BUSINESS NEWS
Coast River Business Journal
June 2021 • 5
HAILEY HOFFMAN/THE ASTORIAN
A business advertises that it’s hiring.
HAILEY HOFFMAN/THE ASTORIAN
West Moon is hiring.
EDWARD STRATTON
Josie Lilly used a layoff during the coronavi-
rus pandemic to go back to school to become
an electrician.
stimulus early.
“It’s important that everyone receiving
regular UI benefi ts knows that some require-
ments were paused or modifi ed during the
crisis, like actively looking for work, being
available for work, and registering for work
in our iMatchSkills system,” David Gersten-
feld, director of the Oregon Employment
Department, announced earlier this month.
“These requirements are starting back up
again, and people will need to meet these
requirements by designated dates in order to
be eligible to continue receiving benefi ts.”
Regional workforce analyst Shawna
Sykes said workers in low-wage industries
are also wary about trying to enforce coro-
navirus restrictions some visitors don’t want
to comply with.
“That confrontational aspect that is really
diffi cult for some people to handle as wait
staff or hostesses ... even retail,” she said.
The region falls also falls well short on
providing aff ordable housing and childcare,
handicapping people who want to move
to the region or even leave home to work.
Rents routinely surpass $1,000 a month
for a one-bedroom apartment. Childcare
options have dwindled amid the pandemic,
even with children forced to stay home from
school.
The pressures are leading many to rethink
their future in hospitality.
Josie Lilly waitressed on and off for about
20 years. She was laid of from the Asto-
ria Coff eehouse & Bistro in March 2020
because of pandemic dining restrictions.
“I was kind of trapped at home with my
daughter,” Lilly said. “There was no child
care. Trying to be my daughter’s playmate
24/7 was a little draining and exhausting.
I was kind of anxious to get back doing
something.”
Homebound, Lilly started taking courses
online toward her dream of becoming an
electrician, while caring for her daughter
and taking the occasional shift at Colum-
bia Housewarmers when she can fi nd a
babysitter.
“I’d defi nitely been considering it and
kind of dipping my toes in the water before,”
Lilly said, “but this was the real shove over
the cliff .”
Though summer 2020 saw a heavy
amount of visitor traffi c, Oregon Coast
travel spending was down 42.3% from $2.14
billion in 2019 to $1.235 billion in 2020,
according to research fi rm Dean Runyan
Associates’ report on the economic impact
of travel in Oregon.
Employment directly related to travel
dipped 22.6% from 2019, with approxi-
mately 18,770 jobs in 2020.
Sears said she’s expecting another very
busy summer on the coast, and Travel Ore-
gon’s Competitive & Recovery Grant Pro-
gram is trying to help ensure that will be
refl ected in visitor spending this year.
Two projects in Clatsop County received
funding through the program: the City of
Seaside Visitors Bureau got $14,000 to
install interpretive signage along Seaside’s
historic promenade and the Astoria Down-
town Historic District Association got
$18,360 to help local establishments set up
outdoor spaces.
Sears said this goes along with the trend
of outdoor dining so people can pick up food
from restaurants or food trucks and have
safe places to eat while watching the waves
or the river.
manage your
business.
manage your
Nikki Underwood
Commercial Loan Officer
Nikki and the business services team can help you
determine the best financing to meet the needs of your
business, and can help you obtain that financing at very
competitive rates and fees.
Rental Property
Commercial Space
Professional Office
Business Visa
Vehicle & Equipment Loans
Business Line of Credit
503-815-7276
nunderwood@fibrecu.com
www.tlcfcu.org
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inside and drive-up order
& delivery outside at our Warrenton branch
(1771 SE Ensign Ln)!
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