South coast strong sepcial edition sec 2

SOUTH COAST STRONG SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 |

A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD

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SECTION C

Big on jobs, big on giving These operations also contribute mightily in varied ways to the growth and prosperity of the South Coast

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Coquille Tribe acquired the Sek-wet-se Forest in Curry County last year and has begun managing it for timber production as well as cultural, social and environmental values.

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

C2 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

Indigenous powerhouse Back from the brink, tribe promotes prosperity

How the Coquille Tribe helps With its Mill Casino-Hotel, its

CLARK WALWORTH For The World‌

‌SOUTH COAST — As a child, Sharon Parrish didn’t look much like an Indian. She was happy to keep her ethnicity a secret.

“Kids who looked like Indians got beat up,” she said.

Those were dark times for Parrish’s Coquille Indian Tribe. The tribe had no land, no money, and no official identity. Like other Western Oregon tribes, it was “terminated” — stripped of its federal recognition — by a 1954 act of Congress.

Parrish, 73, marvels at how times have changed. In the quarter-century Parrish since it recovered its official status, her tribe has become a cornerstone of the South Coast’s economic and cultural life. George Smith, the tribe’s executive director, unabashedly describes the tribe as “the economic engine for the South Coast.”

Not “an” engine. “The” engine.

Smith’s reasoning? For the past two decades, between Reedsport and Bandon, “If there’s been any viable economic activity, if you drill very far, you’ll find that the tribe had something to do with it.”

The story of the tribe’s revival begins well before its 1989 restoration by Congress. Decades of discrimination and poverty had scattered Coquille members across the continent. After termination, a dogged core labored to maintain the tribe’s sense of identity.

Parrish’s sewing room became the tribal headquarters. She and others searched out tribal members across the country, kindling hope for restoration of federal recognition. In the 1980s, they paid their own way to Washington, D.C. “We met a lot of senators, congressmen, anybody we could get to talk to,” Parrish recalls.

Eventual passage of the Coquille Restoration Act triggered a succession of milestones: construction of The Mill Casino, acquisition of the 5,000-acre Coquille Tribal Forest, and establishment of services for tribal members.

“We really didn’t have anything in 1990,” said Ed Metcalf, who served 20 years as tribal chairman.

“We had a lot of hope and a lot of

Tribal Chairperson Brenda Meade, left and Vice Chair Kippy Robbins present a blanket to Anne Niblett in honor of her graduation from Southwestern Oregon Community College. Education for members is a key priority for the Coquille Tribe.

About that name …

The Coquille Tribe and the

Coquille River share the same spelling, but not the same pronunciation. Here’s why: Local Indians traditionally trapped and ate lamprey, an eel-like fish. One name for the lamprey was “scoquel.”

As fur traders and settlers moved into Western Oregon, the river and the people living nearby became known as “Coquell” or “Coquelle.”

Early treaties identified the tribe as “Coquille” — spelled like the French word for “shell.”

Sometime after a city of that name was established, the pronunciation shifted from “ko-kwel” to “ko-keel.”

(Local merchants reportedly wanted to sound fancier.)

Today, the town and river are “ko-keel,” but the tribe is “ko-kwel.” ideas, and it all just kind of came together.”

One key to the tribe’s progress is a decision made in its earliest days. Since the advent of casinos, many tribes have distributed lavish payouts to their members.

The Coquille Tribe rejected that option.

“If you just give them money, that money will get spent, and they still won’t have anything,” Metcalf explained. Instead, the tribe poured money into its members’ education.

The result?

“We have all these college graduates,” Metcalf said. “We have a ton of them.”

Along with education, the tribe prioritized health care and elder care. Brenda Meade, who succeeded Metcalf as tribal chairperson four years ago, says those priorities remain in place today.

Creating jobs is another priority — but not just jobs for tribal members.

Ed Metcalf’s son Eric, a current Tribal Council member, says the tribe’s goal has always been “first, to take care of ourselves, but in doing so to touch the broader community as well.”

The tribe’s “touch” turned into a vigorous boost. With only a few hundred members living in

Coos County, the tribe relies on non-members to fill most of its jobs. Likewise, non-member vendors provide most of the tribe’s goods and services.

The Coquilles describe themselves as a “potlatch tribe” — proudly upholding an ancient tradition of sharing and hospitality.

Eric Metcalf notes that fully half the patients at the tribe’s Community Health Center are non-native.

Construction of the new Coos History Museum relied on $1 million in Coquille donations.

The tribe’s values reflect its long history. Tribal leaders are mindful stewards of a culture predating the Pyramids, and they take a long view of the future as well.

“It’s very important how we

tribal forest and other enterprises, the Coquille Tribe is Coos County’s second-largest employer.

The Coquille Tribal Forest, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, sets the standard for forest management under the Northwest Forest Plan.

The Tribe cooperates with the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend to maintain a regional tourism marketing agency.

Working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to rear and release young salmon, the tribe played a key role in restoring sport fisheries in the lower reaches of Coos Bay. The Coquille Tribal Community fund is the area’s leading supporter of nonprofit organizations, distributing $5.5 million since 2002.

The tribe donated $1 million to build the new Coos History Museum.

This year, a $100,000 pledge from the tribe kick-started fundraising for Southwestern Oregon Community College’s health and science building. treat each other,” Meade said.

“You can’t treat people like you’ll never see them again.”

The future is much on tribal leaders’ minds these days. Because every tribal descendant qualifies for membership, the roster lengthens each year. The tribe welcomes growth, but it needs its resources to grow as well.

As it has gained political experience and business savvy, the tribe has become more vocal and more visible.

“When we’re loud, it’s because we need to be,” Meade said.

The tribe is angling to build a casino in Medford, battling opposition from a competing tribe and Oregon’s governor. It has lobbied for years to free its timber lands from constricting federal policies — policies imposed on the Coquilles and no other U.S. tribe.

Here at home, the tribe aims to keep expanding its role in the South Coast economy, with new ventures to diversify the tribe’s economic base.

Meade says no one should fear the tribe’s ambitions. The potlatch tradition means sharing success with the neighbors.

They did it their way Tribe takes pride in longstanding timber stewardship CLARK WALWORTH For The World‌

‌COOS COUNTY — Thousands of years before scientists and federal officials began managing forests, Coquille Indians tended the woods their own way.

They crafted their houses and canoes from sustainably harvested logs. They partially peeled bark from live cedars to make rainproof clothing. They burned underbrush to maintain forage for deer and elk.

They lived by the rule, “Take what you need, but leave some for the others.”

That philosophy still guides the tribe’s approach to forest management, though on a much smaller scale. Out of an ancestral territory estimated at 750,000 acres, today’s Coquille Tribe manages about 8,000 acres, and they have an enviable track record.

“We are the only ones that took that Northwest Forest Plan and put it out on the landscape and made it a success,” said George Smith, the tribe’s executive director.

Unlike other public lands agencies, the tribe has met the Clinton-era plan’s economic, biological and environmental standards. Its sustainable, ecosystem-friendly approach to forest management also has been certified as meeting the environmental, social and economic performance standards of the international Forest Stewardship Council — the acknowledged gold

standard for forest management.

Smith, who was regional forester for the Bureau of Indian Affairs until his 1994 retirement from federal public service, thinks the tribe has succeeded because its forestry team is streamlined.

Unlike big bureaucracy, it makes its decisions locally.

And there’s another factor: “This is the tribe’s home,” he said. “They live with the successes and consequences of management decisions.”

The tribe’s ancestors once traveled widely to hunt, to fish, and to gather food and plant materials.

That lifestyle ended in the 1850s, when the federal government confined most coastal Indians to reservations.

The Coquilles would not have a forest to call their own until 1996.

In the ’90s, Oregon Sen. Mark Hatfield championed establishment of the 5,000-acre Coquille Tribal Forest.

He called it a “small atonement” for the government’s deeds in the 1850s, when the tribe gave up 1.4 million acres under treaties that never were ratified by the U.S. Senate.

Since 1996 Coquille Forest has helped Oregon mills stay open while federal forest management faltered. The tribe has consistently harvested the full allowable cut on its forest, providing more than 100 timber-related jobs and 3.6 million board feet annually to local mills. By law, Coquille Forest logs cannot be shipped overseas.

Economics aside, the land sustains deep cultural and spiritual values for the tribe. Just as it did thousands of years ago, it provides traditional foods and materials, as well as habitat for fish and wild-

life.

For all those reasons, acquiring additional land is one of the tribe’s cherished goals. Last year, working with Capital One and the Portland-based Ecotrust Forest Management, the tribe took possession of its second substantial acreage of ancestral forest lands.

The Sek-wet-Se Forest is about 3,200 acres, situated in the Sixes area of Curry County. The $8.9 million deal employed an innovative use of New Markets Tax Credits, a federal program that spurs investment and job creation in low-income communities. Together with the Coquille Tribal Forest and other tribal lands, the Coquilles now control more than 10,000 acres of their ancestral homelands.

The economic clout of the original Coquille Forest, however, is in jeopardy.

When Congress restored the forest to the tribe in 1996, it included a unique requirement: The forest must be managed under the same “standards and guidelines” used on nearby federal land. That meant following the then-new Northwest Forest Plan.

But the plan has been embroiled in lawsuits and political battles for the past 20 years. Now the Bureau of Land Management has proposed a new plan, which tribal leaders say would sharply curtail Coquille Forest logging – hurting the tribe, local mills, and Oregon workers.

The U.S. House passed a bill in September 2015, sponsored by Rep. Peter DeFazio, to “decouple” the Coquille Forest from the BLM’s rules. Midway through 2016, the bill still awaited Senate action.

To tribal leaders, regaining full control of those ancestral lands

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

The Coquille Tribe’s purchase of the Sek-wet-se Forest in Curry County added 3,200 acres to the tribe’s forest footprint. The tribe now controls a little over 10,000 acres in Southwestern Oregon. is a matter not only of economic necessity, but also of pride. They know the forest flourished under millennia of Native American stewardship.

“We managed these lands,” said Brenda Meade, the tribal chair-

person. “That’s why the white explorers thought they had found the Garden of Eden when they pulled into Bandon harbor.”

The Coquilles look forward to the day when they once again can 00 tend their woods their own way. 1

The Spirit of Potlatch The word “potlatch” denotes a tradition of gift giving, long practiced by Indian Tribes along the Pacific Northwest Coast. As a potlatch Tribe, the Coquille Indians believe in sharing with our neighbors.

The Coquille Tribal Community Fund is dedicated to helping organizations that make lasting contributions to the communities we serve. Since the fund’s inception in 2001, we have provided $5.5 million to many outstanding organizations.

As Coos County’s second largest employer, we make sure our economic development ventures benefit the broader community as well as Tribal members. And we happily share our cultural traditions to enrich community life.

Through the spirit of potlatch, we help our communities to grow and prosper.

coquilletribe.org

coquilletribalfund.org 00 1

cedco.net

C4 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

SOUTH COAST STRONG

The World

A 21st-century Indian village

CLARK WALWORTH For The World‌

CONTRIBUTED

Tribal Chairperson Brenda Meade, right, and Tribal Council member Toni Ann Brend listen carefully at a tribal meeting.

Leading women Tribal organization has a distinctly female tone CLARK WALWORTH For The World‌

‌Women in leadership roles are commonplace in the 21st century.

But the Coquille Indian Tribe is notable for concentrating a big share of authority in female hands.

Of seven members on the tribe’s ruling Tribal Council, five are women — including the chairperson and vice chair.

The CEO of the tribe’s economic development corporation is a woman. So is the general manager of the tribe’s biggest enterprise, The Mill Casino-Hotel & RV Park.

Likewise the director of the tribe’s housing authority, the tribe’s human resources director, and its controller.

Also the directors of the tribe’s three largest departments: the tribal health center, the community center, and the culture and education department.

The prominence of women is rooted in tribal culture. In the millennia before white settlement, the Coquilles inhabited a far-flung homeland. Tribal Chairperson Brenda Meade notes that men spent much of their time traveling to hunt, fish and trade.

The women were left to run the village.

The devastating effects of Euro-American settlement intensified the importance of Coquille women. When coastal Indians were herded to a reservation in the 1850s, a handful of Coquille women were allowed to stay behind with their white husbands.

Those women are revered ancestors of many Coquille members.

That history resonates in the modern Coquille Tribe. At a historic 1997 intertribal potlatch, the late George Wasson Jr., a Coquille elder and noted anthropologist, urged tribal women to “reassume

CONTRIBUTED

Fauna Beth Larkin helps Dennita John-Antonellis with some paperwork during Fauna Beth’s morning rounds at the Coquille Tribe’s Community Health Center. The tribe’s family-friendly workplace policy lets parents care for their infants at work. your ancestral power. Take your rightful places and put us all back together again.”

Meade, 45, is among those who answered Wasson’s call. After taking a job with the tribe in 1994, she served on various committees and boards, and then she ran for an open seat as the tribe’s vice chair.

She won that election, and the chairman at the time, Ed Metcalf, became her mentor. When he decided to retire, he recruited her to run for his job.

“I asked him, ‘Is there a job description?’ He laughed. He told me the most important thing is to be fearless.”

Tribal Council member Joan Metcalf (a distant cousin of Ed Metcalf) says Meade demonstrates that attribute.

“She steps up,” Joan Metcalf said. “She’s not afraid to face whatever comes our way.”

Besides being the tribe’s political leader, Meade is an active participant in tribal culture. She personally stitched and beaded much of the regalia worn by danc-

ers at tribal ceremonies. She and her husband, Lyman Meade, organize and lead the weekly dancing and drumming practice.

“I know I couldn’t do this job if I didn’t have a connection to my community,” she said.

Female influence is probably a factor in the tribe’s family-friendly workplace policy.

Among other things, the policy lets employees care for their babies at work. It can be a lifeline for a new mother.

Fauna Larkin, the tribe’s assistant health and human services administrator, brought her daughter along when she returned from maternity leave this year.

She had doubts, but her supervisor encouraged her to incorporate the baby, Fauna Beth, into her day.

That included impromptu breastfeeding if Fauna Beth got hungry during a meeting. Larkin even draped a cloth across her shoulders to nurse while presenting a report to the Tribal Council.

No one blinked a disapproving eye.

‌KILKICH — Driving the Cape Arago Highway toward Charleston, you barely notice the sign identifying the Towner sisters’ little patch of paradise.

In a secluded neighborhood above the highway, Aiyana, 5, and Mehia, 2, live in a spacious house that was their mother’s childhood home. An immaculate playground beckons across the street. A medical clinic, a community center and a library are within walking distance. Children come and go under the watchful eyes of protective neighbors — many of whom are close relatives.

This is Kilkich, the Coquille Indian Tribe’s remarkable reservation village. The person in charge, Anne Cook, describes it like this: “I don’t want to say Mayberry, but it’s kind of a Mayberry.”

Cook is executive director of the Coquille Indian Housing Authority, which manages Kilkich.

Built two decades ago as a federal housing project, Kilkich defies the down-and-out stereotypes associated with Indian reservations.

“Most of the people who live here don’t even know what a reservation looks like,” Cook said.

“They think this is normal.”

Pride is Kilkich’s most obvious feature. Streets and sidewalks are clean and inviting. Every house is in good repair, every yard well-tended.

