NEW MEMBERS

Reach out to

Chris, if you would like to suggest a potential new member or apply online.

Astoria Warrenton Community Calendar

Members: Log in to

submit your events

or use the public form

to add an event.

MEMBER RESOURCES

Our Member Resources page is there to help answer any questions about your membership, set up your online profile, and to make the most of your benefits with us.

Want to post your own listings to our events calendar, job postings, or hot deals?

Just LOG IN to your Chamber membership account!

Having trouble logging in? Contact Chris or call (503) 325-6311.

PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE SPONSORS

2023-2024

Custom Level

Astoria Warrenton

Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival

Presenting Sponsor:

Fred Meyer

Supporting Sponsors:

NW Natural

Pacific Northwest Toyota Dealers Association

Great Columbia Crossing

Presenting Sponsor:

CMH-OHSU Health Cardiology Clinic

Supporting Sponsors:

Samuel S. Johnson Foundation

Gimre's Shoes

North Coast

Runners Supply

Coastal Family

Health Center

Chamber Annual Meeting & Banquet Presenting Sponsor:

Pacific Power

Chamber Networking Meeting

Coffee Sponsor:

TLC, A Division of Fibre Federal Credit Union

Chamber Business After Hours

Presenting Sponsor:

Columbia River Maritime Museum

Supporting Sponsor:

Energy Trust of Oregon

Chamber Nonprofit Bootcamp

Title Sponsor:

Lewis & Clark Bank

MORE NEWS FROM THE CHAMBER

PUBLICATION DEADLINES

To submit your news

or photos for our publications, please

keep these deadlines

in mind.

Monthly

Chamber Works

Due on the 15th

by End of Day

(i.e. May 15 for June issue)

Weekly

Chamber Chatter

Due Wednesdays

by End of Day

All submissions can be emailed to Regina.

QUICK ACCESS

Old 300 Trolley

Local & Regional Transit

Cruise Ships

ODFW Fishing & Hunting Updates

Englund Marine

Fishing Report

Oregon's North Coast Collaborative

City of Astoria

City of Warrenton

Clatsop County

CHAMBER EVENT INFO

Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival

Great Columbia Crossing 10K



4th of July

Thursday, Jan. 11 @ 5:30 p.m

Columbia Memorial Hospital Foundation

1625 Exchange Street, Astoria, OR

(in the former Lum's building, across from the Heritage Museum)

See models, plans, and even a walk-through mock-up of significant spaces in the planned hospital expansion.

Get together with your fellow business leaders for a casual evening of networking. Membership cash pot drawing is at $450.

Business After Hours member cash pot prize drawing is generously sponsored by our Supporting Sponsors:

Columbia River Maritime Museum

Energy Trust of Oregon

Chamber Networking Coffee

Tuesday, January 30 @ 7:45 a.m.

at Astoria Brewing Company Pub

144 11th St., Astoria

Networking starts at 7:45 a.m.; program at 8 a.m.



Guest Speaker: Erica Bruney, Tongue Point Job Corps

Coffee is free, courtesy of Coffee Sponsor: 

Chamber Ribbon Cuttings

Join us at a future ribbon cutting to celebrate new businesses, milestones, remodels and more.

Would you like to schedule a ribbon cutting with the Chamber at your business? Contact Chris or call (503) 325-6311.

2024 Chamber Activities Schedule

Second Thursdays: Business After Hours

Last Tuesdays: Chamber Networking Coffee

January 27: AWACC Annual Meeting & Banquet March 16: UnWined

April 26-28: Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival

July 4: Independence Day Fireworks

July 11: Chamber Annual BAH-BQ

October 1: George and Ford Award nominations open

October 13: Great Columbia Crossing 10k Run/Walk

December 2: George and Ford Award nominations due

Small Business Season:

Returns and Exchanges

No matter how helpful you were or how great your products are, the holiday season isn’t complete without a wave of gift returns and exchanges. While it's easy to view these transactions as inconveniences, savvy businesses recognize the untapped potential these transactions hold.

There’s an art to handling gift returns. We share some strategies in our latest blog post to help you transform them into valuable opportunities for building customer loyalty and business growth. 

Annual Meeting & Banquet

Registration is Open - Join us!

You are invited to the 151st Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Banquet on Saturday, January 27, sponsored by Pacific Power, at the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center Exhibit Hall. Our theme this year is: Feeling Crabby? Celebrating the Rich History of the Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival. The theme is not only a nod to how crabby the rough January weather can make us feel, but also a commemoration of the rich history of the seafood industry and the chamber’s continued commitment to community building.

Help us celebrate the past year by joining us as we thank our outgoing board members, welcome our new ones, and congratulate community service award recipients.  We hope you will join us on January 27th! Visit oldoregon.com/banquet to register and for event details. 

Promote Your Business at the Banquet

The chamber is looking for businesses to donate a gift basket or prize package for our Annual Meeting & Banquet raffle. This is a great opportunity for businesses to gain visibility by making the banquet a special event for all involved. Raffle ticket sales support the event and community service awards. Each business that donates will be recognized at the event, on the event website, and with a post on the chamber’s social media pages.

