tap into that. If you need to, give a name to
that passion, write it down and post it somewhere
where you can see it each morning. Rekindle that
fire that gives you the energy to lean into the fight.
It just may make all the difference in ensuring
your business not only survives but thrives.
Jessica Newhall is the associate director and
Small Business Management program manager
for the Clatsop Community College Small
Business Development Center. She can be reached
at jnewhall@clatsopcc.edu.
TRINSIC
SERIES
CEDR (and Col-PAC EDD)
have also applied for round 2
and round 3 funding for the
State of Oregon Small Business
Relief Funds. A follow-up public
notification with dollar amounts
available will be issued once the
award dollars have been set by
Business Oregon, expected by the
end of July.
• Maximum View,
Narrow Frame
• Worry-free
Durable vinyl
frames
• Custom
made to your
specifications
• Lifetime warranty
• e-edition
• Local Business News
• Business News Updates
For more information on this and
future programs, email CEDR@
clatsopcc.edu
Residential • Commercial
(503)717-0555 • 2793 Hwy 101 N., Gearhart • www.kiwiglass.com
Licensed, Bonded & Insured • OR CCB#119815 • WA#KIWIGI00217
CoastRiverBusinessJournal.com