Behind that cheerful façade is something more important: community.

Tribal elder Sharon Parrish and her husband, Ron, have lived in Kilkich since 1998. Son Matt, a tribal police officer, lives next door. Daughter Rhonda is down the street.

Sharron Parrish relishes the “sense of belonging” at Kilkich.

Cultural traditions are a common theme in community activities. People gather to watch juvenile salmon leave nearby Fourth Creek, and to watch the mature fish return. Parrish, already an accomplished artist in traditional beadwork, is learning basket weaving in a tribe-sponsored class.

Kilkich may be the South Coast’s safest neighborhood. The tribal police headquarters is a converted house on the main residential street, and Coos County sheriff’s deputies use it as a substation. The to-and-fro of patrol cars is a constant comfort.

Reservation residents are mostly a mix of retirees and young families. In some cases, senior citizens and 20-somethings share two halves of a duplex, living in surprising harmony.

Only a fraction of the tribe’s members live at Kilkich. But non-resident members routinely visit for health care, celebrations, and various services.

Tom Carney, a longtime Housing and Urban Development official who has watched Kilkich develop, says housing on many reservations is remote and isolated. Kilkich benefits from having tribal offices

and services located on-site.

“It’s not just a piece of property,” he said. “It’s everybody’s home.”

Another important factor: Though Kilkich is primarily a low-income housing development, income levels are mixed.

Residents who improve their financial status can graduate to a rent-to-own program. Other tribal members have built custom homes on land they lease from the tribe.

The mixture is important, Cook said.

“If you have a concentration of poverty, it brings things down,” she said. “Mixed income raises things up.”

Raising people up is important to Toni Ann Brend, who chairs the housing authority’s board. Life was hard for Indians when she was young. Her family lived near the Coos River, in a house with an outdoor toilet. Her parents later bought a house in Libby with tarpaper walls.

“I wanted more for our people than I had,” she said.

The Coquille Tribe’s painful history is one reason for Kilkich’s unique character. In 1989, newly restored after three decades of official non-existence, the Coquilles had few assets and no tribal housing. They bought 1,100 undeveloped acres in the 1990s and built Kilkich from the ground up.

The result?

“It’s got a more modern feel, and it was well thought-out,” Carney said.

The housing authority consciously promotes a sense of ownership among tenants. When rental houses need fresh paint, carpets or countertops, tenants help choose the colors. An annual contest, judged by Coos County Master Gardeners, celebrates the best-kept yards.

The pride resulting from those efforts reduces maintenance costs and elevates community spirit.

“It’s about raising people up,” Cook said.

Kara Towner cherishes Kilkich’s spirit. She remembers a childhood spent exploring trails in the woods and swimming in a nearby reservoir. She always felt surrounded by caring adults.

“I knew that if I was in danger, I could go to anyone’s house,” she said. Now employed as a tribal social worker, she moved back to Kilkich last fall. Her childhood home was for rent, and she snatched it up.

“It’s comfortable,” she said. “It’s home.”

She takes her two daughters to community dinners and game nights at the tribe’s Community Center. Five-year-old Aiyana just graduated from the tribe’s Head Start program, where she made friendships that are likely to last a lifetime. Towner is excited about the opportunity to move from renter status to homeownership, and she dreams of passing her house to her daughters someday.

“I hope they can come back here,” she said. “It’s a very special place.”

New ventures, new challenges Tribe’s business arm seeks opportunities near and far RAY DOERING For The World‌

‌COOS COUNTY — While meeting with a patient, a local physician calls up the latest data and imagery from a hospital lab across town. It appears on the doctor’s computer within seconds.

Five hundred motor coaches from all over the West gather at a bayside rally in North Bend to celebrate their owners’ shared enthusiasm for travel.

Whitewater rafting enthusiasts in Wyoming use a newly rebuilt public launch facility to embark on their latest adventure.

The Intrepid Joanne, a bulk hauler, ties up at a North Bend dock, becoming the first ship to take on cargo at this formerly idled wharf in more than a quarter-century.

These widely different events share one common denominator: They depend on businesses developed by the Coquille Economic Development Corporation.

Created by the Coquille Indian Tribe in 1992, CEDCO’s mission is to develop and manage sustainable businesses that contribute to the tribe’s well-being. The assignment comes with its own set of

challenges.

“In one respect, we are like other economic development entities created by local governments, in that we are tasked with the responsibility to develop businesses for the tribe,” explained chief executive officer Judy Duffy-Metcalf. “But unlike many other economic development entities, we also are responsible for managing the businesses that we create.”

It is that second responsibility that influences the CEDCO team when exercising due diligence in evaluating a business opportunity.

“We have to assure ourselves that the businesses we create have a clear path to profitability in the short term and the long term,” Duffy-Metcalf said. “We make sure that there is an existing market for the products or services of the proposed business, and that the demand can sustain business growth over time. As a Tribal business, we share the Coquille Tribe’s commitment to future generations and apply that long-range vision to our business development activities.”

That emphasis on long-term sustainability applies to CEDCO’s management of existing businesses as well.

The Mill Casino Hotel & RV Park is CEDCO’s most visible business. Tribal One Broadband Technologies LLC has been operating locally since

2003 as ORCA Communications.

CEDCO manages Ko-Kwel Terminal as a log export facility under an agreement with K2 Exports LLC. The Laundry Mill supplies clean linens to The Mill and offers similar services to other local customers.

CEDCO’s CEO says each business reflects a desire to tap revenue sources beyond the local community.

“CEDCO and its businesses are headquartered here in North Bend,” Duffy-Metcalf said. “But that doesn’t keep us from reaching out to other parts of the state and other parts of the country to find new business. Our businesses succeed with the appearance of new customers, and our communities benefit when additional wealth is brought into the region.”

Over the past decade, The Mill Casino added an RV park, hotel rooms, conference facilities and dining venues to attract visitors from other areas of Oregon and surrounding states. The additions and accompanying marketing effort had their desired effect, increasing overnight stays and adding many RV travelers to the guest list.

CEDCO’s telecommunications business also has found ways to attract customers beyond local boundaries. ORCA Communications has built more than 50 miles of fiber optics throughout the

LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD‌

The Intrepid Joanne cargo vessel is the first ship to dock and load logs at the new K2 Export facility in North Bend. The ship docked over the weekend and loading the ship with logs started Monday morning. The terminal is a joint venture of Knutson Towboat Co. and the Coquille Economic Development Corp. on the Ko-Kwel Wharf. The venture was first announced in November.

North Bend and Coos Bay area.

The company manages communications networks for most of the area’s major public and private employers.

To reach beyond the local networks, Tribal One achieved certification under the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development program.

The program, which serves minority- and women-owned small

businesses, allows the company to bid for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts reserved for 8(a) businesses. Early on, Tribal One managed telecom projects at the Kingsley Field Air National Guard base in Klamath Falls and for the Army Corps of Engineers in Hillsboro. Team members have traveled as far as North Carolina to complete a project for the Bureau 00 1 of Indian Affairs.

The World

SOUTH COAST STRONG

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | C5

Confederated Tribes look for new economic opportunities GAIL ELBER The World‌

‌COOS BAY — Although their tribal office is in Coos Bay, the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians are part of the community throughout their five-county service area — Coos, Curry, Lincoln, Douglas and Lane counties.

Today, only about half the 1,100 tribal members live within the service area, but originally, the tribes made their home along the estuaries of the Siuslaw, Umpqua and Coos rivers.

According to an account of the tribes’ history on their website, “Hanis-speaking Coos lived in (present-day) North Bend, while the Miluk-speaking Coos lived on the South Slough. Several Oregon landmarks are named after the tribe — Coos Bay, the city of Coos Bay, and Coos County.

“The Lower Umpqua lived up the Umpqua River which is named after them along with Fort Umpqua.

They spoke the Siuslaw language.

“The Siuslaw Indians lived up the Siuslaw River and spoke both Kuitsch and Siuslaw language.”

Living in cedar longhouses, the people hunted, fished, and gathered edibles. “The Tribes had a distinct social stratification based on wealth measured in quantities of dentalium shells, woodpecker scalps, abalone shells, grey pine seeds, and clam shell disk money,” says the website. “The chief of the village was the wealthiest man. He was obligated to his people to use his wealth to benefit the people, and people in turn brought him food and gifts.”

The lives of all the coastal tribes took a turn for the worse when Hudson’s Bay Company trappers arrived in the area around 1820.

By 1824, the Hanis Coos village at Tenmile Lakes had been wiped out by smallpox. In 1836, a measles outbreak struck Indian villages on Coos Bay, reducing the population from 2,000 to 800.

After the United States acquired the Oregon Territory in 1846, the coastal tribes signed the treaty of 1855, relinquishing their lands in exchange for compensation. But with the outbreak of the Rogue River War to the south, instead of ratifying the treaty, the U.S. government sent troops to round up all the tribes. People were imprisoned

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Siuslaw tribal members voted to oppose termination. However, in 1954, without involving the tribes in the decision, the federal government terminated their recognition, along with that of numerous other tribes.

For the next 30 years, the Confederated Tribes kept their tribal hall, provided what services they could to their members, and continued to fight for restoration of their recognition and sovereignty.

“Then, on October 17, 1984, as a result of a long moral, legal and legislative battle, President Ronald Reagan restored the Tribes to federal recognition by signing Public Law 98-481,” the tribes’ account continues.

“The Tribes’ sovereignty was once again recognized and fundLOU SENNICK, THE WORLD ing was restored for education, housing Most of the buildings at the former Oregon Air National Guard site at and health programs.

Coos Head have been demolished after hazardous material cleanups in In 1987, the Tribe apthe past 10 years. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and proved a constituSiuslaw Indians are starting their planning on what to do with the site. tion and began to lay the groundwork for a first at Fort Umpqua near present-day Elkton, then at Yachats self-sufficiency plan.” and finally at the Siletz ReservaToday, the tribe emtion. Some refused to go, and many ploys about 600 peoothers died during this period. ple in tribal administration and In 1876, the tribes were released services and also in its tribal enfrom the reservation, and memterprises. The tribe’s best known bers of the Coos, Lower Umpqua businesses are Three Rivers Casino Resort in Florence, which and Siuslaw tribes made their way employs about 400 people, and home, where they found their villages gone and their traditional Three Rivers Casino in Coos Bay, way of life impossible to pursue which employs about 74. Other among the new settlers of Eurotribal businesses are Blue Earth Services & Technology, origipean ancestry. They settled down as best they could and found ocnally conceived as a construction cupations in the agricultural and company and currently focused timber economy as it developed. on telecommunications services, “They kept their Tribal idenand Ocean Dunes Golf Links, an tity alive by meeting monthly 18-hole course in Florence. and observing special celebraServices provided to tribal tions through the year,” the tribes’ members include health, educaaccount continues. “In 1916, tion, culture, law enforcement, a the Tribes established a formal, peacegiving court, and housing elected tribal government that assistance. The tribe has housing LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD‌ for members at Qaxas Heights in they have maintained ever since.

Then, in 1941, the Bureau of Indian Chief Warren Brainard, of the North Bend and Qa’aich DevelopAffairs (BIA) took a small privately Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower ment in Florence. donated parcel (6.12 acres) into Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, leads In 2011, the tribe created the Three Rivers Foundation, which trust for the Confederated Tribes the presentation of flags Friday, awards grants for projects in the in the city of Coos Bay. On this March 18, 2016 at the start of the small ‘reservation,’ the BIA also 20th annual Oregon Tribal Elders areas of education, health, public erected a Tribal Hall that included Honor Day, hosted by the Coquille safety, problem gambling, the arts, an assembly hall, kitchen, offices Tribe. the environment, cultural activities, and historic preservation. In and medical clinic. It is still in use today and is on the Register of His- ment began efforts to terminate February, 2016, the tribe awarded recognition of numerous tribes, more than $100,000 to 20 orgatoric Places.”

In 1940, the federal govern- and Coos, Lower Umpqua and nizations.

The tribe has several business projects in development.

Its property at Coos Head in the Charleston area, a former military installation, is still being cleaned up in preparation for development to meet the tribes’ needs.

Another project, a proposed hotel at the Hollering Place in Empire, is making its way though regulatory requirements.

A key element of the tribes’ plan is a proposal to restore more than 14,000 acres of federal timberland and culturally significant sites to them. It’s part of legislation introduced by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, which is making its way through Congress.

The legislation would also restore 17,000 acres to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians and free the Coquille Tribe from some restrictions on use of its tribal forest.

The Confederated Tribes are also one of the many entities that have expressed an interest in participating in the acquisition and management of the Elliott State Forest. At press time, the appraisal of that forest had not yet been completed.

Former tribal council chairman Bob Garcia, the assistant general manager of the Three Rivers properties, oversaw the opening of the Three Rivers Casino in Empire a year ago. “Starting from scratch, putting 70 people to work and creating another reason for people to come and visit, I’ve been pleased with the success of that,” he said.

“It’s been a good addition to the Empire area.

“I am genuinely positive about an Empire renaissance, being able to become what the area was. I look at the community of Empire and think about how it was in 1900.

It was vibrant. There were tons of local businesses, shipbuilders and things that filled this area.

“Certainly, we see Empire as an area that has a future. With the developments that the city is working on with infrastructure improvements, and the potential of the Hollering Place, I think the tribes are looking forward to a continued investment in the community.”

SOUTH COAST STRONG

C6 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

Bandon Dunes boosts entire South Coast economy Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: The courses

MELISSA CAMPBELL For The World‌

‌BANDON — Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is on every serious golfer’s bucket list. It’s just one of those courses you absolutely must hit if you profess to be a true enthusiast of the sport.

The resort’s popularity and widespread praise for providing some of the world’s best courses have brought thousands of people — and millions of their dollars — to the South Coast over its 16-year history. This has helped Bandon Dunes to become one of Coos County’s greatest economic boosters in terms of payroll, taxes and a host of indirect economic benefactors.

Its financial success, combined with the owner’s atypical philanthropic notions, have allowed this seemingly isolated resort to play a major role in community and economic development efforts along the entire South Coast.

A vision of building a golf course that would rival any from the Old Country helped highlight the small town of Bandon as a destination, and that has helped a struggling region find an economic toehold on its way to recovery.

The man behind the vision‌ Bandon Dunes owner Mike Keiser wasn’t always a respected golf baron. His initial success came from green greeting cards.

He and co-founder Phil Friedmann started the successful Recycled Paper Greetings in a two-bedroom apartment in Chicago in 1971, well before going green was popular.

At some point, he fell in love with the game of golf, playing on some of the best courses. To learn more, he traveled to Scotland to discover the game’s origins and traditions, and experience the elements of the land where it was invented.

While he played the world’s top courses, many were private clubs. Keiser believed every golfer should have the opportunity to play the greatest courses. The seed for a new business venture was planted.

His first course was nine holes

1999 Bandon Dunes: Howard McKee worked with government officials on permits, etc. KemperSports was formed to oversee the construction and course management. Scotsman David McLay Kidd – son of the head agronomist at Gleneagles in Scotland – designed the course.

