April 28. 2004 Jíortlanh ©bseruer 1 B usiness Page B3 PARTNERSHIP <*uw . Cftaagtaf U m Helpline (Make The Call): 8OO-923-HELP Linea de Ayuda (Spanish): 877-5IS-7848 Youthline (Teen Helpline): 877 553-TLLN Old School Barbershop A frican-Am erican business, boon to community Reggie Brown (right) greets a former employee at Reggie's Barber Shop on Martin Luther King Boulevard. Clients tend to notice Reggie’s Barbershop on Martin Luther King Boulevard, between Cook and Fargo streets, by it's colorful mural of the owner and his son. Reggie Brown, owner and barber, says that while his shop has only been open since September of 2003, they have the clientele of a much more established shop. Reggie and his team ot barbers, Tarrance Atkins, Herman Owens and Jamaal Lane, cut all hair types and use classic and modem straight razor techniques for shaves and eyebrow styling. Brown says his customers enjoy the original barber­ shop atmosphere without the smell and buzz of chemicals and treatments of beauty salons. Reggie’s Barbershop, 3213 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd., is open from Tuesdays through Saturdays and accepts appointments and walk-ins. For more information, call 503-280-0222. Meeting for Small Business Success Small businesses are in the spotlight with the region’s larg­ est trade show for minority- and wom en-ow ned small businesses. The Oregon Association o f M i­ nority Entrepreneurs presents the 16,h annual Entrepreneurship Lun­ cheon and Trade Show on May 6 at the O regon Convention C en­ ter. M ayor Vera Katz is th e k e y n o te speaker at the show, w h ic h is h o stin g more than 150 busi­ nesses and governm ent agen­ cies. A workshop on "Insure Your B usiness Future!” is from 10:30a.m. to jU B 11:30a.m. “ T he OAME Trade Show is a per­ sonal, face-to-face forum to make sales, network and obtain resources am ong businesses large and small, new 0 • llR •. • 3 da(s and Acceasoriea < entrepreneurs, business devel­ opment and coaching resources,” said Sam Brooks, OAM E found and president. Trade show admission is free and exhibitor booth space is still available. For more information, visit www.oam e.org or call 503- 249-7744. ^ iC p a b lc b - ^ /to n n ArWß» LPtone: 5 0 3 2 8 8 X 5 6 5 • 5 0 3 -2 8 9 8 3 4 0 40/ Xlasot. Suit«! • ¿Porlfand, O/ mmjou 97211 Noble bay Care Year-Round Jobs Lead to H igher E arnings Income varies greatly by labor industry A recent analysis of Oregon’s labor market recently revealed that seasonal and part-time workers are earning less than full-time year- round workers. The report is available on-line in the “ W hat’s N ew ” section of www.QualityInfo.org. The study ■found that the degree of labor force attachment, and consequently earn­ ings, also varies by industry. The study suggests that regardless of the industry, a full-time, year-round employment is key to obtaining a higher-wage job. According to the study, two- thirds of Oregon’s workforce earned wages in all four quarters o f2002. Of these 1.3 million workers, less than one-third were employed an average of 35 hours or more per week in all four quarters. Twenty-one percent of all workers were employed full time, year-round. For all workers employed in Or­ egon at some time during 2002, the average annual wage was $26,250. For those working all four quarters, the average wage was nearly $36,000. For those working full time (an aver­ age of 35 hours or more per week) all four quarters, average wages were nearly $50,000. Hourly wages also vary by de- gree of labor force attachment. For all jobs, the average hourly wage in 2002 was $ 17.56. For those em­ ployed all four quarters, the aver­ age hourly wage was nearly $21 and forthose employed full time in all fourquarters, the average wage was a little more than $22 per hour. Nearly two-thirds of all jobs in manufacturing lasted all fourquar­ ters compared with less than one- in-three in the natural resources and mining industry. Manufac­ turing also had the largest fraction care for your child of full time, year-round jobs at about 30 percent. While 38 percent of all jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry lasted all four quarters, only six percent worked full time, year-round. Forthose working full time, year- round, average annual wages var­ ied from a high of close to $60,000 in the information industry to a low of a little more than $32,000 in lei­ sure and hospitality. For the latter, the average annual wage of those working full time, year-round was nearly double the average for all those working year-round, but not necessarily full time. Diversity Highlighted at Business Forum The Oregon Economic and Busi­ emment leaders will interact with top to face with government and cor­ A highlighted event at the con­ ness Forum, with a focus on diver­ c o m p an ies from te c h n o lo g y , porate decision makers on a mas­ ference is a lecture called. The Mi­ sity, is on May 4 and 5 at the Oregon healthcare, financial services, manu­ sive scale with thousands of busi­ nority Diversity Conference, Op­ Convention Center. facturing, professional services and ness leaders expected to attend portunities for a Growing Market Business executives and gov- nonprofit. Exhibitors will come face the forum. on Tuesday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m. Help for Homebuyers Record low rates benefit local buyers The Oregon Housing and Com­ munity Services announced some good news for homebuyers. The organization increased the county purchase price and house­ hold income limits for its Residen­ tial Loan program. The state-spon­ sored home loan program, also known as the Oregon Bond Loan program , is offering qualified homebuyers a record low interest rat of 4.5 percent for a thirty year fixed rate loan. “More homes and households than ever before qualify for our program’s record low rate putting home ownership within reach for more low and moderate income households," said Bob Repine, di­ rector of the Oregon Housing and Community Services. The Residential Loan program helps eligible homebuyers increase their purchasing power by offering below-market interest rates and closing cost assistance when fi­ nancing a home purchase. To qualify, the price of the home must be below the program’s appli­ cable purchase price limits. Recently, the program’s existing home pur­ chase price limits were increased dra­ matically in every county. The in­ creases were made possible by new limits published by the Internal Rev­ enue Service. The IRS alsosimplified the purchase price limits by no longer The increases were made possible by new limits published by the Internal Revenue Service^ requiring separate limits for newly constructed and existing homes. New maximum income limits were also adopted by the housing orga­ nization. In Multnomah county, as well as other surrounding counties, the household income limit in­ creased by $2,100 toa new maximum of $67,900. £KiCpatoick’s • * • # • • 428 N Alberta St. Monday-Friday 6 AM-8 PM Child Care Provider Deborah Creen 503 285-6573 Lindas Maid S e r v i c e Residential-Offices “Cleanliness is next to Godliness L Insured - Bonded À Linda J. Scott Owner 503-288-1489 Coupon 10% off Oil first cleaning \< l\cinse w uh iln c rs ity ( nil ill ' ^ O r t l a i l ò (Obsi'VUrr 5O3-2.SS (1033 M \ l l A P F P I O R M IN C , A R TS • D .E P A P ÎM E M 1 OE M U S IC ( N i V H i 'i n