Performance

Recent Activities

Work with Regional Economic Development and Small Business Partners

• CEDR and SBDC are working closely with Enterprise Cascadia to develop a micro-loan program. The program is designed to provide counseling assistance from start-up through creation of a loan packet that can be taken to local financial institutions for funding consideration.
• July 15, 2011: The CEDR director helped coordinate and present the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors Meeting.
• CEDR and SBDC are serving as part of Clatsop County’s Advisory Committee for the North Coast Business Park in Warrenton, Oregon.
• CEDR and SBDC are working with the USDA, Enterprise Cascadia, OSU Extension Service, and individual farmers on the feasibility of wild rice production in Clatsop County.
• The CEDR director met in August with Nicole Williams and County Manager Duane Cole to discuss ways to improve methods of communication between CEDR and Clatsop County staff concerning economic development issues. Monthly meetings will continue.
• The SBDC business counselor worked with Enterprise Cascadia and Sunset Empire Transportation District to secure a $300K loan to keep the district operating until tax revenues are available in January 2012.

Training and Specialized Counseling Outreach

• February 16 and March 16, 2011: Conducted "Business Plans Made Simple" training for 21 registrants.
• February 23, 2011: Conducted "LEAN Business Practices" for 13 registrants.
• April 11, 2011: Conducted "How to Motivate, Manage & Lead Employees" for 13 registrants.
• April 11, 2011: Conducted "R U Bankable?" seminar for 19 registrants.
• May 18, May 24 and May 25, 2011: Conducted "Retail Tune-Up" training in Seaside, Cannon Beach and Astoria for a total of 36 registrants. Focus areas included marketing, social media, customer service, shop local initiatives, how to evaluate the financial health of a businesses and how to energize the staff.
• Conducted 61 hours of one-on-one confidential counseling sessions from June 1 through August 30, 2011.
• Throughout the month of October, CEDR/SBDC conducted seminars on Constant Contact e-mail marketing, personal finance, QuickBooks, writing a business plan, and maximizing social media for small businesses.

Advocacy and Marketing Efforts

• On June 7, the CEDR executive director and interim SBDC director made a PowerPoint presentation to the Warrenton Business Association on the resources that CEDR/SBDC offers to businesses in Clatsop County, including workshops, training and one-on-one business counseling.
• On June 28, the SBDC director made a PowerPoint presentation at the monthly breakfast of the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce. The focus of the presentation was one of outreach, and promoting the services and resources of the SBDC. The director also covered the five phases of business planning for the group, and noted upcoming training and workshop opportunities.
• On July 6, the SBDC director presented to the Cannon Beach community meeting coffee group. The focus of the presentation was one of outreach, and promoting the services and resources of the SBDC. The director also covered the five phases of business planning for the group, and noted upcoming training and workshop opportunities.
• The SBDC director launched a CEDR/SBDC Facebook page to share information with the business community, give business advice and tips, expand outreach, and expand marketing efforts into the social media arena.
• On July 28, the CEDR director presented a CEDR/SBDC overview to the Seaside Rotary Club.
• On August 8, the CEDR director was the featured speaker at the Seaside Downtown Development Association meeting.
• On September 19, the CEDR director spoke at an economic development forum presented by Columbia Memorial Hospital and headlined by Oregon's State Economist Tom Potiowsky.
• On September 23, the CEDR director presented an overview of CEDR/SBDC to the Seaside Chamber of Commerce.
• On September 26, the CEDR director organized a presentation opportunity for Cheryl Meyers, cabinet level director for Governor Kitzhaber, at Clatsop Community College. The focus of the presentation was on certifying businesses to contract with the State of Oregon.
• On October 20, launched a redesigned website for CEDR/SBDC.
• The CEDR director is writing a monthly column for the Coast River Business Journal. The first article will appear in the November 2011 issue.