2001 Pacific Dunes: Designed by Tom Doak, a noted minimalist golf course architect.

2005 Bandon Trails: Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

2010 Old Macdonald: Designed by Doak and Jim Urbina. Inspired by the designs of golf architect Charles Blair Macdonald.

2012 Bandon Preserve: Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

With the Pacific Ocean on the right, a golfer tees off on the 16th hole of the Bandon Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on Wednesday, June 22. on Lake Michigan. This eventually became the highest-ranked course in the country. He now owns more than a dozen golf courses, all open to the general public, in locations throughout the world. Perhaps his best-known course, however, is in Bandon.

Shorty’s law of the land‌

Keiser built this dream course, hiring the right people to tame the rugged gorse-infested lands and engineer a links course that makes beholders feel they are in Scotland. Keiser provided the financial backing, but the credit for the vision of what could be … well, not even the golf baron would deny who gets full recognition there.

That belongs to the late Shorty Dow. Warren “Shorty” Dow was the self-appointed mayor, governor and sheriff of the untamed land that is now the glorious Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

(Those titles transferred after the golf vision was realized.)

In the early 1990s, Keiser sought land to build another course to add to his golf resort portfolio. In Jan-

uary 1991, he arrived in Bandon and met up with Shorty and his wife, Charlotte. The Dows were longtime caretakers of the land, employed by at least two previous owners who had planned golf courses of their own.

The tour was designed to show Keiser the various scenes and features that would benefit a nice course. The last stop was golden.

Shorty passed away Nov. 8, 2015.

A commemorative plaque marks the spot where he sold Keiser on the dream course. This spot, high on Back Ridge, showed a panoramic view of untamed spiny gorse, shore pines and forests dotted with spruce and cedar trees.

In the distance, beach grass blew in the wind along the rolling sand dunes. Beyond that, the mighty blue Pacific Ocean.

Keiser knew then “he’d found a site that matched his capacity for wonder,” according to a Bandon Dunes post commemorating Shorty. In a video made during the commemoration in May, Keiser talked about the tour and his desire to buy the property.

Shorty, Keiser said, laid out his terms. “You know, we’ve been here a long time,” he told Keiser, “and we’ve worked for two different owners and both of the owners were going to build a golf course, and as you can see, none of them built a golf course.

“Now, I’m not expecting you to do it right away, but I’m not getting any younger and I sure would appreciate you building a golf course sooner rather than later. And furthermore,” Shorty told him, “the kind of golf course I’d like would be 18 holes. Downwind.”

That spot became the 14th tee of the Bandon Trails course.

“I felt that Shorty and Charlotte were my partners here,” Keiser said.

Economic vision‌

The resort offers five different courses, each with a distinctive feel and play. And thousands of golfers each year pay well for the spectacular ocean views, lush forests and the quite, natural atmosphere.

Rates range from $85 to $301 a round, depending on the season; the second game of the day is half price. Guests spent nearly $54 million at the resort in 2014, on

2014 Punchbowl: Putting course.

Designed by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina.

Golf Digest rankings of Top 100 Public Golf Courses in the United States. All four of the resort’s regulation courses (all excepting the Bandon Preserve) were ranked in the top 15. golf, lodging and other services.

That’s an average of $561 per golfer per day.

At first glance, the resort has little impact on local communities.

Golfers come to play golf, not hit local shops, hotels or restaurants.

“Our customers are not tourists,” said Hank Hickox, general manager and vice president of KemperSports, which oversees the resort’s operations. “They focus on golf. They come from all the U.S. and the world to find golf courses. They’re not here to shop, maybe they’ll go off to have a meal. But they’re here to play, have dinner and sleep.”

In fact, many wondered if the resort affected the local economy at all. Or whether some Chicago businessman was the only benefactor of all those visitors.

In 2010, resort officials commissioned the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business to study its effects on the local economy. A follow-up report Please see Dunes, Page C7

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was released in November 2015.

The 2010 report said that the resort, referred to as BDGR, serves as a “key catalyst in the region’s ambitions to strengthen its tourism economy to offset reductions in the forestry and fishing industries.”

The resort impacts Coos County through jobs, direct and induced tax support, and spending on locally supplied goods and services, the report noted. The report also reviewed the resort’s philanthropic and community development work.

“As we began to learn about the BDGR’s various community grant and scholarship programs, environmental stewardship initiatives and collaborative economic development efforts, it was easier to make the case BDGR was emerging as a key catalyst and good business citizen for the South Coast,” the report said.

Business at Bandon Dunes resort has increased.

Rounds of golf are up 64 percent since 2010, according to the University of Oregon report. In 2014, the total rounds played reached nearly 147,000, an increase of 64 percent compared to 2010.

Golfers are playing more, and are staying longer; the average stay has grown from 2.4 days to 2.94 days. Residents from California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Illinois are the top spenders. Oregonians also tend to inhabit the resort during the off season, racing to the course during breaks between winter storms.

This growth comes at a time when overall golfing participation in the United States has declined four of the last five years, the report noted.

The Bandon Dunes resort is the top employer in the county, topping second highest employer Bay Area Hospital. In terms of payroll, resort employees earned $16.7 million, an increase of 60 percent compared to 2010.

A notable change, however, is that the resort is shifting its employee base from mostly parttime workers to more full-time employees, who have full benefits.

Less than 20 percent of workers are part-time. In early June, the resort employed 543 workers; of those, 449 were full time. This is

in addition to about 300 caddies, who are independent contractors.

The average compensation package is $33,351 a year, 5 percent more than the average wage in Coos County, according to Oregon 2014 Employment and Payroll Report.

“There are no minimum wage jobs here,” Hickox said. “An example: The servers keep their gratuity, which at this time of day (at about 2 p.m. on a weekday) averages about $10 an hour. Plus they get benefits — medical, dental and vision.”

In terms of taxes, Bandon Dunes paid more than $741,000 in property taxes in 2015 — the highest taxpayer in the county, topping second-place PacifiCorp, which paid $472,000.

The resort pays an additional $160,000 in taxes through the statewide lodging tax. Coos County does not impose a transient occupancy tax on unincorporated areas in the county.

What’s more, resort officials felt they simply weren’t paying enough, so they decided to add an “assessment” to their fees and pay that money to the county.

“Mr. Keiser believes in leaving a legacy for his two sons to take over,” Hickox said.

“His views may be different than a normal business practitioner, but it’s good for the community. We’re the biggest generator for the overnight lodging tax. If our customers are charged this assessment, then other entities won’t have to tax their customers.”

Details are still being worked out, but Hickox said an independent board of 13 members will be set up to oversee the funding distribution. The money is designated to go toward the jail and county sheriff’s offices. Coos, Douglas and Curry counties will benefit.

In 2014, the resort also spent nearly $7.9 million on goods and services with local vendors, up 74 percent compared to 2010. This does not include expenditures of less than $10,000.

Community partner‌

Bandon Dunes officials have worked with local business owners so the resort could contract for local services such as laundry, transportation and various supplies.

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | C7

History of golf When Bandon Dunes Golf Resort owner Mike Keiser wanted to explore “old-style” golf, he traveled to Scotland.

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

Historically, Scotland is credited for dreaming up the game we’re familiar with today, using similar tools and rules. In 1457, the Scottish Parliament passed laws outlawing the game (along with football – what Americans call soccer) saying it detracted from military training.

King James IV of Scotland lifted the ban in 1500, after he got hooked on the game.

The sixth hole on the Bandon Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort beckons in misty sunshine on Wednesday, June 22.

Golf balls were imported from the Netherlands to Scotland from at least 1486.

They contract with Raindance Laundry to wash sheets and towels and the like, and with Face Rock Creamery to provide cheese for the restaurants.

“We very much want to serve local products,” Hickox said.

“We’d serve local grass-fed beef if we had a USDA inspection plant here, which we’re working on.”

The resort also works to be a partner within the community, even if the product or service doesn’t seem to directly benefit the resort’s bottom line.

“Through job creation and tax contributions alone, BDGR emerges as a key champion of the South Coast’s current and future economic growth,” according to the University of Oregon report.

“With that long-term vision in mind, BDGR has also engaged in what appears to be an authentic and mission-driven effort to support the region well beyond job and tax growth through a series of comprehensive community engagement initiatives.”

The resort’s community support is done through the Oregon Community Fund and through the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.

The first British Open occurred in 1860, a tournament still played today.

Oregon Community Fund‌

In 2014, the fund paid $410,500 to 53 organizations, a budget that has been fairly steady since 2009, according to the university report.

Grants support initiatives to help children and families, civic engagement, arts and culture, economic vitality, and education.

Contributions include a fiveyear, $500,000 commitment to the Bay Area Hospital; $100,000 to expand the nursing facility at the Southwestern Oregon Community College; $20,000 toward scholarships to the college’s culinary school for the past two years.

“We’ve got 900 people working here,” Hickox said. “To have these facilities available to our team members is an advantage to them and to the community. We have common goals.”

In addition, the resort has also contributed an average of $200,000 of in-kind donations over the years. This includes waiving green fees, room nights and other credits to help with fundraising for community groups.

Resort officials also worked with United Airlines to provide seasonal direct flights from Denver, Colo., to North Bend’s Southwest Oregon Regional Airport. The resort pledged more than $900,000 to support this route.

Wild Rivers Coast Alliance‌

In 2015, Wild Rivers Coast Alliance distributed nearly $625,000 to various projects and efforts along the South Coast. The nonprofit has distributed nearly $2.2 million in grants since its inception in 2011.

In an unusual business decision, Bandon Dunes founder Keiser offered all the proceeds from one of his courses, the Bandon Preserve, to fund the grants. The resort pays for the WRCA’s facilities, staffing and other expenses.

The nonprofit’s mission is to fund community projects along the South Coast, notably in conservation, community, economy.

WRCA has support projects such as a 61-mile scenic bikeway in Port Orford, a Gorse Action Group to mitigate the pervasiveness of this invasive species, and the Wild Rivers Land Trust, which works to protect the area’s natural landscapes.

Some results, according to the University of Oregon report: 29 stream miles restored and en-

Early forms of golf can be traced to the Roman era, whose people played paganica, a game where players used a bent stick to hit a stuffed leather ball. Similar games date back to the Song Dynasty in China, which reigned from 960 to 1279. hanced; 24 direct jobs supported by grants; and nearly $753,000 raised in matching funds.

“This will grow independent of us,” Hickox said. “This much of a nucleus, other funding sources will join you, like the Ford Family Foundation and others are already matching these funds.”

Shorty’s vision realized‌

Shorty Dow wanted a golf course on the lands he oversaw for others. As he drove the businessman/golf baron Mike Keiser, one wonders if even Shorty could have foreseen what was to come.

The drive from U.S. Highway 101 to the Bandon Dunes lodge and courses is a scenic, winding, treelined road. After several miles, the trees give way to open fields, dotted with flags to mark the greens.

The lodge, restaurants, bridges and footpaths are all designed to blend in and accommodate the surrounding environment and landscapes.

The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort put Bandon on the map for golfers worldwide, and helped the community in countless ways.

And with the sand, the surf and the outstanding golf, Shorty Dow’s vision has come true. There are well over 18 holes and, at one time of year or another, they are all downwind.

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Lou Sennick photos, The World‌

Addiing, and restoring, art along the main street in Port Orford included repainting the mural on the side of the Savoy Theater.

Port Orford seeks vitality through art Port Orford’s galleries and murals entice visitors KAREN AUBORN Port Orford Main Street Revitalization Association‌

‌PORT ORFORD — Port Orford is blessed with ocean vistas, state parks and a unique port that has a dolly dock. However, Main Street (U.S. Highway 101) was not living up to the natural beauty of the area.

The non-profit Port Orford Main Street Revitalization Association formed five years ago with the goal of making Main Street achieve

more vitality and become a place where people want to be. Vacant buildings needed to be filled. Deteriorating buildings needed help or to be demolished. Businesses needed to survive.

More tourism — an important part of the economy — was essential for Main Street and the economy of Port Orford.

Enlivening Main Street with art became a highlight along with other POMSRA efforts to encourage tourists to stop, create a better walking environment and promote our many galleries and other businesses. Port

Orford has one art gallery for every 100 residents. Artists comprise an important asset to help Main Street become vibrant.

The inspiration for using art to enrich Main Street developed because the community agonized watching the old pharmacy building slowly decay. It was a blight on Main Street for over 10 years before the building was finally demolished.

POMSRA brainstormed about a solution for other buildings in need of demolition — ones that were not candidates for restoration.

A solution was “fun” mu-

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rals added to several building undergoing hard times.

Now these mural are being restored and reused as resolution of problem buildings are resolved.

Art became the basis for more Main Street projects.

A large faded mural at the movie theater was restored.

A replica of a 40-yearold historic sign has been painted and is ready to be installed. Elementary school children made quality murals that enhance our Main Street buildings, including ones at the school, the library and several businesses. The Girl Scouts added wildflower murals to a restaurant.

Other artists contributed even more murals on businesses and fences. Informational murals at the visitor center depict new and past history. A triptych honors Native Americans.

More and more art — mostly more murals —are in the works, including at the Port of Port Orford and on other businesses.

Many partners and other volunteers became involved in using art to make Port Orford economically better.

The Port Orford Arts Council was able to have Port Orford declared an Art District by the City Council. Art is helping to unite the Port of Port Orford with Main Street.

Grants and contributions to POMSRA have made the art effort on Main Street possible. These include: the Curry County Cultural Coalition, the Coquille Tribal Community Fund, the Oregon Arts Commission (including a current Arts Build Community Grant) and the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.

In addition, the Oregon Community Foundation supported the elementary school arts program with a

Painted and colorful fish adorn the pavement in front of the Triangle Square Gallery in Port Orford. The community boasts a number of art galleries in the coastal Curry County town. grant to the Port Orford Arts Council.

This art effort has received much statewide recognition mostly from the Oregon Main Street program. The program gave an award to POMSRA at its conference at Astoria in 2013. Featured presentations of the Port Orford Art Program were given at the Oregon Main Street conference in McMinnville in 2014 and The Dalles in 2015.

More small businesses are now on Main Street, and the economy is getting

better. The art program certainly helped bring pride to the community and is likely helping the economy.

But the POMSRA efforts are not limited to the art. POMSRA gives “Spiffy Awards” to businesses that improve their appearance, organizes the Main Street clean-up, provides promotional materials about restaurants and galleries, provided significant streetscape projects (retaining/ sitting walls) and some events like our award-winning crab pot holiday tree.

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Revitalizing Reedsport through Main Street SHELBY CASE The Umpqua Post‌

REEDSPORT — In the ‌ span of a couple of years, a group of residents has taken several steps — some small, some large — to bring life back to Old Town.

The effort seems to be paying off, including with attention from state officials and from other communities.

Roughly 40 people turned out in late April to get an update and perspectives on the Second Annual Main Street Program at the Reedsport Community Center.

“We started this over a year ago, and we started it with a lot of ideas,” City Manager Jonathan Wright said.

“We’ve had city managers coming from other towns and saying ‘How did you do that?’” he added.

“We kept it simple,” he said. Residents, city leaders and others focused on what they could achieve.

Just as one example, volunteers wanted to highlight the area’s rich timber history. They’ve been renovating a steam logging donkey for a new pocket park that will be located across from Hahn Park.

“We took low-hanging fruit,” the city manager said. “We have a lot of things that are in progress.”

