The INDEPENDENT, March 3, 2011
Page 5
Free market research workshops Web-based tools for business-friendly resources
Governor John Kitzhaber un- cal area regarding their busi- list of organizations at the local,
set for Columbia Co. businesses veiled
Oregon Advantage on ness needs.
regional, state and federal level
The Columbia County Eco-
nomic Team is partnering with
the Oregon MicroEnterprise
Network to provide free market
research services to Columbia
County’s small businesses. The
program, called MarketLink, is
funded by a grant from the
Small Business Administration
and is targeted to businesses
with one to five employees. The
program is designed to provide
information to local businesses
regarding:
• Local and national trends
impacting their businesses, and
competitive data and analysis
relevant to their business.
• Data on market size, distri-
bution channels and opportuni-
ty for different industries.
• Strategies for developing
new business through sales
lead identification and targeting
new markets.
To help launch the new pro-
gram, both the South Columbia
County and Clatskanie Cham-
bers of Commerce will host a
one-and-a-half-hour workshop.
Ryan McLaughlin from the Ore-
gon MicroEnterprise Network
will lead an interactive discus-
sion to help businesses under-
stand their customers, learn
from their competition and de-
velop a community-oriented
marketing plan to grow rev-
enue. At the workshop, Mr.
Economy remains
in slow growth
From page 4
billion, which is a very slight
increase of $3.3 million over the
previous forecast in December.
Still, general fund revenues for
2009-11 will end up about $1.1
billion below the “Close of Ses-
sion” forecast issued as the leg-
islature adjourned in 2009.
“The prolonged plunge in
personal income taxes, particu-
larly those related to nonwage
forms of income, accounts for
most of the decrease,” Po-
tiowsky told the legislature in
his report.
Corporate profits have risen
rapidly throughout much of the
current biennium, as have the
tax collections associated with
the rise, Potiowsky noted. The
projected total revenue from
corporate income taxes for the
biennium is $9.7 million above
the Close of Session forecast,
See Housing on page 18
McLaughlin will also explain
how qualifying business own-
ers can apply to receive free
and confidential customized re-
search through the MarketLink
Program.
The South Columbia County
Chamber of Commerce will
host a morning workshop in St.
Helens on Tuesday, March 15,
from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at the
Best Western Oak Meadows
Inn (585 S Columbia River
Hwy, Saint Helens).
The Clatskanie Chamber of
Commerce will host an evening
workshop on Tuesday, March
15, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the
Clatskanie River Inn (600 E Co-
lumbia River Hwy., Clatskanie).
“We are excited to be part-
nering with Oregon MicroEnter-
prise Network to bring this addi-
tional resource to help Colum-
bia County’s small businesses
reach more customers, and en-
courage all interested business
owners to attend one of the
workshops on March 15,” said
David Stocker, CEO, Columbia
County Economic Team.
February 24, a web-based re-
source to help new and existing
business owners grow their
companies and create jobs in
Oregon. The new web site pro-
vides direct access to financial
and development services.
The “Oregon Advantage”
web portal – accessible from
the Governor’s web site – illus-
trates the numerous competi-
tive advantages Oregon offers
companies worldwide. The
website houses a comprehen-
sive list of business-friendly re-
sources available at various
levels of government, and of-
fers a way for businesses to
connect with experts in their lo-
— CORRECTION —
The headline on the Con-
gressional Medal of Honor
Foundation article (The Inde-
pendent, page 5, Feb. 17,
2011) should have emphasized
Citizen Service Before Self
Honors.
The Independent apologizes
for any resulting confusion.
“We know Oregon is open
for business,” said Governor
Kitzhaber. “Oregon Advantage
now lets the rest of the world
know as well. These resources
allow new and existing Oregon
companies to get to work quick-
ly and efficiently, providing jobs
across the state.”
The streamlined web re-
sources are hosted by Busi-
ness Oregon, the state’s Busi-
ness Development Depart-
ment, at www.oregon4biz.com,
and are also accessible
through the Governor’s web
site at governor.oregon.gov.
New and updated content in-
cludes:
• The Oregon Advantage: a
web portal communicating criti-
cal information about Oregon’s
competitive business environ-
ment, linked to a searchable
database of available certified
industrial properties, and an in-
take form where site selectors
can directly communicate with
Oregon’s national recruitment
manager.
• More Business Support: A
that offer economic develop-
ment resources to Oregon
companies.
• Grow Your Business: Addi-
tional updated content is avail-
able in this section that commu-
nicates the services and tools
available from Business Ore-
gon to help existing Oregon
companies grow their business
here in Oregon.
For existing companies,
these web-based resources
make it easier to see what tools
are available to help them grow.
For site selectors looking for
ideal business location, it pro-
vides a single location to get all
the information they need.
“We have a one-stop shop
where site selectors from
around the world can quickly
see why Oregon is a great
place to do business,” said
Business Oregon Director Tim
McCabe. “While the bulk of our
efforts are focused on helping
existing Oregon companies
grow their businesses, we also
want new companies to move
here and employ Oregonians.