COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL |
C H A M B E R
MAY 7, 2020 | 3B
N E W S L E T T E R
Th e Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce promotes economic vitality through advocacy and collaboration with its members and the larger community.
Jersey (8.9 million) is more than double
the population of Oregon (4.3 million).
Also New Jersey is 8,729 square miles vs.
Oregon at 98,466 square miles. It seems
distance is the key.
Shauna Neigh
CEO/President
As I sit here in my mother in laws kitchen,
the sun is shining, birds are singing and
eating from the birdfeeder, deer mulling
through the woods and fl owers springing
upon the bank. What a beautiful spring
morning, I am grateful. Mom lives in rural
Califon, New Jersey. Califon is a small
historical town surrounded by horse farms
and wineries. Th ere are many similarities
between Califon and the hidden gem we
have in Cottage Grove. Mom and Pop are
avid historians. Th eir passion for the past
was contagious and part of the reason why
my family chose Cottage Grove for our
home. Sitting here, it feels like nothing has
changed over the years but it has. I have
the rare opportunity to see the eff ects of
this pandemic on both sides of the country.
Like Cottage Grove, this small town in New
Jersey is closed.
Th is got me thinking. How is the Califon
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
handling the shut down? Are there any ideas
I could implement into our town? I found
out the Chamber of Commerce is run a bit
diff erently here. Th ey have a County based
Chamber of Commerce. I contacted the
president/CEO of the Hunderton County
Chamber of Commerce, Christopher
J. Phelan. He is running an offi ce of 3
employees to support a 430 square mile
area with a total population of 124,000. His
Chamber Area consists of several small
towns, the largest city has 27,000. Like us,
he is well aware of small town struggles.
The difference being his Chamber consists
of 75% Business to Business interaction
and 25% Travel and Tourism while ours
relies heavily on tourism.
Here we are on complete opposite sides
of the country and the story is the same.
We are working, investigating and creating
programs to help our people/business
owners through this hard time. It’s all we
think about. Our daily activities consist
of meeting with local champions, creating
and attending informational webinars and
working with legislature to convey the needs
of small businesses. We are both on the
cusp of reopening. We had conversations
on what reopening might look like. His
county borders Pennsylvania, who is very
eager to open, while New Jersey is a bit
more conservative. Oregon, however, has
decided to ally with our bordering states.
Yesterday there were 2,150 confi rmed new
cases in New Jersey and 50 deaths. Th at is
in one day! Last time I checked the total
count in Oregon, from the beginning, was
2,354 confi rmed cases and 92 deaths. Th is
is staggering. Total count in New Jersey,
114,000 confi rmed cases and 6,442 deaths.
Keep in mind, the total population in New
Special Th anks
to our 2020
Enhanced Members
PLATINUM PLUS
Cottage Grove Sentinel
Aft er everything that I’ve seen and
heard while here, in my opinion, Oregon
is doing what we need to do. Before my
travel out east, I thought there was lack
of consideration for areas that have had
small or no spread of infection. In areas
where there are small numbers, why not
reopen quicker? But since being here I’ve
realized, it isn’t a matter of numbers, it’s
a matter of respecting those around you
and maintaining social distancing. I know
everyone is eager to get everything started
and create the ‘new normal’. I say, yes,
let’s create a reopening plan but we have
to make sure we are planning the safest
way possible. Stay safe Cottage Grove, be
patient and stay home for now.
Th e Gift Certifi cate Program is a Member
Benefi t Highlight. As a chamber we
strive to educate the community of the
value of supporting our local merchants
the Gift Certifi cate Program is one way
we encourage shopping local. Purpose:
1. Promote shopping at CG Chamber
Member businesses. 2. Support chamber
members with dollars spent in Cottage
Grove. Th is program makes gift giving
easy while supporting local merchants
and it promotes “Shop Chamber Members
First.” To become a participating business,
contact the Chamber at 541-942-2411.
Participating businesses to date are:
Ambrose Collectibles
Apothecaria
Bochetto Day Spa
Books on Main
Cascade Home Center
D & D Automotive
Dirtcheapcopies.com
El Tapatio
Emerald Fitness Club
Jack Sprats, LLC
Lavender Field Embroidery
Pinocchio’s Pizza
Quality Inn Cottage Grove
Sanity Chocolate
Shoppe Free Rein
South Lane Wheels
Stacy’s Covered Bridge
Sweet Springs Family Farm
Territorial Seed Company
Th e Bookmine
Th e Cottage Bowl
Th e Espresso Bar’n
Th e Flower Basket
Th e UPS Store
Wal-Mart
Lane County Survey
Lane County would like to know more
about our stakeholders’ recovery priorities
to inform recovery strategies and support.
By participating in this survey you will
support and encourage an inclusive recov-
ery process, engage traditional and nontra-
ditional community partners, and provide
a strategic local approach to coordinate
recovery efforts while increasing the resil-
ience of our communities. The six recovery
areas that are being covered are: Economic
Recovery; Health and Social Services;
Housing; Infrastructure Systems; Commu-
nity Planning and Capacity Building; and
Natural/Cultural Resources.
Please participate in this survey: https://
app.smartsheet.com/b/form/257d53de8da
047d28c3cec74fb4b980b
Safely Support Campaign
Th e Safely Support promotion coordinated
by the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of
Commerce and Main Street Program,
was to encourage community members to
support the local restaurants in Cottage
Grove. In this promotion, participants
were asked to take photos or selfi es of their
carry-out meal from any of the 36 local
restaurants and post it to the Chamber
of Commerce’s FB page. From April 10
to April 30, there were 139 participants.