New awnings have spruced up several buildings in Old Town.

Mayor Linda McCollum also addressed the crowd, which had assembled at the community center.

“It’s been a good year,” she said. “We’ve done a lot.

Look at the banners back here on the wall.”

“Thanks for stopping.

Reedsport Main Street. Come Back Soon!” reads one.

Another reads “Welcome to Uptown Reedsport Main Street Stop Shop Discover!”

Main Street Coordinator Katie Lockard said three groups are helping bring the revitalization effort to fruition. They are promotions, economic development and the board of directors.

Community members started the Reedsport Main Street Program Dec. 3, 2014.

DeeDee Murphy sees a connection between tourism and Main Street.

Murphy said Lockard, who grew up in Reedsport and graduated from Reedsport High School, has knowledge of the town.

The city councilor and Reedsport/Winchester Bay Chamber of Commerce member saw about 38 vacant storefronts several years ago. Out-of-state people owned the buildings, and Murphy said the empty structures reflected poorly on the community.

Yet over time, she said, merchants have been more cooperative in cleaning up their properties.

Murphy credited Lockard with persistently contact-

Lou Sennick photos, The World‌

Margie Chatterton is silhouetted against the afternoon sun as she cleans the windows at Ellie’s Art Gallery in Old Town Reedsport Wednesday. Ellen Keeland owns the gallery, formerly known as the Orca Gallery. ing out-of-state owners, encouraging them to improve their properties.

“There’s still work to be done,” the councilor admitted, but she pointed proudly to the façade program, business awnings and other endeavors.

Murphy has served on the council since January 2013 and lived in Reedsport since April 1993.

The state program is known as Oregon Main Street, which is part of Main Street America.

According to a document from Oregon.gov, Oregon Main Street provides help, technical service and training to residents who want to preserve, strengthen and revitalize their “historic downtown commercial districts.”

Lockard explained more of Main Street.

“Traditionally, Main Street Programs focus on the commercial downtown section, putting a lot of attention into revitalizing one spot,” she said. “Because Reedsport’s downtown is so small and because it does not make sense to exclude the rest of town, we are unusual among Main Street Programs in how encompassing we are of our entire town,” the coordinator said. “Every Main Street Program is unique to its community, but I believe that if we took our attention too far away from our actual ‘main street,’ we would not be as competitive if we were to apply for funding from the state and national level.”

“We have to meet certain requirements to be considered a ‘Main Street Program’ in order to receive all of the benefits of participating in that organization,” Lockard said. “In addition,

Over the past couple of years, changes have been slowly taking shape in Reedsport’s Old Town revitalization program. narrowing our focus to just the main street can help us be more effective at making improvements, improvements that will ultimately boost the entire community.”

The philosophy isn’t unique to Oregon. To give their own towns a boost, residents across America have experimented too, trying the program in more than 2,200 communities in 40 states. This has been with “the help of the National Main Street Center and statewide downtown revitalization programs,” according to the Oregon. gov Oregon Main Street publication.

Some information from the 2010 “Performing Main Street” listed what happened in several communities, including Albany, Baker City, Corvallis, McMinnville, Oregon City, Salem and Roseburg.

The towns saw a total of $15.21 million in public and private investments in improvements.

Secondly, workers finished 100 building improvements. Through the program, the Oregon communities gained a net of 65 new businesses and 218 new jobs. Volunteers put in 12,110 hours and organizers estimated the monetary value of volunteer time at $223,458.

Lockard noted the following.

“The Oregon Main Street also provides funding through grants,” she said.

“Being associated with the National Main Street Program makes us eligible for National Trust funding and other related resources.”

Although the program continues to strengthen Reedsport, more remains

to be done.

“We need to mature as an organization,” Lockard said.

“That means building our volunteer capacity, creating a self-sufficient funding structure and incorporating short- and long-term project planning. These things will help the organization outlast any single participant while creating a process that will help us stay productive in the long run.”

The coordinator also provided a big-picture perspective.

“People need to know that our program is not something run by the city or staffed by some outside organization,” Lockard said.

“We are made up of volunteers from the community.

The things we work on are the projects our volunteers would like to see happen.

I think people in our town need to be reminded that they can have an incredible impact to help change things for the better.”

“Whether through the RMSP or through individual efforts, if everyone will take ownership of Reedsport, keep a positive attitude, be proud, be friendly, and remember that we’re all in this together, our community will do great things,” she emphasized.

Any Reedsport Main Street committee sessions are open to the public. For more information, contact Lockard at 541-271-3603, ext. 217, or through www.

ReedsportMainStreet.com.

The Umpqua Post Editor Shelby Case can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 296 or shelby.case@theworldlink.com.

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A single footprint is left in the mud around the tidal pools at Sunset Bay State Park.

What to see and do AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

The annual Prefontaine Memorial 10K and OSAA 5K are a September tradition in Coos Bay.

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

The T Sisters, from Oakland, Calif., perform at a Music on the Bay concert at Mingus Park.

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Swimmers enjoy the calm waters of Sunset Bay. RIGHT: Joyce Korbein, left, of North Bend, and Barbara Templin, of Springfield, go for a hike in South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve on Thursday, Dec. 31, taking advantage of the sunny weather to finish out 2015.

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

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People can find lots of things to do and see along the southern Oregon coast. This viewer is on the bluff overlooking Bastendorff County Beach from the campground above.

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Lou Sennick, The World‌

A kayaker enjoys the water and the views on Sunset Bay near Charleston.

South Coast has untapped tourism potential Tourism businesses create indirect jobs MELISSA CAMPBELL For The World‌

‌SOUTH COAST — Rick and Gail Anderson stopped by the Bandon Visitor Center to ask a few questions and pick up a handful of brochures.

The Andersons, from Sydney, Australia, were on a seven-week vacation. They were headed up the coast, from San Francisco to Seattle, where they’d meet up with some friends and go on an Alaska cruise.

They were on a discovery tour, they said. After spending a few days in San Francisco, they drove through the redwoods and spent a night in Brookings. Now they’d stopped in Bandon to check out the beaches, walk Old Town’s shops, grab a bite to eat, and then check out the visitor center for info.

They hopped into their rented convertible Mustang and headed up to Shore Acres. That was about as far as their plan was at the moment.

“We’re like Christopher Columbus,” Rick said. “We’re not sure what’s on the horizon.”

Tourism economy‌

The Andersons — and the thousands of visitors like them — traveled far to enjoy the Oregon Coast.

A lot of time, money and effort go into drawing people like them to the South Coast.

The Oregon Coast is the second most visited region in the state, behind only Portland, with its international airport and Interstate 5 access. Visitor spending along the coast reached nearly $2 billion in 2015, according to Oregon Travel Impacts, a Dean Runyan Association report conducted for the Oregon Tourism Commission. Of that, the South Coast brought in about

or two.

The state’s museums and visitor centers are a bit like tourist embassies. Volunteers and staff meet people from all over who come to the coast for all sorts of activities: golfers, bicyclists and adventure seekers from the world over.

If the Oregon Coast is special, the South Coast even more so. If you want to come here, you have to make a real effort.

The North and Central coasts have easy road access and feeder communities the South doesn’t have. Downtown Portland to Tillamook or Cannon Beach takes about an hour and a half. Leave Salem and shop in the Lincoln City outlet mall just over an hour later.

The only quick route to the South Coast is Eugene to Florence, at an hour and 15 minutes.

Look at a map and you’ll see the relative isolation. North of Florence are several roads from the I-5 corridor to the beach. Look south, and there are only three.

The Charleston Marina is home to a fishing fleet that fishes the Pacific Ocean. It is also a place for visitors to do The quickest way from Medford to some crabbing from the docks. Charter fishing trips also use the port for sport fishing.

Brookings is on Route 199, which veers through northern California.

Overall, in 2015, Oregon tour- sociation. “Most of the money A wholly Oregon route takes 4 1/2 $388 million, a 3 percent increase compared to 2014. In fact, the re- ism was a nearly $11 billion in- from tourism companies goes to hours, vs. 2 1/2 hours through Calgion has seen fairly steady growth dustry. For the sixth consecutive other companies. And it’s not just ifornia. over the past several year, statewide tourism providing low-paying jobs. My atyears. saw increased spending, torney, web developer, accountant Target marketing‌ It’s difficult to say how according to Oregon — those are good wages.”

The South Coast draws what Travel Impacts. Direct much money is spent in The travel impacts report says Hinz calls “serious recreationists.” travel spending in Or- re-spending of travel-generated Retired people come here to live. marketing to get people here. Travel Oregon, the egon saw a 4.5 percent revenues — money travel-oriented Adventure types come to play. compared to the year businesses and their employees state’s biggest spender “Folks plant themselves for sevon travel enticement, has before. An estimated 28 spend — generated an additional eral days,” he said. “They don’t exa nearly $36 million anmillion visitors spent 54,800 jobs with earnings of $2.4 pect super high-end amenities.” nual budget. Its current at least one night in the billion statewide.

Like the rest of the coast, the south has beautiful beaches and marketing campaign is state, a nearly 3.5 percent historic lighthouses. What’s The Seven Wonders of jump. Travel-generated Spot a tourist‌ Oregon, of which the coast is a jobs topped 105,500, a 4 percent The Umpqua River Lighthouse unique: miles of sand dunes, wonder. There are a host of other increase. museum in Winchester Bay fea- rocks draped with sea lions, and separate budgets, including the The industry also provides a tures a map, with a couple of a wild landscape that hasn’t been dozen colorful pins poked into over-traveled like the more easily Oregon Coast Visitors Associa- range of indirect benefits.

“People overlook the fact that spots around the world repre- accessible beach fronts. tion, which markets 30 destinations along the coast. Each county tourism businesses pay other senting visitors so far this year. By Local and regional tourism and most communities along the businesses for services,” said early June, virtually every state in groups coordinate and innovate in way have budgets of various sizes Marcus Hinz, executive director the nation, as well as a handful of to promote themselves. of the Oregon Coast Visitors As- international locations, had a pin Please see Tourism, Page D6

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D6 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

SOUTH COAST STRONG

The World

LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD‌

Youngsters enjoy an early summer day at Sunset Bay State Park near Charleston.

Tourism From D5

an effort to tap into every possible resource to expand area tourism with limited budgets.

“People recognize what an amazing area we are in, and are investing money in tourism’s future in ways never had before,” said Julie Miller, executive director of the Bandon Chamber of Commerce.

“People just fall in love when they come here. They go home and work the rest of their lives to get back here.”

Partnerships between local tourism groups and Travel Oregon’s Rural Tourism Studio have been invaluable, said Hinz and Miller. The studio is designed to help rural communities in sustainable tourism development. It helps organizations develop new tourism products that would benefit their specific communities, such as cycling tourism, agritourism and cultural heritage.

The Communities Powered

by Travel video series highlights participants in Oregon’s Rural Tourism Studio, including one featuring the efforts of Yachats, Waldport and Seal Rock to stimulate the local economy through tourism.

Often, multiple partners work together toward these goals. The Northern Wild Rivers Coast Farm Trail — featuring farmers’ markets and farm stands between Bandon and Port Orford — brought together Eat Fresh and Local, Bandon Chamber of Commerce and Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, among others.

Travel groups also are getting creative. Travel Lane County is using drones to film video footage, then offering the final videos to their members, said Andy Vobora, vice president of stakeholder relations for Travel Lane County.

Lane County is also coming up with ideas to entice local tourism by folks from Eugene or Portland.

Pinot Bingo and the Eugene Ale Trail encourage visits to wineries

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

A dune buggy speeds along the sand at the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area on June 25. and breweries. The organization plans to launch mobile apps to make it easier to plan and navigate, not to mention check off destinations.

“If you can get someone from Portland here, that’s just as good as someone from Japan. The money is just as valid,” Vobora said.

The Meeting Nerds and Meeting Genius campaigns target meeting planners, encouraging conventions in Florence.

has become a strong, growing economic factor, Hinz said. The South Coast is at a crossroads: Natural resource industries, such as timber, fishing and farming, aren’t what they used to be.

“The timber industry is not going to come back,” Hinz said. “It’s never going back to what it used to be. When your children no longer want to return, what can you do to bring them back or to keep them here?”

The state is working to blend a Challenges and visitor economy with traditional industry, Hinz said. The golden crossroads‌ idea is to find a way to thoughtfully In many communities along the and effectively blend the econoOregon Coast, sustainable tourism mies.

Lifetime South Coast Residents. Welcoming Customers (and Employees) from the Local Area & Those Who Have Relocated Here and Love to Live on the Southern Coast.

“We rely on our natural resources in a way that still respects the small-town way,” said Miller, of Bandon. “Our approach has to be thoughtful and smart.”

One idea is to encourage fishermen and processors to target consumers, rather than solely wholesale business, Hinz said.

Vacuum seal fish or can it and sell it directly to visitors. Visitors buy the fish and love it, then go home and place online orders.

Another: Consider a company that offers guided kayak tours and rentals. What if the company also built kayaks using local trees and sold them for a few thousand dollars?

“That would be a niche market, but serious people don’t hesitate to spend money to do what they love to do,” Hinz said.

Lawmakers can provide budgets to improve infrastructure, a move that would benefit tourists as well as residents. Improve parks and roads. Build a bicycle trail down the entire coast. Repurpose old timber roads for bike and hiking trails.

“The tourism economy can contribute to a quality of life for residents in the area,” Hinz said.

“Investments need to attract visitors but also be good for the residents. All of this will bring in new money.”

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | D7

Despite challenges, Reedsport sees opportunity for growth ‌R

EEDSPORT — Like many of you, I well remember the years when the Lower Umpqua Region was flush with family wage jobs in the mills and in the woods. Family wage jobs means families, of course, and families mean kids.

When I was in school here, Reedsport high School would graduate north of 100 students.

Now? Times KEITH TYMCHUK have changed, as they always do.

The mills have all closed down, and far fewer jobs exist in the forest side of the wood products industry. In 2016 we had 30 students graduate from Reedsport High School.

However, what has come and gone is water under the Highway 101 Bridge, as it were.

One of the things that I have always found most impressive about Reedsport/Winchester Bay/Gardiner and environs is that there is almost never a give in/ give up attitude. We seem to be survivors around here: optimistic, engaged, diligent, and (the

vast majority of the time) pulling together. With all that in mind, I think it is fair to assume that a Reedsport Renaissance is now beginning and that “the good old days” are still ahead of us, too.

Let me be clear, the Lower Umpqua Region surely faces challenges, that is inescapable.

For example, without a levee certification, property owners in the downtown area of Reedsport are going to see a significant escalation in there flood insurance rates. This great increase will impact almost all of Reedsport’s citizens, in one way or another. Unemployment in Douglas County remains considerably above the state and national averages, as does the poverty rate. Reedsport has infrastructure issues that will sooner or later need to be remedied.

Sooner, by the way, is often the better choice, as solving those issues gets more expensive the later you address them. Even county services we once took for granted now require a fee. On that front, I think we can all understand the necessity of tipping fees at the local county-run landfill. Here I will give the county credit for

making the tough call and getting it right.

I’m not sure, however, that the county is getting it right, since they’ve begun charging for access to the beach. As I’m sure you are aware, there is now a parking fee charged for locals and visitors to use the first parking lot/ beach south of the mouth of the Umpqua River. Like many of you, I would like to see that charge eliminated. It is simply another challenge the area faces. There are, of course, many others.

