ENews  | February 10, 2023

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We’re proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Business Excellence Awards, sponsored by US Bank.

These awards celebrate the outstanding achievements made by Chamber members in 2022 across four categories: Innovation, Workplace Engagement, Organizational Growth, and Community Stewardship. In addition, award categories of Emerging Leader and Lifetime Achievement recognize individuals for their contributions to their places of business and the community at large.

Membership 101

Maximizing Your Membership

Feb. 14

10:00 AM–11:00 AM

Bend Chamber

RSVP Required

Learn how to utilize your membership for maximum effectiveness. Come prepared to introduce yourself and meet other business professionals.

Bend 101

Your Onramp for

Community Connection

Feb. 16

5:30 PM–8:00 PM

New Location:

Tower Theatre

$15 for Everyone

Our programming is centered around connecting you

with your surroundings and furthering your relationship with our community.

Business Excellence Awards

March 7

5:30 PM–8:00 PM

Riverhouse

$75 per Person  |  $1,000 Table Sponsorship, Includes 8 Seats

This is an opportunity for our community to celebrate the amazing accomplishments of Chamber Members over the course of the past year.

The Leadership Bend Impact Project group is gathering data about the interest and barriers Bend businesses face in implementing internal practices related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The results of this survey will help guide the group about what resources are needed for our local businesses. 

WHY: To provide local businesses with impactful, engaging, digestible and replicable DEI trainings, specific to business environments — with an overall goal of increasing the sense of belonging for employees across Central Oregon and driving better outcomes for our local organizations.

These workshops are designed for organizational leadership, owners, HR professionals and others in a position to implement DEI practices in their place of business.

Doing business in Oregon isn’t easy — and it’s not cheap.

The cost and complexity of operating here have risen significantly in recent years. Although Oregon and Bend have fantastic natural resources and lifestyle perks to offer businesses and their employees, employers need to make ends meet to stay and invest here.

All central Oregon counties have fully recovered from job losses in 2020 and are in expansionary growth passing their pre-pandemic peaks. Over the 12-month span ending in October, all three central Oregon counties’ nonfarm payroll employment grew at healthy rates, but slower than Oregon’s statewide job growth rate of 4.2%. Crook’s grew at 3.7% (260 jobs); Deschutes’ at 3.7% (3,260); and Jefferson’s at 3.2% (210).

As the 2023 legislative session convenes, Oregon Business & Industry and the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce—in partnership with the Bend Chamber—want to gather information from business owners and operators around the state.

Your responses will help make the case for bills that help promote a healthy private sector and against bills which will hamstring businesses ability to operate and our economy’s ability to grow. 

We all advocate for things we care about in our daily lives — our businesses, our families and our communities. Your voice as an advocate is crucial to the public policy process, and there are many ways to use it. 

Advocacy can be…

• Arranging a meeting with an elected official and then educating them about the value of investments to incentivize first-time home ownership  
• Partnering with government agencies to seek creative solutions to create more childcare programs 
• Convening community leaders at times of natural disaster or humanitarian crisis to develop solutions for the community and promote healing 

Whether reviewing local city ordinances or weighing in on legislative proposals in Salem, the Bend Chamber has an active and effective advocacy program. To learn more about our guiding policy principles and how you can be an effective advocate in the community.

On February 1, the Bend Chamber and Kôr Community Land Trust announced the opening of the employer application process for the employer-supported Poplar Community on Bend’s west side. Employers can apply to become employer partners of the project, which enables their employees to have preference in the upcoming general public lottery for selecting homebuyers in the Poplar Community.

Home Share Oregon is a 501c3 organization that functions on the premise that owner-occupied homes with an available spare bedroom

constitute underutilized housing inventory. We help homeowners reduce mortgage burdens while creating more affordable rental units through our

hybrid, online home sharing program. By matching people who have a spare room with people who need a place to live, we can make a significant difference for our community during the current housing crisis.

Featured Member-to-Member Discount

The Digital Studio

Need video production, but can’t afford the big agency pricing? Look no further.

The Digital Studio is presenting three discounted video package deals ranging from 25%-35% off regular pricing just for fellow Chamber members.

Premium video production, boutique agency pricing.

To View More Events, Visit BendChamber.org.