From those, ten winners were chosen to
receive a $25 gift certifi cates from one of
36 local restaurants. We are so appreciative
of the ongoing support of these restaurants
through these challenging and uncertain
times.
Congratulations to the winners! 
Th e winners and the businesses they won
gift certifi cates to: 
Kelsey Burrell - BaDooBaz Espresso
Meagan McNary - Chalerm Th ai
Erica Dunbar - Dutch Bros Coff ee
Jenn Simons - Spice of India
Joelene Piper - Village Green
Julleanna Sickler - Buster’s Main Street Cafe
Anna Coop - Dominos
Tiff any Howell - Tiff aniee’s 
Birdella Colburn Taddei - McDonalds
Ginny Smythe - Torerros Mexican
Restaurant 
THE CHAMBER’S NUMBER ONE GOAL
is to create a strong local economy. This is
a diffi cult time for all of us. As we learn
more about COVID-19, I know businesses
and the individuals they employ may be
overwhelmed by feelings of uncertainty
and fear. But we should be confi dent that
our community will come together and
recover from this unprecedented time. The
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
is committed to support the entire business
community during this time of need. We
hope you consider us a resource. Once this
is over, please remember the benefi ts of
being a Chamber Member and continue to
support our efforts for the years to come.
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
Th e chamber’s number one goal is to
create a strong local economy. All of
the programs and benefi ts supported by
a chamber membership investment go
toward achieving that goal. Membership
in the chamber is also a commitment to the
entire community and a pledge of support
for the economic growth and vitality of the
Cottage Grove area. Join us in supporting
Chamber member businesses and our local
economy and “Shop Chamber Members
fi rst”!
Jim Downing Realty – Valerie Nash,
Broker
616 E. Main Street
(541) 942-6077
valerie@oip.net
Real Estate
Nova Health
Kristine Rice
1445 N. Gateway Blvd
(541) 942-7000
marketing@novahealth.com
Health Care
Th e
Oregon
Employment
Department would like your help
to provide this information to as many
local and small businesses as possible,
especially the self-employed, and those
with independent contractors.
Th is morning the Employment Department
sent the attached news release announcing
the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
(PUA) program. Th is is the most recent
in a series of agency activities to get more
unemployment benefi ts to the greatest
number of workers aff ected by COVID-19
business closures.
Oregonians who are eligible for this
program include individuals who do not
qualify for or cannot collect benefi ts on a
regular unemployment insurance claim.
Th is includes Oregonians who:
• are self-employed and not subject to
unemployment insurance tax;
• perform work as an independent con-
tractor;
GOLD
Pacifi c Power
• perform work not subject to unem-
ployment insurance tax, such as agri-
cultural workers;
SILVER
• did not earn enough in wages or
work enough hours to qualify for reg-
ular unemployment benefi ts;
Banner Bank
City of Cottage Grove
Emerald People’s Utility
District
Lane Community College -
Cottage Grove Center
Lane Electric Cooperative
Northwest Natural
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove
Community Medical
Center
Walmart
Weyerhaeuser
Th ese benefi ts are retroactive to the fi rst
week a worker was impacted by a qualifying
COVID-19 reason, potentially from the
week starting February 2, 2020 through the
week ending December 26, 2020. Th e news
release and our agency’s CARES Act page
(https://govstatus.egov.com/ui-benefits/
CARES) provide detailed information for
fi ling PUA claims.
• exhausted regular unemployment
benefi ts, and are not eligible for an-
other extension.
Th e PUA program provides unemployment
benefi ts to a group of workers who have
never before been eligible for benefi ts, using
processes and tax and other documentation
the Employment Department has never
worked with before now. Th e agency has
recruited and trained staff to process PUA
claims. Still, we know this program will
be met with tremendous need. Th e PUA
process can take as little as one week or
several weeks, depending on the claim
complexity.
2020 Chamber Board of Directors, Advisors and Staff:
Thank you for your hours upon hours of volunteer time, commitment, and service!
OFFICERS
Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Past Chair
Danny Solesbee, 5 Flying Monkeys
Len Blackstone, Blackstone, Inc. – Windermere Real Estate
Ruth Linoz, South Lane Wheels
Gary Manly, Cottage Grove Sentinel
Candace Solesbee, Shampoo Dolls Salon
DIRECTORS
Chrissy Chapman
Alyssa Gomez
Brent Hoover
James Kline
Shane May
Cameron Reiten
Dale Smith
Judd Van Gorder
Tiffanie Williams
Covered Bridge Brewing Group
Sweet Springs Family Farm
The Grove Café & Lounge
The Espresso Barʼn
Emerald Fitness Club
KNND
Coast Fork Feed Company
Carousel House B&B & Catering
PayneWest Insurance
ADVISORS
Richard Meyers
Candace Solebee
Tim Herrmann
Dr. Yvonne Curtis
Ryan Gifford
Molly Murai
City Manager
Cottage Grove City Council
PeaceHealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center
South Lane School District
Gifford & Gifford Attorneys at Law
Main Street Program
Visitor Center Volunteers:
Heidi Abbott, Sarah Heuser, Suzanne Huebner-Sannes, Tara Sue Hughart,
Susan Jeppesen, Rebecca Lane, Marie Longfellow, Judd Van Gorder, Sharon Van Gorder, Penny Westling,
Sherry Bricher-Wendt.
Staff:
Shauna Neight, CEO/President
Beth Martin, Offi ce Manager
Mavis Bradsby, Bookkeeper
Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
700 E. Gibbs • Cottage Grove, OR
P. (541) 942-2411
info@cgchamber.com • www.cgchamber.com