If you plan to donate, please contact Barbi (Barbi@ oldoregon.com or (503) 325-6311) and deliver your gift basket or prize to the chamber before January 10th, so we have time to promote your contribution. Thank you in advance for your donations!

News From, About & For Fellow Members

New Ownership at Benjamin Young Inn

With bittersweet emotions we are pleased to announce the sale of the Benji effective 1/2/2024.

We have had many amazing years together and we so appreciate all of the love and support we have received from our community.

The new owners will not be continuing the full service B&B model, but it may be available for events and whole house rentals. Please contact info@rosebriarmansion.com for information.

Chowder Crawl in January 

United Way is once again hosting the Chowder Crawl promotion. Chowder Crawl Cards get you a cup of chowder from each of 20 coastal restaurants from the Washington Peninsula to Cannon Beach, OR — the entire month of January 2024. $45 a card or 2 for $75. Get your cards before they’re sold out at clatsopunitedway.org. 

United Way of Clatsop County is an independent nonprofit that works to solve the social issues in Clatsop County. Our goal is health, safety, education and financial stability for every resident in the county. 

Winter Waters on the Oregon Coast

In February, year two of Winter Waters will work with chefs and tastemakers to celebrate regenerative seafood, with an emphasis on farmed sea vegetables including wakame, kombu, sea lettuce, and dulse. Visit winterwaterspnw.com to see past events and learn more about the collaboration. 

The Lower Columbia Tourism Committee has partnered with the program organizers to expand the experience to additional shops, restaurants or attractions that would like to participate in this celebration of edible sea vegetables and Oregon coast food systems. 

If you offer sea vegetables at your business or would like to learn more, reach out to Regina by January 10th. For example: Restaurants can participate by creating a dulse seaweed menu special for the month of February which will be promoted through our collective channels. 

Small Business Management Advanced

Program

The Small Business Management Advanced Program (SBM II) is designed for the owners of businesses who are looking to grow and expand their business to the next level and need the tools and guidance on how to successfully get there. This program is designed for businesses who have either successfully completed SBM Level 1 or are well-established (have been in business at least 3 years, have 1 employee beyond the owner, have access to company financial records and a strong desire to grow or expand).

Click here to learn more and register for this program that begins on January 10.

Civics Bee Deadline Approaching

The inaugural Oregon Civics Bee is open for applications. This first-of-its-kind civics competition in Oregon encourages young people to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Participating 6th, 7th and 8th graders will flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes.

The deadline is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 8. The Oregon Civics Bee is presented by US Bank and brought to you by Oregon Business & Industry in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. If you know a middle school student, encourage them to apply! More info here.

Help Wanted: County Fair Planning

Have you ever wanted to be part of planning the County Fair? The Clatsop County Fair Board created several 2024 Fair planning sub-committees and are seeking volunteers to help with planning this summer’s Fair! Joining a Clatsop County Fair Planning Committee (short term) isn't just about volunteering - it's about shaping moments that resonate throughout the community. When you sign-up, you're not just lending your time; you're contributing your unique perspective, voice, skills, and passion to create experiences that bring joy, education, and connection to our County Fair. Your commitment fuels the magic of the Clatsop County Fair… making memories for families, supporting local artisans and businesses, fostering a sense of belonging, and so much more! Together, let’s create a memorable Fair!

We have sub-committees for the following:

• Advertising/Marketing
• Concert
• Non-Music Entertainment
• Security/ Emergency Response and Parking
• Sponsorship and Vendors
• Volunteer Acquisition

Join a Fair Planning Committee today and be part of something truly special! CLICK HERE to read more about each sub-committee and to sign-up.

For questions, send an email to fair@clatsopcounty.gov or call 503-325-4600.



Data from Worksource Oregon Employment Department

Business News Around the State

Weekly Newsletters & Updates

Clatsop County SBDC / CEDR - 12/22/23

Clatsop County Bulletin - 12/15/2023

Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce - 12/28/23

Seaside Weekly Wave - 12/11/23

Oregon Business & Industry - 12/12/23

Monthly & Quarterly Newsletters

Astoria Downtown - 1/3/24

Clatsop Community College Foundation - Dec. 2023

Port of Astoria - Summer Newsletter August 2023

Business & Employee Development Opportunities

Looking for ways to continue developing, growing and learning when it comes to your business? Wanting to provide your employees with ongoing training? Check out the opportunities listed below. Video recordings of some past trainings are available from these resources.

SBDC On-Demand Classes & Trainings

Many classes are available to watch online, click the link above to access.

Jan. 8: Goal Getting for Business Owners If you are setting goals and not achieving them, it’s time to look at why.

Lower Columbia Human Resources Management Association

Jan. 31: HR: Leading, Working, Expanding A half-day virtual conference with multiple speakers.

Travel Oregon and Other Tourism-Led Opportunities

Click the above link to view training materials available on-demand online.

Jan. 10: Locl and Google Business Profile Monitoring and managing your Google Business Profile is one of the best ways to improve your visibility. Locl can make it easier. 

Jan. 12: North Coast Tourism Management Network general meeting We connect Tillamook and Clatsop counties through projects and conversations that bridge our region. 

Laughter: The Best Medicine