BUSINESS NEWS
2
Coast River Business Journal
Publisher’s Notebook
March 2021 Matt Winters
Happy days may soon be here again
A
s always, this edition of Coast River Business Journal
includes an inspirational variety of stories about Clatsop
and Pacifi c county entrepreneurs bravely venturing into
new businesses and expanding the scope of existing enterprises. It’s
impressive to see people with the guts and gumption to put their pre-
cious time and hard-to-come-by savings on the line in daring attempts
to achieve the American Dream.
It can seem even more courageous than usual to take these steps just
now as we are hopefully coming out of the worst public health disaster
of modern times. The emphasis is still on “hope.” There remains con-
siderable uncertainty about what the novel coronavirus will do next,
whether we will be cautious enough to remain careful until the risk
has really abated, and just what damage has been done to the local,
regional and national economies.
In neither Oregon nor Washington do tax receipts appear to have
taken a catastrophic hit. Tourism held up pretty well here in our beach
towns this winter, home construction is busy, wood and fi ber products
are in demand. On the other hand, crabbing took a serious hit from a
long delay. Unemployment and under-employment remain too high.
Schooling at all levels has been disrupted. For many, it will be a long
road back to self-confi dence.
For others, including those spotlighted in this issue, confi dence of
every kind remains robust. Looking to the months and years ahead,
they see a place with a growing reputation for high-quality lifestyles,
fascinating people and burgeoning potential. Our climate presents
occasional challenges, but we are truly blessed with what I’ve long
called the “miracle of water falling from the sky.” It’s no exaggera-
tion to say that our moderate temperatures and ample fresh water will
increase to be treasured assets. In the pandemic’s aftermath, people far
and wide have learned they can perform many forms of work wher-
ever they choose. Many are choosing here — a choice that will become
ever-easier with the approaching deployment of astoundingly fast sat-
ellite-based broadband internet.
There is a real chance that a year of pent-up consumer demand,
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coupled with a massive federal COVID-19 stimulus package — and
maybe federal infrastructure spending — will jump start the economy
in an amazing fashion. Such spending certainly brings risk of even-
tual infl ation, but polling suggests most of us are ready for a time of
robust growth. The 1920s followed the previous horrible pandemic
and were called “roaring” for a reason — it was a period of celebra-
tory expansion. The trick is to avoid the awful hangover that followed
in the 1930s.
In our happy corner of America, a taste of the coming good times
may be directly ahead. Families longing for comparatively safe, close
and affordable spring breaks can be expected to descend on our towns
and beaches soon: Oregon’s week is March 22-26 and Washington’s
primarily April 5-9, though Seattle schools will wait for April 11-15.
It will be vital for local hospitality workers and visitors to maintain
COVID-safe practices. Providing we do so, these coming weeks may
be just a taste of the profi table and fun months ahead as vaccinations
make us safe and restrictions are lifted.
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