But facing challenges is clearly not unique to this region. It fact, it might be argued that small towns across this nation are constantly “facing challenges” of one sort or another. But those challenges are rarely roadblocks, effectively eliminating the path forward. Much more often they are opportunities for taking a new route and for getting things right. I would like to think this is where the Lower Umpqua Region is right now. We’ve identified our challenges and are transitioning them to opportunities.

The former International Paper mill site remains empty, but a sale appears to be on the near

horizon. A new, experienced industrial-land owner/developer promises to be a shot in the local arm. That long-term challenge may soon be a great opportunity. When American Bridge left the Bolon Island site, we all felt a great economic development challenge had been thrust upon the region, perhaps for the long term. Yet, now that site is booming with new Fred Wahl Marine construction. That challenge opened a door, one that is leading to even greater economic development opportunity. Even the former Umpqua Navigation/ Knife River site is seeing new use.

Reedsport has a new brewery, Defeat River, about to open.

We have other new businesses that have already done so. The Lower Umpqua STEP folks have developed a wonderful fall Chinook fishery, one that is known statewide and brings in armies of anglers, and their dollars (thank you). Winchester Bay remains the gem of Oregon’s small harbors and RV Resort at Salmon Harbor the most beautiful on the coast.

The Oregon Divisional Chainsaw Carving Championship (or just “Chainsaw” to you and me) is a

world-class event and packs in the people in June. Cool Coastal Nights does the same in August.

We have a terrific health-care community of professionals right here. In Jonathan Wright we have the best city manager in Oregon and a terrific port manager in Charmaine Vitek. We even have the promise of a rising Jordan Cove economic tide floating all economic development boats.

Above and beyond all, we have you, a community that supports one another and gets its hands dirty to find the solutions that will make all of our opportunities pay off.

I do not intend to be Pollyanna-ish but wish to simply point out that the Lower Umpqua Region remains one of the great rural areas in all of Oregon to live, work and play. Surely, (to quote “The Music Man”) “we’ve got problems right here in River City,” but just as surely, by pulling together, we’re turning them into opportunities. Already those opportunities are paying off.

Keith Tymchuk is a teacher, a former Reedsport mayor and a graduate of Reedsport High School.

A variety of economic measures for success

C

OOS COUNTY — Rural Oregon counties have been in dire economic straits for the last few years. The dual impact of property tax limitations along with decreased federal and state timber harvests has been a devastating blow to the budget and services of many rural Oregon counties.

In 2014, ten counties in Oregon were on the Secretary of State’s “Watch MELISSA CRIBBINS List.” These counties are considered in danger of falling over the edge; they might actually not have enough money to perform the services they are required to perform under the law. Coos County was listed as one of the ten counties on the 2014 list. The 2015 list was just released, and only four counties are on the watch list. The 2015 list does not include Coos County. What changed?

Coos County government has made some hard choices over the last three years including exploring innovative ways to increase revenue, as well as looking hard at efficiencies, such as consolidating county departments to save on overhead positions. We decided not to build a pipeline to transport natural gas to Bandon, and instead used the money saved to pay off bond debt. We also put a transient lodging tax pro-

posal on the ballot, which was projected to bring in about $750,000 annually that would be used for public safety.

Although the transient lodging tax proposal was defeated in November of 2015 by a margin of 45-55, it created a great opportunity for us to look at public-private partnerships to promote tourism and protect public safety. The tourism promotion plan created for the lodging tax ballot measure was all about promoting the county as a whole, not just individual cities or areas. It is a collaborative, exciting plan that includes creating multiple day itineraries that encourage tourists to stay in the area for additional days, contributing more money to and for our local economy.

From these discussions, a great idea for a public-private partnership was born.

Bandon Dunes agreed to collect a lodging assessment from its guests so that money would be available for public safety and tourism promotion, and no other struggling small business in the county would be impacted. It is a great example of partnership between business and government that makes things better for the citizens.

In June of 2016, after months of work and discussion, Bandon Dunes and Coos County signed an agreement for a 6 percent lodging assessment to be collected from its guests to support public safety and

tourism in lieu of having another lodging tax measure put on the ballot this November. The agreement carefully outlines how all of these funds will be expended. The public safety funds will improve sheriff’s patrols and insure the availability of beds for the confinement of criminals in jail. The tourism funds will be used to form an independent non-profit organization that will promote all of Coos County, encouraging tourists to come and enjoy all that we have to offer. The agreement takes effect January 1, 2017. We are enthused to see what kind of exciting changes it will create for our county.

Coos County has been looking at other ways to increase revenue. We continue to work on timber issues. In the last several years, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Congressman Peter DeFazio have both proposed timber bills that would increase the timber harvest. Neither of these bills have moved forward because of Washington, D.C., politics. Coos County has questioned the Bureau of Land Management’s calculation of the value of the Coos Bay Wagon Road lands and the amount that is owed to the county for these lands, similar to property taxes.

We are also actively working on promoting tourism in our area, including encouraging visitors to tour our local farms and creating opportunities for cyclists to come and stay

for multiple day visits.

All of these ideas take time, and none of them will be a short-term solution for the county’s money problems.

Coos County continues to look forward and seek innovative solutions. We are placing a 3 percent recreational marijuana tax on the ballot for the voters to decide this November.

The revenue would be used to offset the costs to the county of legalizing

marijuana. We continue to reorganize departments and identify efficiencies in county government operations to save money any place we can.

Coos County is an amazing place, and we are lucky to live here. It is home to some of the most spectacular beaches and sand dunes in the world, and has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and retirees to experience living in the unspoiled beauty

that surrounds us, and is a great place to raise young families. We continue to improve and refine government to serve the needs of our citizens, and we appreciate your support and assistance in our efforts.

Melissa Cribbins has been a Coos County Commissioner since 2013, and is currently in the middle of her second term. She is also an attorney licensed in Oregon and Washington.

Pregnancy Resource Center Your first stop in pregnancy diagnosis

PRC is a medical clinic specializing in pregnancy diagnosis. PRC opened doors to the public in February 1986. Last year, 347 women and 19 men came for services. In 30 years of operation, over 35,000 clients have received services. Services include pregnancy testing, ultrasound scans, prenatal and parenting education, men’s mentoring and abortion after-care.

PRC was created as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to benefit our community on Oregon’s South Coast.. Due to the generosity of supporters through financial and material donations, we are able to serve our clients free of charge.

At PRC a holistic approach is taken by addressing the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the individual. We believe that clients need to be well informed and free from undue influences in order to make the best decision. Our clients have commented that we were the one organization that truly listened to them, provided them with accurate information and took the time to answer their questions.

For a timeless experience on the Oregon Coast The Coos Bay Manor Bed & Breakfast was founded in 1991 and makes its home in the Historic Nerdrum House.

This 7,400-square-foot Colonial Revival style house was built in 1912 by Hjalte Nerdrum, who worked for the C.A. Smith Lumber Company. The Manor estate is his legacy.

It is through the efforts of many people that our clinic is able to work both efficiently and effectively. Currently, more than 40 volunteers are regularly involved at PRC in some capacity-- receptionists, patient coordinators, mentors, liaisons, board members, and fundraising committee members.

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The stately presence of high ceilings and large rooms make this inn warm and inviting. The house has a unique open air balcony that surrounds the second floor, with detailed woodworking throughout. There are five large bedrooms; four rooms with private baths and one room that shares a bath to make up the Family Suite.

To fully appreciate the life and amenities of the Coos Bay area and South Coast, it takes the perspective of those who have made their lives here. Both Coos Bay natives and graduates of Marshfield High School, Coos Bay Manor owners Dave and Madge Osborn are delighted to share their knowledge of the local recreational opportunities and other features that make this community one of a kind!

Entertaining guests and being ambassadors for the community is their greatest passion. They both can share plenty of stories to tell that reflect on the traditional Coos Bay experience. Don’t forget to ask Dave about his experiences working in the rugged woods of Oregon as a logger for nearly three decades.

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

D8 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

Timm Slater, executive director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

If we build it, they will come!

TIMM SLATER For The World‌

‌COOS COUNTY — I rolled into the Coos Bay area in August 1972 in my new Pinto. I had been hired as a technical forester for the Weyerhaeuser operations. At that time the company had over 1,500 employees in its two mills, two logging terminals, lower boom and support staff. Jobs abounded in the area, from many sources. Both individuals and businesses shared the confidence that they could meet any community challenge or need.

The recession of the early 1980s was inflation-based and almost totally killed off new housing starts, with a predictable effect on the area’s timber industry. Many jobs, good jobs, disappeared as did those

in service suppliers to the industry. That produced a change in attitude by many seeing themselves victimized by forces out of their control. Now no longer could we determine our own future.

For the last 30 years, as an area, we have worked diligently to become an “overnight” success.

During that time, while the focus was on big opportunities which many worked to see succeed, there have been a wealth of small- and medium-sized successes.

I’m a baseball fan, and recently my Giants beat the Brewers 10 to 1, with 16 hits and no home runs.

So let’s look at our hits: Leading the parade are the many young entrepreneurs with new businesses, like 7 Devils Brewery, Painted Zebra Boutique, Stillwagon Distillery, Time Bomb Exchange and the Beauty Bar, to mention a few. Also we have next generation business folk taking over established firms like Art Signs, Tri-County Plumbing, North Bend Lanes and K-Dock radio, and growing them to new levels.

Add to this the vibrant 100-yearold firms like Knutson Tow Boats and Farr’s True Value Hardware, world class health care, Native

American enterprises and a college in tune with the times.

In this gem of the Oregon coast, our greatest resource is our people.

Their spirit is continuing to rebound from being a helpless victim to the confidence that we can chart our own future again.

With our coastal location, natural assets and entrepreneurial spirit, we can and should see sustained growth. So with apologies to James Earl Jones and “Field of Dreams,” let me close with this: “People will come, Ray. They’ll come to Coos County for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they’re doing it.

They will arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for

a sense of place. They’ll pass over money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack. They’ll love the area and its opportunities. It’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The expectations will be so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.

“The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been our coast.

America’s been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But the coast has marked the time. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Oh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.”

Timm Slater is executive director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

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www.oregonsbayarea.org 00 1

SOUTH COAST STRONG SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 | A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD | theworldlink.com |

SECTION E

Build on our strengths

— AND POTENTIAL Making inroads with new tech, new alternative energy and new, youthful entrepreneurs 00 1

E2 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

South coast strong

The World

Amanda Loman photos, The World‌

Annie Pollard and Carmen Matthews co-own 7 Devils Brewery in Coos Bay.

The young lions A new generation of 30-40-year-olds redefine and refine success

Larry campbell The World

‌S

Brian Menten, owner of SharkBites Seafood Café and Waxer’s Surf & Skate in Coos Bay.

Through September Fridays 9am to 3pm

OUTH COAST — The others of his age group see him as the lead — the inspiration for a bunch more like him.

Brian Menten is owner of SharkBites Seafood Café and Waxer’s Surf & Skate next door in downtown Coos Bay. He remembers 10 years ago like it was yesterday, when he was waiting tables himself and using his tips to make payroll. He was nearly broke.

But he stuck with it. “I just went to work,” Menten said. “You gotta bleed.”

Finally, in 2011 business turned around. Now it’s thriving, meaning more time for Menten’s favorite pastime — surfing.

That’s why cohorts see him as the inspiration. And he’s all of 35 years old.

For a region that’s gone through the recession that hammered the South Coast the last couple of decades, sometimes an idea takes hold that the area’s young, talented adults are leaving; hitting the road for better opportunity anywhere but where they came from.

Some call it brain drain and see talented members of the next generation abandoning ship, so to speak.

Look around, though.

That notion is greatly exaggerated.

There are no reliable numbers to refer to that churn business owner statistics with age and demographic data. But start asking around and you’ll soon discover there are scores of young entrepreneurs and business professionals up and down the South Coast.

Some left for a few years and came back; others never left

for long. A few are newcomers who stayed because they saw potential.

They turned that potential into businesses — enterprises that provide others with jobs, generate additional economic activity and, eventually, re-create a community in their own image.

Menten is a Marshfield grad, and his parents Jon and Dora still live in Coos Bay. He was, in large part, inspiration to Annie Pollard and Carmen Matthews.

Three years ago the couple looked at what Menten was accomplishing and were inspired to try their own business. They opened 7 Devils Brewery just a few blocks away.

Like Menten, Matthews (another Marshfield grad) and Pollard (who came from Salem) put a lot of physical labor into getting their operation started. But it wasn’t just them; friends and colleagues brought their artisan talents to the interior and exterior in exchange for liquid remuneration, creating a kind of co-op vibe to the enterprise.

And that vibe creates an attitude that Pollard says becomes contagious.

“I see people starting to take a lot more pride. Business owners are just proud to be here,” she said. “And it’s real; not pretentious.”

Pollard said other young professionals see wide open opportunity here. So, it made perfect sense for Las Vegas transplants John Beane and Daneal Doerr to befriend Pollard and Matthews and capture their own little piece of downtown commerce, So It Goes Coffeehouse. They opened last fall.

Beane said they were going for a bohemian atmosphere, and that’s evident with the shelf of used books and board games, the corner stage for soloists or small performing groups and the calendar of readings and discussion groups. And the clientele ranges from teenagers to senior citizens.

Again, hard work has its rewards, and Beane calls the Coos Bay area “the promised land!”

Angie Appel also continues to thrive with her Time Bomb consignment store. In business six years now, the psychedelic signage makes for a funky downtown Coos Bay storefront that draws skaters and other younger customers.

“Ya know, this town is more hip than people give it credit for,” said the onetime big-city, high-end chef. “I wanted to show the kids that any town you live in can be cool.”

Young businessfolk aren’t just in the towns. Zoe Bradbury runs Valley Flora Farm with mom Betsy and sister Abby in a verdant valley near Langlois.

She grew up on that farm.

She left for a while to study agriculture, ecology and anthropology, and became engrossed in learning about the international politics of food: supply and demand and building sustainable local markets.

Even though she did research in Chile and worked in larger metropolitan areas, she calls her bucolic valley, “the center of the universe.”

Ever since the President, Council, and Fellows of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge first coined the term “brain drain,” the concept

Corner of 5th St. & Hwy 38 Old Town Reedsport

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South coast strong

The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | E3

Angie Appel has owned Time Bomb in Coos Bay for six years. has been bandied about to bemoan the migration of youth from their regions of origin. From the smallest communities to nations, the notion is used to explain economic failings and as a reason for promoting economic diversity.

Indeed, the disparity in age demographics is frequently cited in profiles of the South Coast: we have a dearth of young people and an overabundance of senior citizens and retirees.

But while the population figures make sense, it’s important to note that the so-called younger demographic is in the age range of 18 to 29, or thereabouts.

What statistical analyses don’t explore is how many of those — like Bradbury, Menten and Matthews — who may have left in their mid-20s and have returned to become successful professionals in their mid-30s to mid-40s, some of the most productive career years.

But new research is suggesting that is exactly what’s happening across the country.

