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Columbia Economic Team growing small businesses

Originally published in The Chronicle Vol. 141

August 23, 2023

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges in many aspects of life around the globe, and in Columbia County, businesses did not escape the impact of the coronavirus

There were many challenges that the pandemic presented small businesses, but people may be surprised to learn there were positives coming out of the pandemic as well.

Paul Vogel, the Executive Director of the Columbia Economic Team (CET), detailed the mixed developments businesses experienced during the past several years.

“No question, the pandemic was too much for some businesses to survive.

Between emergency pandemic restrictions, employees afraid or unable to work due to illness or childcare issues, the challenges were myriad, and some businesses couldn’t adapt,” Vogel said. “Positive impacts, however, include changes in many peoples’ work circumstances that motivated them to branch out on their own and start new businesses… businesses of all types. That’s good for our small business economy and diversity of goods and services in our communities.”

Small Business Development Center

One of the initiatives the CET took to support small businesses and growth in the county is the development of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The CET started the SBDC during the year 2021/2022.

It was borne out of reviewing the business finances of hundreds of small companies and organizations throughout the process of running four

grant rounds of emergency relief funds, Vogel said. “None of those grants turned a business around, but combined with other relief, certainly kept many going. But the important thing was the clear discovery that investing in solid, credible, accountable basic business advising was the best possible investment,” Vogel said. “Every city invested; the county invested; we recruited the statewide small business network as nearly a 50% investor, and we set a responsible start-up period to get established.”

Vogel and the CET were told they shouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t have clients within the first 12 months. Vogel said that the SBDC exceeded expectations and that within the first year, they had over 100 contacts and “scores” of registered clients. Vogel expects that it is a number they will “probably double this year.”

SBDC Director Jason Moon said that their clientele base is strong and that they’ve

continued to grow in the months since it was founded.

“Following the easing of shutdowns and the implementation of the Columbia County Small Business Development Center and resource center, we’ve witnessed the revitalization of existing businesses and the emergence of new ones. Currently, over 120 SBDC clients and averaging around ten new clients each month,” Moon said.

The SBDC has hired an additional business advisor and administrative support to increase capacity to meet needs and demand and continue to offer the service and recourse to all small businesses across the county, according to Vogel.

Vogel and Moon noted that while they have supported numerous businesses, there are also small businesses and start-ups outside of their network, so the actual number of businesses that have come out of the pandemic is higher than its membership.

The SBDC helps clients

prepare to start and maintain their businesses with various services tailored to succeeding in Columbia County.

“We offer free 1:1 confidential business advising, and are your business resource for helping you start, run and grow your best business, so you can thrive in our local economy,” Moon said. “This includes business plan development, navigating business regulatory processes, helping you manage cash flow challenges, just to name a few.”

Challenges for small businesses

Vogel said the CET has seen consistent start-up and expansion across many sectors. The hospitality industry (i.e., Restaurants, coffee shops, cafes, specialty shops, and food trucks) is on the rise, and there is a resurgence in Rainier, St. Helens, and elsewhere, according to Vogel.

“We hope for success for all. With small businesses, statistically, a high percentage

fail in the first three years; if you’ve made it four years, your chances of success are significantly improved,” Vogel said. “We’re still inside that four-year window, but between the new SBDC and now the Growing Rural Oregon (“GRO”) entrepreneurial ecosystem initiative – we have substantial new tools in place – at no charge to business owners.”

One of the biggest challenges businesses faced during the pandemic was the changing regulations and criteria that customers and employers needed to follow.

“Most commonly, businesses struggled with regulation – either meeting the criteria or dealing with customers or employees that refused to comply,” Vogel said. “That affected foot traffic, operating hours, revenue, and especially in retail and hospitality – affected the mindset, loyalty, commitment, mental health –and resultingly – retention and recruitment.”

The challenges that new businesses face begin with getting started, but the real test is being able to maintain what has been built and continued growth.

“Knowing your market, developing a customer base, building a brand, hiring the right team, brick and mortar space in the county, having a plan in place for cash flow, and how to access capital are the biggest challenges I see here at our center,” Moon said.

St. Helens has seen closures affect its downtown landscape, with Molly’s Market, Running Dog Brewery, and The Dockside all closing in the past two years. With COVID restrictions lifting in the past two years, it is difficult to attribute their closures to the pandemic.

