Today's News and Links 

  • Small business grants NOW!
  • Limited seats left -- Register Today! Small Business Townhall Friday
  • Order today for Friday pick-up -- PPE to protect your business, employees and customers
  • Weekend closures of NW Cornelius Pass Road
You’ve been waiting for it and today small business grants are available for your application. Columbia County and the State of Oregon have combined to fund up to $250,000 for grants to small businesses. See details below and start your application today. Plus, two things to do on Friday: PPE and an excellent business townhall, and one to avoid – a Cornelius Pass Road closure.
Small business grants!

$250,000 is available for eligible grant applicants beginning today, June 24. Applications are due July 3, 2020.
Who can apply? Any small business that is:
  • In Columbia County
  • Also registered in Oregon
  • Current/compliant on taxes
  • Adversely impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 crisis.
  • 25 or fewer employees as of February 29, 2020.
  • 50% or more reduction to sales as a result of the COVID -19 crisis.
  • Have not received federal financial funding relief through the CARES Act of 2020
  • Some Non-profits are eligible
Full information and applications are available at smallbizhub.columbiacountyoregon.com
Limited Seats Left!

Register Today! Small Business Townhall for Columbia County 
 
The Columbia County Economic Team and The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) will host a virtual town hall for you on  Friday, June 26 from 9:30-10:30 am. Join ORLA President & CEO Jason Brandt
This will be useful for any small business, not just restaurants, bars and lodging properties. ORLA has been extremely proactive advising state & local government and businesses throughout Oregon on appropriate guidance and the challenges that all businesses face, though especially in the hospitality industry that is front and center in both COVID and economic impact.

This meeting is to discuss the COVID-19 impact on Oregon’s restaurants and hotels, and how the hospitality industry in particular is adapting to the new public health standards and economic situation as Oregon continues to reopen, how these things affect all small businesses and how to adapt. Hear about the latest ongoing relief programs and updates at both the state and federal level – for Phase 2 and more.
 
If you are interested and have questions, want an overview of relief programs and want insights about what the future for your business looks like, this virtual meeting is for you. Everyone is invited, you don’t need to be an ORLA member or even a hospitality business in order to attend and get valuable information and answers to your questions.

Space is limited -- Please register now to RSVP.
FREE and low-cost, quality re-usable PPE 

Now we have FREE disposable masks plus at-cost washable, re-usable (up to 70 times) masks, sanitizer, gloves and gowns. -- CCET

PPE has been purchased in bulk to make PPE affordable and available for small businesses to order and pick up Friday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds. The program is a collaborative project between the Columbia County Board of Commissioners and Columbia County Economic Team (CCET).

PPE orders will be available for pick-up at the Columbia County Fairgrounds each Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Place your PPE orders today so we can prepare them for pick-up, to reduce waiting time and help maintain proper physical distancing. Product selection and order forms can be downloaded from CCET’s   small business website beginning Wednesday, June 17th.  Order forms  submitted by email will be prepared and ready for pick-up during on Friday. PPE may be purchased without pre-ordering, but purchasers should expect longer wait-times. Access to the fairgrounds and the Pop-Up is through Gate 2, 58892 Saulser Road, St. Helens. Purchasers must wear masks and adhere to public health guidelines that have been put in place, including registering all parties for potential future contact tracing.
Weekend closures of NW Cornelius Pass Road for wide loads 

Sections of NW Cornelius Pass Road will be closed at night on two weekends to accommodate moves of very large industrial loads traveling from the port of Longview, WA to Intel’s campus in Hillsboro. The moving vehicles are 189 feet long and 22 feet wide, requiring the two-lane road to be closed during the moves.
 
Multnomah County maintains the section of NW Cornelius Pass Road between Highway 30 and the Washington County line. Washington County has jurisdiction for the road’s southern section.

June 26-27 and July 10-11:
  • In Multnomah County, NW Cornelius Pass Road will be closed at times between Highway 30 and NW Germantown Road at night from 9 pm on Friday until as late as 4 am Monday. The road will be open during the day.
  • The road will be closed to traffic during the moves. The closed section will be phased, but will extend from Highway 30 to the Washington County line.
  • Through traffic can avoid delays by using the detour of Highway 30 south to I-405 south to Highway 26 west.
  • The megaloads will pull off the road periodically to let traffic pass, but drivers should expect delays and use alternate routes during the moves.
 
For information about Multnomah County roads, visit  www.multco.us/roads  or follow us on Twitter  @multcoroads .
Columbia County Economic Team (CCET) and Keep It Local are working to assist businesses navigate through the Coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic disruption….and plan for recovery. Business survival and retention is a top priority. We all want to emerge from the other side of this able to restore our businesses, livelihoods and economy. Reaching out countywide, Columbia County Economic Team will be communicating with you regularly.
 
If you have received this email as a forward from a friend and wish to receive future COVID business retention, resiliency and recovery updates from CCET, please contact us at:  [email protected]  or click here to be added to our list. to be added to our list. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn by clicking the buttons below.

Paul Vogel
Interim Executive Director
Columbia County Economic Team