University of Minnesota Extension rural sociologist Ben Winchester began researching population trends nearly a decade ago and has seen a steady in-migration of 30- to 49-year-olds to rural areas

of his state. These transplants bring with them educational achievements and established earning power, effectively creating a “brain gain” for these rural areas.

“So often, we’ve focused on what I call the deficit approach to rural research, or what’s been lost,” Winchester said in an interview earlier this summer.

“What’s been ignored is what’s being gained. It’s all in the data.”

Similar research by Aaron Renn, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, suggests the same phenomena is occurring in larger metropolitan areas as well — 30to 40-year-olds re-inserting themselves into neighborhoods and communities that were assumed to have been abandoned by young professionals.

In all instances, the researchers say that what’s driving the trend is quality of life. In rural areas, young professionals find the pace of life they want and availability of opportunities for those willing to work.

“People move to an area for what you are, and what you’ll become,” Winchester said. “Not what you were.”

That’s what kept Shannon Souza here after the job that brought her to the South Coast — an environmental engineer with Weyerhaeuser — disappeared.

From left: So It Goes Coffeehouse employee Brittany Beebe, owners John Beane and Daneal Doerr, and TK Capps, Tiffany Maple, and Chris Smirl, stand behind the counter at the coffeehouse on Wednesday, July 6.

Souza now uses her education and skills in her business, Sol Coast Consulting and Design, designing and installing residential and commercial solar systems.

She could’ve become an entrepreneur anywhere, but she stayed in Coos Bay. “Once I met folks, I wanted to stay,” said Souza, who was a founding parent for the Lighthouse Charter School. “It’s a low cost of living, there’s the outdoors and a strong social network.”

Quality of life also keeps Sam Ryzebol here, running Empire Bakery when his mother, Edna, retired earlier this year.

The 31-year-old transplant from the central California coast definitely keeps baker’s early morning hours, but says he can slip in at least one day a week for golf, and loves “the trees, the weather and area. And our customers!”

The idea of seeing and capitalizing on opportunity is also what young adults see that sometimes others do not. That’s what Greg Drobot saw when he partnered with Daniel Graham to build Face Rock Creamery in Bandon three years ago.

Betting on the lower South Coast’s rich tradition in the dairy industry, Face Rock’s double-digit growth has been astronomical. The creamery now distributes its cheese to some 3,000 retail outlets in 14 Western states while maintaining a retail front that’s become a visitor destination.

At 33, Drobot, who earned his economics degree at University of Washington and an MBA at San Diego, said he realizes some of older business people may see his generation as less than industrious. They’d be wrong.

“There’s no coasting,

that’s for sure,” Drobot said one busy, sunny afternoon in the store on U.S. Highway 101. “Some people don’t realize how much work it takes.”

And Drobot says he had a great mentor and example of the hard-working, young entrepreneur in Lori Osborne. Together with her husband, Barry, they opened the Beverage Barn in Bandon in the spring of 2015, an emporium among liquor outlets in Oregon.

The pair could’ve stayed in the cozy hole-in-thewall liquor store that they’d taken over from Barry’s mother in 1994. But they said they decided they could build more.

“Go big or go home,” Lori Osborne said. “We wanted to get ahead of the curve.”

Again, hard work proves to be the way to build a business. Inside the sprawling store, display shelves were built by Barry by hand. They

provided 10 more jobs to the economy. And their merchandise selection includes an entire aisle devoted to sprits produced in Oregon.

And Lori Osborne expanded this summer, taking a corner of the Bandon’s weekend farmers’ market with a small display featuring all Oregon products.

It’s an extension of another business the couple will open in the old liquor store location called The Shed, a place to host small, private events.

One other thing characterizes these young people and their business ventures — their attitude. They all know, do business with and otherwise support each other. And their vision of the future is hopeful.

“I sense a lot of pride all around,” said Annie Pollard.

“At least with the people I know and do business with.

And pride is pretty contagious, y’know?”

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

E4 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

Sustainability must be in our economic future MARY GEDDRY For The World‌

‌COOS COUNTY — Many of the most resource-rich regions in America and the world are also the most economically depressed.

Coal-rich Appalachia is home to some of the highest poverty rates in the nation.

Texas, having proven oil reserves more than twice any other state, has a staggering poverty level above 17 percent. In a state covered by thousands of oil and gas rigs, energy infrastructure and petroleum refining and processing facilities, some Gulf port cities have poverty rates over 22 percent, with some counties over 30 percent.

The reasons for so much poverty among abundance are complicated and as myriad and varied as the different regions. But one thing they all share in common is an economy heavily dependent upon resource extraction.

Extraction economies all too often utilize a non-sustainable business model, the success of which is wholly dependent on outside market forces beyond local control and which literally deprives future generations of economic security.

The current state of inaction and uncertainty around the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export project is a perfect example of outside market forces impacting, for good or bad, local communities.

A report prepared in 2010 specifically for Coos County by the American Institute of Architects Sustainable Design Assessment Team recognized the problems communities face with extraction-based economies. Urging county leaders to move away from resource extraction, the SDAT noted that in order to flourish Coos County must embrace a culture of sustainability.

“Coos County needs to

Mountain Homestead, a permaculture farm outside of Coquille, works with the surrounding environment to farm sustainabily.

AMANDA LOMAN PHOTOS, THE WORLD‌

Chip Boggs stands inside of the hoop house, a greenhouse built with wire fencing, on his farm outside of Coquille. The farm practices permaculture, a method of farming meant to work with the surrounding environment to promote sustainability. take advantage of the new green economy to work towards a vision of abundance while moving away from an economy based on extraction of natural resources. Sustainability has become a megatrend; and cities (and businesses) that thrive will be those that figure out how to change processes and products to reduce their impacts on the environment. We are increasingly concerned about resource depletion, climate change, industrial pollution, and food safety, and consumers want what they perceive to be sustainable products and services.”

Effectively panned, or at least ignored, by local leaders in a position to help drive a “new green economy,” the report nevertheless resonated with many residents concerned with the county’s chronic economic depression and 20 percent poverty rate.

Groups of citizens formed independent organizations, working alone and collaboratively along with educational institutions, to enact

a strategy to achieve sustainability with or without help from elected officials.

The New Community Coalition emerged out of the process that produced the SDAT report in order to develop community vitality by providing opportunity for collaboration among all public and private sectors.

Coos Community Radio KJAJ-LP FM is a community radio station formed in 2014 to help bring about the necessary discussions for a sustainable future.

KJAJ-LP FM will begin broadcasting a weekly program entitled The Economic Independence Hour.

Produced in collaboration with Coos Commons Protection Council, another organization focused upon sustainability, and cohosted by myself and Rik Villareal, owner of the Itty Bitty Inn, the program will discuss examples of communities that have overcome regulatory obstacles to sustainability and learned to thrive without relying too heavily on any one industry or resource

Improving the health of our community every day.

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extraction.

KJAJ and Coos Commons will also host an Economic Independence Fair this fall dedicated to building a sustainable economy through distributed renewable energy, permaculture, organic farming, ecotourism, buy-local programs and disaster preparedness and addressing homelessness.

The National Renewable Energy Labs released a study in 2009 indicating “locally-owned wind power generation to proffer nearly three times as many jobs as absentee-owned resources, with a total economic boost up to three times better than absentee-owned.” New solar photovoltaic installations produce 14 jobs for every one job on new coal and gas projects and yield better permanent jobs as well.

Electricity is a critical part of lifestyle sustainability and an essential service all of us are willing to purchase. When we import power, however, we export dollars and reduce our local spending capacity. According to a new report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, solar will become the cheapest source to produce power, with costs as low as 4 cents per kilowatt hour, over the next 15 years. Georgetown, Texas, situated right in the heart of prime oil and gas country, determined that solar also had more long-term pricing stability than fossil-fuel sources and committed its municipal utility to all renewable sources in 2015.

Coos County has a lot of untapped rooftop real estate available for solar and small wind installations. In the event of a disaster like a major Cascadia Subduction Zone seismic event, local power production can also save lives.

Permaculture has been likened to a revolution disguised as organic gardening. In essence, permaculture is about working with nature without extreme intervention in a way that provides sustenance while allowing ecosystems to thrive and flourish.

Onions grown sustainably, drying in a greenhouse at Mountain Homestead farm outside of Coquille.

Oregon State University professor of history William G. Robbins writes in his book “Hard Times in Paradise” that in the 1850s, when the first crude lumber was produced in Coos County, “resources were seen as inexhaustible.” Yet, despite concerns about the rate of depletion, “by 1986 the local industry was in recession.”

Two-thirds of Coos County is used non-sustainably for industrial timber extraction, and over 600,000 acres of forest have been converted to a monoculture. Managed under the Oregon Forest Practices Act, these tree farms are also subject to aerial herbicide spraying. As the bulk of these tree farms are designated large-tract timber property, harvests are not subject to a severance tax and provide less than $4 per acre in property taxes to help fund government services.

Organic growers do abound, thankfully, and permaculture landscapes can be designed to yield an abundance of food, fiber and energy for local needs. The success of permaculture will have a profound effect on another key component to a sustainable economy, ecotourism.

Tourism is often dismissed as providing low-paying jobs, but ecotourism is a burgeoning industry with salaries beginning at $36,000, well above the county per capita income of $22,000. In some cities, sustainability has become a tourist attraction. Växjö, a busy little city in the south of Sweden, was named the “Greenest city in Europe” by the BBC in 2007 for its efforts to create a sustainable environment for its inhabitants and is now a popular tourist destination.

Oregon State University recognizes the potential for this type of tourism and has added support for nature tourism to its extension services, noting that “Tourism encompasses many components present in the South Coast, such as outdoor recreation/adventure, marine tourism, agritourism, nature tourism, and cultural/heritage tourism.”

Any sustainability effort, particularly in the event of a natural disaster where supplying clean water and healthy food for 63,000 citizens will become a major endeavor, involves providing for present needs with resources at hand.

In terms of building a stronger local economy, many communities are enacting buy local programs.

THRIVE, The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy, is a member organization that includes the city of Ashland and more than 120 local businesses in the Rogue Valley. The mission “is to build a thriving local economy of independent, locally owned businesses that are socially, environmentally and financially sustainable.”

THRIVE promotes a “locally controlled” economy through its “Buy Local — Buy Rogue” campaign. Economic studies have shown that spending $100 at a local independent business returns $68 in additional local economic activity, while spending $100 at a chain produces just $43 worth of local impact.

Sustainability is not just a “megatrend,” but is crucial to addressing everything from environmental pollution and degradation, to solving homelessness, to eliminating child poverty and improving public health.

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | E5

80 YEARS OF SUCCESS Sause Bros.’ new barge to be fastest in the world

JILLIAN WARD The World‌

‌COOS BAY — Eighty years ago, there were three brothers who had nothing but a river tug, a “heck of a lot of drive,” entrepreneurial spirit and just the right amount of fortitude to build a better life for their family.

What began as a small idea turned into what is now known as Sause Bros., which operates a fleet of ocean towing tugs. Vice president of government and public affairs Caitlin Sause said the company, now in its fourth generation and still family-owned, has grown from that one small tug to over 60 vessels and 450 employees. It’s also finishing what engineers predict will be the world’s fastest barge: the Namakani. The company is also celebrating its 50th year of continuous service to Hawaii this year, offering services in coastal petroleum, chemical transportation, cargo handling operations, equipment transportation services, and their shipyard in Coos Bay. “Our growth came from what my grandfather and his brothers started in the 1930s, to my father who led us into a new era of thinking, especially in terms of what we can accomplish as a company if we focus on innovation,” Sause said. “It hasn’t just been that innovation, but the great people with amazing work ethic that work for this business.”

Sause explained that no matter how successful the company becomes, it will always remain a family- and community-driven business.

“Maritime as an industry, in general, has a huge family presence,” she said.

“Whether mariners pass their skills and knowledge to future generations like myself, or teach their children the ropes of the business, we see that continuity generation after generation.”

She said that just this month, there was an employee who celebrated his 44th anniversary with his boss, which she found incredible.

“That kind of commitment has a direct impact on what we do with the company,” Sause said. “I don’t know how to even put into words how great it makes me feel to wake up every day to something my family worked so tirelessly to build, and it makes me extremely proud when I look out at a tug or see a barge come in and think about where we started, how this formed, and where we are now.”

Though the Coos Bay area is fairly isolated, the Sause brothers had a passion for the Oregon coast and envisioned a vibrant community.

After they built the start of an booming business, new generations took over. Then

the recession hit.

“It is isolated in Coos Bay,” Sause said, “but we are connected by water, and our company connects industry by water. That’s what we do. So we continued to see where opportunities were along the West Coast, and my father’s forward thinking led us in those other directions.” The company had established a presence in Rainier, Portland, Long Beach, and Honolulu, and people there fought to keep businesses going just as much as they did.

“There are no ifs, ands, ors or buts about it,” Sause said.

“It was a difficult time for every company. There were sleepless nights, times in which it was very difficult, but we persevered and found new opportunities and we weathered the storms. There have been several times when we encountered hardship, but my father never gave up, the people of Coos Bay, Portland, Rainier, Long Beach, Honolulu, none of them ever gave up.”

Sause explained that every generation has faced its own difficulties, and that is how each generations learns how to build something new, gets the passion to innovate and grow.“No one wants to take a step back,” she said. “It is that drive and work ethic, of not just my family, but our employees, that brought us here. It’s the fact that we’ve had employees working for us for 44 years, employees who have been here longer than I’ve been alive, that brings us to be more and more successful.”

As for how the company is doing today, Sause said launching a new barge is no small undertaking. It has shown that Sause Bros. is committed to the industry, maritime world, and Coos Bay. The new barge is going to ship more than 3,000 tons of cargo annually.

Sause Brothers has also applied for a Connect Oregon grant to allow them to hire 40 new employees by creating 40 new positions, all of which will be retained, by building and working on a new dry dock critical to the Oregon coast.

“These new jobs that are being formed, these new positions, have great economic benefits to Coos Bay and Oregon,” Sause said. “I think it is a great hope, a great sign that this industry is not dying but growing and ideally thriving. We wouldn’t be making these investments if we weren’t confident we had the community support and economic benefits behind us. Forty new jobs in a shipyard is not a small number.”

She said with the addition of the new barge and new capacity in a dry dock within the next year, add up to being signs that the company is moving forward and continuing in its

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

Sause Brothers welder Brian Moore, left, and lead man Cody Lavigne work on the M/V Chinook on June 17.

Above: Sause Bros. anticipates its new barge, the Namakani, will be the fastest in the world.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

innovation. The Namakani means “belonging to the wind” in Hawaiian, and the barge will make its maiden voyage in September to Hawaii to mark the company’s 50th anniversary there. The engineering behind it came from thinking outside the box, as Sause put it, and using new fluid dynamics developed in Germany to advance barge technology. The Namakani be fast because it will slip through the water with less resistance and more efficiency. Will it be the fastest barge in the world?

That won’t be known until it makes its trip in the next two months.

“We are focused on the future and what will move us forward,” Sause said. “We are looking at what will make us better in how we serve our customers, the United States, and folks that want to ship products. We want to be leaders in the industry.

We aren’t going to rest on our laurels. We will continue to look for ways to be better.

We look forward to the next 80 years, and continuing what the pioneers ahead of us accomplished.”