“The specific impact and ripple effect of COVID on cities within Columbia County is still unfolding. However, each city was resilient in their own way,” Vogel said. “Small

business support resources of all kinds were distributed countywide. At this point on the continuum, businesses that are closing either may or may not be related to the pandemic, more than a year out from restrictions being lifted.”

Areas for development

In the coming years, Vogel expects Columbia County to continue to grow. Vogel said that there are a number of large industrial tracts that are now fully platted, served by utilities, and are ripe for development.

In downtown St. Helens, St. Helens Main Street has obtained three major grants for main street business expansions, including The Klondike and Crooked Creek Brewery. The GRO initiative, for which CET has contracted with the City of St. Helens (and is funded by the Ford Family Foundation), will be instrumental. It will be important for both entrepreneurial, high-growth scale business start-ups and for developing key resource and asset inventories and maps for funders, lenders, commercial properties, and professional service providers, according to Vogel.

CET, as the Travel Oregon Destination Management Organization (DMO), has obtained multiple tourism funding grants for beautification, asset improvement, and destination development in communities across the county, Vogel said.

“Additionally, we applied for and were accepted as one of a few DMOS for Travel Oregon’s ongoing Destination Development and Destination Downtown workshops. We held a series of workdays in June and July with volunteer leaders from all over the county, developing manageable downtown development strategies, techniques, and projects that can be executed in any of our communities,” Vogel said.

Changes at Clatskanie Middle High School

Originally published in

The Chief Vol. 132

August 25, 2023

WILL LOHRE Country Media, Inc.

This summer has brought some structural changes to Clatskanie Middle High School (CMHS), as a new principal has joined the staff, and renovations have changed the physical space.

Laurie Maughan is the new principal at the school, taking the helm from Dr. Jeff Williamson, and she is looking forward to the coming year.

“I am glad to be in Clatskanie and hope to serve the students and staff well. This is an amazing place with so much to offer,” Maughan said. “It is my goal that each student and staff member feels welcome at school and that school is a place where we all are learning together. Parents are always welcome to call or come in and see me. My goal is to foster a positive partnership between home and school so students can thrive.”

Maughan hopes to quickly build a “community of trust” after changes in building administrators

“through the past 5-6 years.”

Maughan said that the changes in administration is one of the biggest challenges.

“It is tough on staff and student morale to face significant changes in leadership every year or two,” Maughan said.

One of the things

Maughan is looking forward to most is connecting with the students. In addition to getting to know them, she also wants to get their input on what they want their school experience to be. One of the ways Maughan likes to strengthen the connection between her and the students is through listening.

“When we stop talking and listen, students will tell us, in one way or another, what they need,” Maughan said. “Then it is my job to support them as they set goals and cheer them on as they meet them.”

Another component that is a focus for Maughan in her new role will be to connect with the staff. Maughan said that the staff are dedicated educators who know and understand the students.

Maughan said that in order to best serve the students, she and the staff

will “build a leadership team where instructional vision can be built together.”

“The leadership team gathers input from all staff. Together we will determine the best way to implement and change or to support current initiatives that make sense for our system,” Maughan said. “My job then becomes one of holding us all accountable to the decisions that we have made, monitor growth and bring issues back to the leadership if needed.”

Renovations

CMHS has undergone a host of renovations over the last two summers, and Maughan said that the construction is on track to allow school to start on time Sept. 5. While most of the work is expected to be completed, there may be some smaller projects that will be completed while school is in session. The updates to the school have been a long time coming.

“It is my understanding that this is the first renovation of this building - which was built in 1978,” Maughan said. “The bond for this

work was passed by Clatskanie voters in 2021. The work began last summer with updates in the office. This summer, the focus is classrooms.”

When all is said and done, the building will have fresh paint, tile, and carpeting. Downstairs classroom walls have been moved to create more uniform classroom spaces and bathrooms are being updated and equipped with floor-toceiling stalls, according to Maughan.

“This work assists us in having a great space for our Middle school students to have most of the downstairs dedicated to their learning,” Maughan said. “High School students will have most of the upstairs for their learning.”

One area that may be under construction as the year kicks into gear is finishing up the stairwells. Maughan said they will be “shut down for a day or two each while the work is being finished.” Students will be able to use the other staircases.

“There will be some other finishing touches, but students and staff should be able to teach and learn,” Maughan said.

Will Lohre / Country Media, Inc.

Molly’s Market is one of the businesses that has closed in St. Helens’ downtown.

Courtesy from Laurie Maughan

Laurie Maughan is the new principal at Clatskanie Middle High School.

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