Reporter Jillian Ward can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext.

236, or by email at jillian. ward@theworldlink.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JE_Wardwriter.

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Sause Brothers foreman Bill Elletson, right, and fitter/ welder Kelly Trentz, left, stand on the bow of the M/V Chinook, overlooking the new barge Namakani.

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AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

When Axel Englund found the first Englund Marine in 1944, he wanted to provide customers with Quality Merchandise and Great Service. From the salesmen he hired to the products he brought in, he brought a dedication to ensuring his customers had what they needed to get their jobs done. This is still evident today as you visit each Englund store along the West Coast: the products you’ll see on the shelves are tailored specifically to the needs of local customers.

The original Englund Marine store in Charleston was previously known as Hanson’s Landing, run by Emery and Louise Hanson.

By all accounts, they were central fixtures in Charleston’s tight knit community, who not only sold commercial fishing supplies and equipment, but were also supremely generous with their customers, especially when times were tough. The well-loved store was full of product and character when the Englund family bought it in 1979.

Axel Englund’s ethics of treating people right didn’t stop with his customers; he has always treated his employees the way he himself wished to be treated. To this day, employees are afforded benefits uncommon to similarly sized companies, including savings plans and insurance policies. Providing a great place to work has resulted in high employee retention rates, helping the company to grow to 7 retail locations, 3 wholesale locations, and even a raft service shop today. Despite this growth, each store retains its small-town style.

This growth has allowed Englund to utilize its buying power to keep prices low, while allowing each store to retain the particular product lines its customers’ needs. This growth has also helped Englund Marine to remain financially stable, despite slumps in one fishery or another. In the decades since the Charleston store opened, recreational fishing has grown exponentially in popularity. In response, Englund has brought in sport tackle and recreational boating gear.

Much like the Hansons, the Englund family is a proponent of community stewardship.

From fishing seminars to Vessel Safety Check Days, we want our customers to have safe and productive trips on the water.

So many years after Axel started the first Englund store, the family can look back and see that while so much has changed, so much has stayed the same: Axel’s legacies of quality, character, and community, live on today.

Phone: 541-888-6723 91146 Cape Arago Highway P.O. Box 5704 Charleston, OR 97420 Astoria, OR - Ilwaco, WA - Westport, WA - Charleston, OR Crescent City, CA - Newport, OR - Eureka. CA

SOUTH COAST STRONG

E6 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

Competing for coveted state lottery dollars SHELBY CASE The Umpqua Post‌

‌REEDSPORT — Fred Wahl Marine Construction’s multimillion-dollar proposal to have an indoor year-round shipbuilding operation is one of the top nine transportation projects in the state now under consideration for government grant dollars.

The state Area Commission on Transportation met June 14 at the Portland Holiday Inn and among other proposals, considered that of the Reedsport firm.

Oregon Department of Transportation Region 3 Manager Mike Baker said that at the “Regional Review Committee, they were the ninth project in the state (overall).”

“Generally, they follow what the Regional Review Committee (recommends),” Baker said. “I would say it looks very positive.”

On May 24, Area Commission on Transportation members from the Rogue Valley Area Commission on Transportation and the Southwest Area Commission on Transportation met to review all projects. The Rogue group includes Jackson and Josephine counties while the Southwest Area ACT consists of Coos, Curry and Douglas counties.

Each region is guaranteed at least $4.5 million for projects and there are five regions combining various counties.

The total project expense totals $8.75 million. Out of this, Wahl hopes to get $3.4 million from ConnectOregon grant dollars. The state program provides grants with funding from the state from bond sales backed by lottery dollars. The program requires a 30 percent match of the grant funding and Wahl’s proposal consists of a 61 percent match, according to Jim Zimmer, project manager with Fred Wahl Marine.

As Zimmer said, the indoor boat building shelter isn’t the only part of the project. Other parts are an area to power-spray boats, security fencing around 30 acres, a 190-foot floating dock and electrical improvements.

Competition was indeed stiff for state dollars.

“I think they had $91 million in requests for ConnectOregon,”

AMANDA LOMAN, THE WORLD‌

Welder Nate Tindall works at Fred Wahl Marine’s Bolon Island facility on June 1. the Region 3 manager said. There were 78 applications with a total project cost of $204 million.

The Oregon Transportation Commission, which is a five-member group appointed by the governor, will take up the proposals during a public hearing July 21 in Salem at the Oregon Transportation building, beginning at 9 a.m.

Officials are scheduled to make a final decision either Aug. 18 or 19 in Klamath Falls. Baker said the decision date may depend on when visitors are provided a tour of local transportation projects in that area.

If the state gives Fred Wahl personnel the go-ahead in August, Wahl’s company would then hire about 40 new workers. On average now, the firm employs 80.

“We thought that we have a very worthwhile project. We thought that we had as good a chance as anyone else,” Zimmer said of the application.

To get to the May 24 meeting, Wahl’s application first had to be approved by ODOT’s Marine

Review Committee, which prioritizes projects involving marine transportation. That happened Feb. 18 at a Portland meeting attended by Wahl, Zimmer, County Commissioner Chris Boice, Reedsport City Manager Jonathan Wright and Reedsport Mayor Linda McCollum.

“The project that he’s requesting funding for is already in process,” Wright said. “The building that he’s proposing — the marine services building — is going to be one of the last components that’s developed.”

“So then I would assume in early spring of 2017 the building would be done,” he added. Wright anticipated that the entire project would be finished by July 2017.

Wright said “if he’s awarded in August (2016), he has to go through the public (bidding) process.”

“What he’s proposing is an enhancement to his site,” he said.

But what’s different with this is “creating infrastructure so that he can build year round.”

The idea is “decreasing the cost

to boat owners and increasing efficiency of the operation.” Fishing vessel owners want to return to the water “more quickly, especially given the shorter season and weather-related challenges.”

Earlier this year, a Bend video crew interviewed Wright for the Connect Oregon grant at Fred Wahl’s company. However, the video company also interviewed others, trying to get even more testimony in favor of Wahl’s grant proposal and the need for such funding. Company staff talked with Oregon State Rep. Caddy McKeown, Steve Reese from the Port of Umpqua, Zimmer, McCollum, South Coast Development Council Executive Director Connie Stopher, former Reedsport Mayor Keith Tymchuk and Wahl’s son Mike, another project manager at the company.

A boost to the economy‌

Wright said the project, if approved for funding by the state, will give a jolt to the Reedsport economy.

For example, Fred Wahl Marine

could bring in wave energy development and defense contracts.

Oregon State University has received national attention for its research on wave energy. Scientists can adjust local wave energy devices, and he said this is important to “capture a corner in an almost nonexistent market.”

Dr. Belinda Batten from Oregon State University’s Northwest National Marine Renewal Energy Center was among those expressing excitement for the project. She serves as director of the NNMREC. Batten wrote in support of Wahl’s request for grant funding from the ConnectOregon program to expand their operation to the American Bridge site.

“Such an operation will increase state capacity to serve a broad spectrum of marine industries, and particularly, the wave industry,” she wrote in her letter. “In addition, this expansion project will generate much needed economic development in Reedsport and the region through new jobs and job retention.”

In January 2013, the NNMREC began designing and planning in the Newport/Toledo area for the first utility-scale, grid-connected test site for wave energy converter arrays in the nation. This is known as the Pacific Marine Energy Center South Energy Test Site, or PMEC-SETS. “We know that wave energy converter developers require manufacturing partners to produce their converters as well as supporting equipment for marine operations,” Batten added. “I am confident that if the proposed expansion occurs, both NNMREC and the developers will contract with these facilities. The wave testing industry, even in testing scale, needs qualified vendors that are ready to support the specialized needs of this community.”

In addition to providing more jobs, there’d be a benefit to local hotels and restaurants, since crew members of vessels being repaired would stay in Reedsport.

“So they’ll be spending money in the community,” Wright said.

The Umpqua Post Editor Shelby Case can be reached at 541-2691222, ext. 296 or shelby.case@theworldlink.com.

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Strength is a tricky subject.The strength of our businesses and our local economy seems as though it should come from our government, our leadership, or maybe from large industries and corporations. In reality all these factors matter, and some a great deal, but true strength comes from within each of us. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi:“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”The “South Coast Strong” that we have developed here in our coastal communities has been forged in the fires of adversity, deep in each one of our souls, and grown in us that indomitable will.This process has defined “South Coast Strong” for each one of us including me, and my business; Tom’s Bulldog Automotive. Here at Tom’s Bulldog Automotive we have grown strong through adversity and have willed indomitably to persevere and be a force for good and positive change in our community, through the good times and the bad!

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Bob Watson, my dad, opened our doors as Bulldog Automotive in 1991 in Coos Bay. In 1992 we moved to our current location in Bunker Hill (I have been working on and off in the same building since I was 12).

In 2008 I moved back home to Coos Bay, took over the shop and changed the name to Tom’s Bulldog Automotive, after dad’s tragic death. Dad who became known as “Bulldog Bob” grew to be well known and respected here and I strive to honor his life and his commitment to our community by continuing on in his footsteps of honesty, integrity and community service.We are now a three generation family owned and operated business that has grown through many challenges over the years. Dad started the business from scratch and worked hard to build it into the automotive shop with the best reputation in town, we worked through losing my dad in 2007, we then braved the economic crisis of 2008. Each adversity has taught us to be better, sharpened us, and grown our strength and will. Like the Phoenix we have thrived through adversity. I, with my wife and business partner Erin, have built through the years of difficulties, a different kind of auto service and repair shop.A state of the art shop that offers cutting edge technologies like a digital MultiPoint Safety Inspection that can be text or e-mailed with pictures, so our customers stay in the know.

A shop with skilled, well trained and certified crew that offers excellent customer service and top quality repairs.A shop with the the best warranty on the South Coast (3 years or 36,000 miles!) to keep people on the road.A shop that can take the stress of auto service and repair off the minds of our customers.This is who we are and we truly are different! I continue to grow in pride as I have watched our business grow stronger. Dad would also be proud of our progress and our thriving, growing family.

We have two wonderful boys, Jacob who is just over 2 years old and and going on master mechanic and Levi who is 8 months old and can’t wait to start doing everything his brother can do.They do all the hard work, while I supervise and Erin handles the book work. Jacob begs to come to work with me, daddy, every day and has a name for each of the guys. In fact he calls them “The Guys” collectively. Jacob loves tools, trucks and any kind of machine. Levi is a daddy’s boy, quite the talker, and is already almost the size of Jacob his older brother, before we know it they will be running the shop all on their own.

When I was younger I couldn’t wait to grow up and head out into the world and leave the small town I grew up in behind.When I left for college I thought to myself, I will never come back to Coos Bay and live here, but never say never.Through the adventures of life I have come to love our South Coast, with all its rugged beauty, its economic challenges and its uncanny quirks. I, with you, my team and my family will continue to build a strong and vibrant business that truly makes the South Coast stronger. Join with me to feed and grow the fire in each of us as we strive toward building a stronger and stronger South Coast.We are strong, each one of us in our hearts, minds and souls. I will stay right here! I will raise my family, right here, to be South Coast Strong and Bulldog Strong!

Drive Safe, Tom Watson, Owner and President

63075 Highway 101, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420 www.TomsBulldog.com • 541-269-0399

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | E7

PHOTO COURTESY SCDC‌

South Coast Development Council participates in a recent Dockside Discussion in Charleston.

A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE SCDC’s two years of tangible progress in business development CONNIE STOPHER Director, South Coast Development Council‌

‌ OOS COUNTY — The 2014C 15 period was a transitional year for the South Coast Development Council. I had just been hired as the organization’s new executive director and had a lot of work to do.

Luckily, I had a board, staff — and community — that was right there beside me.

While that was the year when we laid the foundations for a strong economic development strategy, 2015-16 was a year when we started using that foundation to build something bigger. We focused on four main components of economic development: industrial properties, workforce, access to resources and business development.

Industrial properties‌

We submitted over 750 acres of industrial land throughout the region to be designated as a Regionally Significant Industrial Area.

Section 7(8) of Senate Bill 766 authorizes state funding agencies to prioritize Regionally Significant Industrial Areas when deciding where to invest in needed infrastructure. Our existing industrial

land is a huge resource for job creation. Improving the infrastructure of these lands will help us be more competitive and attractive to businesses looking to relocate or expand. That application is still under review, but our hope is that we’ll soon have another resource available to help us create jobs on the South Coast.

We have also hosted a number of site visits from Business Oregon to showcase our plethora of unique industrial properties located on the South Coast. Business Oregon is often the first point of contact for new businesses looking to relocate to Oregon. Having their staff familiar with our region and all we have to offer is incredibly helpful when they are talking with businesses that are considering one of our communities.

Workforce‌

One of the most important aspects of what we do, is Business Retention and Expansion visits in which we regularly check in with our existing businesses. We conduct BRE visits to ensure that business in the region can remain successful, and if they need help expanding we are a free resource

for them to use.

Time and time again I’d hear a similar theme during these meetings, “It’s hard to recruit people to move here.” This surprised me at first. My first impression of this region was that people would love to live here. It had been a dream of mine to live on the Oregon coast and enjoy its natural beauty.

When I dove deeper, I found that my initial instinct had been correct. People do want to move here.

But because we are a small community, many of them feared that their spouses would not be able to find work.

To help businesses overcome this challenge we launched our “Family Relocation Program.”

Now, when a business is in the final recruiting stages, they can offer to send the resume of the candidate’s spouse or other working-age family member to SCDC. We then send that resume to a diverse group of employers throughout the region. This helps give them a foot in the door that you just can’t get when you’re new to a community, and helps businesses fill critical vacancies so they can reach their goals and potential.

Access to resources‌

In 2015 we launched our Buzz on Biz programs, which are pub-talkstyle meetings so businesses can discuss issues among their peers, network and learn about tools and resources available to them. We’re looking forward to growing that program this year.

In 2016 we launched our redesigned website, www.scdcinc.org, which will make it easier for businesses to access resources. It will also help those looking to relocate to the area learn more about each of our unique communities in our region.

We also attended “Dockside Discussions” with the fishing industry along the South Coast to learn more about what they see as opportunities to grow local fishing related businesses, and how we can work together to overcome obstacles that are hindering that growth.

Not surprisingly, we are finding a lot of innovative ideas, and that people are excited for the future of the region. Helping people who are innovative and motivated, access resources to make things happen, is one of the best ways to spur growth in an economy.

Business development‌

Business development can take many forms. Some of the most important projects we’ve undertaken this year involve doing in-depth research into value chains within our seafood economy. We are also helping startups, like BC Fisheries, access the funding they need to grow and expand, and providing tools and training to established local businesses.

We recently learned that our application to host Travel Oregon’s Rural Tourism Studio was approved. This program is designed to assist rural communities in sustainable tourism development.

Many of our local businesses depend on tourism to survive, and this program will help them tap into resources and data to be even more successful.

Regional renaissance‌

This was the year when we finally started to see the fruits of our labor. Next year is looking to be another exciting year full of possibilities. I’ve always said that successful economic development is a community-wide endeavor, and the South Coast region is a great place to see that in action.

100 Port Dock Rd - Reedsport, OR 97467 Ph: (541) 271-5720 - Fax: (541) 271-4349

Fred Wahl

Email: info@fredwahlmarine.com Website: www.fredwahlmarine.com

Marine Construction, Inc.

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That is why we have become a nationwide leader in commercial boatbuilding industry.

Permanent full-time jobs are immediately available. Fred Wahl Marine is an equal opportunity employer that offers a drug-free workplace, long-term work, competitive wage, and benefits package including paid time off, 401k and company paid health and dental.

Positions Available are: Management, Supervisors, Machinists, Fabricators, Sandblasters/Painters, Cabinet Makers, Electricians, Hydraulic Techs, Mechanics, Fitters, Welders and Laborers 00 1

E8 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

South coast strong

The World

Main Street approach builds on Bandon’s strengths ‘Alive After Five,’ cycle stop signal Bandon open for business

HARV SCHUBOTHE

‌ ANDON — Like many towns B on the South Coast, Bandon has been experiencing much better days since the depths of the Great Recession in 2008. Vacant storefronts are becoming increasingly hard to find. And more and more visitors are flocking to the area to enjoy its beautiful natural assets and outdoor recreation opportunities. Weekend lodging opportunities during the summer are at a premium.

Yet, while it is thriving, many challenges remain for the community and its economy. Its population is older, with a median age of 53 compared to 38 statewide.

The median household income is $34,195 compared to Oregon’s median income of $44,676. Most telling, the percent of students in Bandon’s school district on free or reduced fee lunches stands at 71.4 percent, much higher than the county average.

The Greater Bandon Association has been created to deal with these challenges. The mission of this all-volunteer, non-profit organization is to revitalize the Bandon area and its local economy, accomplishing this while preserving and building upon Bandon’s many assets. Its Board of Directors is inclusive and serves as a bridge to connect many community stakeholders: the City of Bandon, the Port of Bandon, Old Town merchants and other Bandon small businesses, the school and hospital districts and the media.

GBA is pursuing its mission using the Main Street approach.

It has four areas of focus as part of that approach: organization, promotion, design and economic revitalization.

Marketing or promoting Bandon’s unique characteristics and developing effective promotional activities increases visibility as well as attracts local residents

and new businesses to town. GBA introduced “Alive After Five” to demonstrate that the streets of Bandon do not roll up at 5 p.m.

They introduced Bandon’s Night of 10,000 Lights bringing back the Community Christmas Tree.

This year, they are bringing back Music in the Park to show off still another of the community’s many assets, City Park.

Design activities try to make Bandon’s streets more inviting and demonstrate community pride. From seasonal cleanup campaigns to providing technical assistance to local small businesses on the elements of good design, they try to get the town into top physical shape. Working with the City of Bandon to create and administer a façade improvement loan program is a prime example of GBA’s design work.

GBA also works to help bring new businesses to the area, help existing businesses to expand and help our town polish its competitive edge through its economic revitalization activities.

Recently, GBA commissioned a retail analysis through a State of Oregon Economic Development Specialist exploring retail leakage/surplus within Bandon’s urban growth boundary based upon the demographics of its residents.

This study does not include tourists but rather looks at the mix and match of businesses, especially during that period when survival must depend on local residents.

The study also looks at retail market potential within a 30-minute drive time radius to help potential businesses better understand the surrounding community that they are or will be marketing their products to.

Two projects in particular help demonstrate how the Greater Bandon Association’s integrates the four areas of the Main Street approach to create a vital Bandon.

The Bandon Cycle Stop project is

an example of organizing a community program. Bandon’s Alive After Five event shows how the organization works with small business to promote their shops.

Cycle Stop‌

The Greater Bandon Association has been collaborating with the Port of Bandon, the City of Bandon, and a new local cycle shop. South Coast Bicycles, to make Bandon more bicycle friendly recognizing that bicycle tourism is one of the fastest growing components of Oregon’s economy. Key initiatives to date have been to build and locate more bicycle racks in the community and to develop a map of key points of interest to bicyclists including trails and routes and other amenities.

That relationship led to the creation of the Cycle Stop project.

Recently, Bandon’s Cycle Stop Project received the Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award for “Outstanding Partnership” during the Oregon State Main Street Conference in The Dalles.

This state-wide award is given to a community which demonstrates how two or more organizations have effectively collaborated on a specific downtown preservation project or on-going downtown revitalization effort.

The Greater Bandon Association, Port of Bandon, City of Bandon, and the local bicycle shop collaborated in the creation of the cycle stop in Old Town Bandon. The Port of Bandon donated the land and helped secure grant funding from Oregon’s Department of Transportation, as well as provided an inmate work crew from the Oregon Department of Corrections. The Greater Bandon Association did the design work and also assisted in securing additional grant funding from Cycle Oregon. The City of Bandon provided site preparation and

added the finishing touches with benches and a street light for security. South Coast Bicycles then got the word out to the cycling community in Oregon.

Current components of the cycle stop include a high security bicycle pump and tools for bicycle repair. A public work stand is provided for bicycle repair. Bicycle storage racks are also included.

Preparations are now underway for phase two of the cycle stop. This would add an information kiosk that will include maps, routes and information on other amenities. The kiosk will also include six lockers for storage with sufficient room for bike paniers. So, in addition to the rest and repair facilities that are now provided to bicyclists traveling through the area, they also would be able to store their belongings, have access to needed information and be able to enjoy all that Old Town Bandon and the Boardwalk area have to offer to its visitors.

The third and final phase of the Cycle Stop project is a solar powered charging station that cyclists could use to charge their mobile devices. These devices have become a necessity for connecting with the world around us and in particular are critical to cyclists for emergencies and helpful for navigating through the sites and communities along their way.

USB ports would be added inside of the lockers, allowing the bicyclists to charge their mobile devices in a secured locker while they enjoy their brief stay in Bandon before continuing with the rest on their journey.

was billed as an art walk. Participating shops in Old Town offered refreshments, appetizers, music and promotions and had local art on display. The idea was to attract people into the various establishments that participated in the event.

In the second year, a wine walk was added to the third Friday event. Instead of featuring art at each location, the draw became samples of wine. As in the initial year, participating shops continued to offer refreshments, appetizers, art, music and promotions.

The Greater Bandon Association added fundraising as a goal for the event by selling wine glasses to those who wanted to engage in the wine walk. Attendance at Alive After Five exploded.

Meanwhile, funds raised have created the resources for the Greater Bandon Association to do other activities to engage local residents and visitors with Bandon’s businesses and its many other assets. For example, GBA brought back the community Christmas tree after a 20-year absence and purchased the lights for the Night of 10,000 Lights. This event on Small Business Saturday kicks off the holiday season for local merchants and again brings local residents into Bandon’s shops.

Other events that are funded include a summer Music in the Park series in Bandon’s City Park, showing off yet another community asset. And this coming February, the Greater Bandon Association will be co-sponsoring a three-day festival to attract visitors to Bandon during a time when so many businesses that are dependent on tourism struggle to Alive After Five‌ survive before the tourists return Now in its fourth season, Alive in the summer.

After Five has been the most successful of the events in helping Harv Schubothe is a member of the promote Bandon’s local busi- Bandon Planning Commission and nesses. In its first year, the new chairman of the Greater Bandon event focused on local artists and Association.

BLUE IS SIMPLY REMARKABLE. Natural gas is a smart idea for home equity and resale value.

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Just one more thing that makes blue so remarkable. For more information about switching to affordable natural gas, please contact: Linda Kennedy (541) 267-5655 ext. 6570

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SOUTH COAST STRONG SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016 | A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WORLD | theworldlink.com

|

SECTION F

TRENDS and the FUTURE An economic report card, plus challenges and hope for the future

A fish made of plastic garbage from the beach by volunteers from the Washed Ashore project attracts visitors in Old Town Bandon.

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LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD

SOUTH COAST STRONG

F2 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

An economist’s view of the South Coast

Natural resources, the basis of the area’s economy: Although the area sustains a variety of forest, agricultural, and fishery resources, the primary natural resource-based economic drivers are timber, fishing, and associated recreation or tourist-based activities.

Not all timbered lands are readily available for unrestricted use. Coos County has nearly 863,000 acres of total forest land; Curry County has 618,000; and all of Douglas County has nearly 2.9 million acres in forest land. National forests and other federal lands account for 29 percent of Coos forest lands, 66 percent of Curry’s, and 57 percent of Douglas County’s forest lands. Land-use constraints as well as physical access to timber lands affect the availability of this resource.

Transportation-related factors further challenge the delivery to processing and marketing sites.

Visitor spending Spending by visitors to the South Coast is on the rise. In this graph, spending is shown in relation to 1991 levels, arbitrarily defined as 100.

Southwest Oregon

Western Douglas County

Eastern Douglas County

Curry County

Curry Wood Products Curry Manufacturing

Coos Wood Products Coos Manufacturing 2,000 1,750

200

1,500 1,250

150

1,000

100

Labor force participation

Source: Oregon Employment Department

Although unemployment rates have fallen, fewer people are actually working.

Douglas County Oregon Coos County Curry County

portation tied through local ports: Ocean-based resources not only include fishing and related tourist activities, but also an extensive infrastructure impacting the area’s all-important transportation options.

Oregon’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fish Division, tracks and reports commercial landings data.

The 2014 summary data as well as dredging information are presented in the table below. It is very clear that the SW Oregon ports of Charleston, Brookings, Winchester Bay and Port Orford play a major role in the fishing industry. Subject to weather, water conditions and overall fluctuations in supply and demand, the fishing industry functions within a volatile business environment.

No economic review of our ocean-based resources can limit itself to an examination of just the fishing industry. Our ports function as mini-communities — offering a wide variety of goods and services to businesses and individuals. The International Port of Coos Bay is well-positioned to continue to contribute to southwest Oregon’s economy. Its strategic business plan, posted online, provides a detailed description and analysis of their role in the immediate area as well as the state. The Port’s acquisition of the Coos Bay Rail Link, coupled with operations of the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport, suggest future economic and related business opportunities.

70%

60%

50%

40%

Source: Oregon Employment Department

Nicole Chiesa Miles*, LTP29483 *Investment Advisor Representative Generations Tax and Wealth Management, LLC is the new name for Coquille Valley Financial Management, reflecting the firm’s commitment to long-term tax and financial services as well as the opening of a second location to serve the Coos Bay/North Bend area.

“We’ve always been a family business and now we’re making it official,” says longtime Myrtle Point tax and financial advisor Richard Chiesa, whose wife Barbara and daughter Nicole (Nicki) have been part of the firm for many years. “We are in fact two generations working together with a long term approach of helping our clients pursue their financial goals.”

Dick and Nicki know the strength of the South Coast lies within the people who choose to call it their “home”. “We work with loggers, ranchers, contractors, commercial fishermen, cutters, factory workers, doctors, lawyers, teachers, members of the clergy, small business owners and everything in between.” “Our clients are strong, dedicated, hard-working, individuals,” says Nicki. “In return, we work hard to help them pursue their financial goals, supporting them at every step of the way and helping them look beyond their current situation.”

Dick and Nicki (as advisors through their affiliation with HD Vest Investment Services ℠ out of Irving, TX) offer a wide variety of investment services, including mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and insurance products, such as annuities. They also offer tax planning and preparation for individuals and businesses, as well as payroll preparation.

Let us Help you Navigate Your Financial Journey Today!

North Bend Office:

2040 Public Square Court, Suite C Phone: (541) 808-9290

*Securities offered through H.D. Vest Investment ServicesSM, Member SIPC.Advisory services offered through HD Vest Advisory ServicesSM. Generations Tax & Wealth Mgmt, LLC is not a registered broker/dealer or independent investment advisory firm.

Lee Enterprises graphic

in leisure and hospitality.

The percentages are similar for Curry County and the Reedsport area.

Manufacturing, led by wood products: The manufacturing industry across the nation has been a focal arena for technological innovation, use of lean processes, as well as being impacted by globalization. As efficiencies have increased, employment has declined and changed. The remaining workforce now needs more computer-based skills than ever before.

In 1976, 31 percent of Coos County’s employment was in manufacturing; 34 percent of Curry County’s and 37 percent of Douglas County’s employment was in manufacturing. By 2015, Coos County’s manufacturing base accounted for 8 percent of the overall county employment; Curry County’s manufacturing employment accounted for 9.6 percent of all employment; and Douglas County’s accounted for 12.3 percent. Wood product manufacturing currently accounts for 50.9 percent of all manufacturing in Coos County; 68.3 percent of Curry County’s manufacturing; and 66.6 percent of Douglas County’s manufacturing employment.

Recent innovations around the development and uses of cross-laminated timber (Riddle, Douglas County) suggest new avenues for this key area industry. Other manufacturing activities include food processing.

Tourism and associated business activities: Tourism plays an important role in the area’s overall economy.

Since tourist spending extends beyond basic lodging and restaurant expenses, the economic and market research company Dean Runyan and Associates has studied travel, tourism and recreational aspects of different areas for over 25 years. The accompanying graph pertaining to visitor spending in southwest Oregon shows the dollars spent Production and trans- in Coos, Curry, Western

2015

2014

2012

2013

2011

2010

2008

2009

0

2007

Lee Enterprises graphic

2005

Source: Dean Runyan and Associates

2006

250 2003

0

2004

500

2001

50

2002

750

Richard Chiesa*, EA, CSA, CFP *Investment Advisor Representative

531 Spruce Street Phone: (541) 572-4080

Since the 2007-2009 recession, wood products and manufacturing employment in Coos and Curry counties has slowly returned to 2000 levels.

Coos County

250

in three major industry sectors. The skills sets vary widely, offering workers a variety of opportunities.

Given the demographic make-up of our area, our reliance on in-migration to grow our population, and projected future needs, it is not surprising that public and private education and health services rank number one for the top employment sector. In Coos County, 27 percent of jobs are in that Top employment sec- sector, 19 percent are in tors: More than half of all trade, transportation and jobs in our area are found utilities, and 11 percent are

Myrtle Point Office :

Coos, Curry County employment in wood products and manufacturing

300

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

SOUTH ‌ COAST — Southwest Oregon’s Coos, Curry and western Douglas counties, rich in natural resources, stretch northward along the Pacific Ocean’s coastline from the California border to just north of the scenic Umpqua River.

This area of seemingly endless forests, pristine rivers and streams, and sparsely populated coastal bluffs and beaches exemplifies coastal Oregon.

Although there are as many ways to look at an area’s economy as there are economists, a good place to start is from the ground, or ocean, up: geography, resources, transportation and demographics.

Fundamentally, this area’s geography fosters a natural resource-based economy that relies on accessing, sometimes processing, and transporting those resources to places where they are either further processed or otherwise used. This rural environment, like other Oregon counties, has an older and aging population coupled with substantial youth out-migration. Our overall economy is a dynamic interplay between these factors and the industries and businesses that have developed here. Thus, we’ll take a look at the lay of our lands (and ocean/port access); our resources — local use and transportation issues; and our population.

Southwest Oregon, home to nearly 92,000 people, covers more than 3,800 square miles. That’s only 23.5 people per square mile.

Neighboring Lane County has 78.4 people per square mile; Jackson County has 75.3; and, in contrast, urban Multnomah County has 1,672 people per square mile.

Given the vast and rugged timbered lands, the area’s residents are clustered in small towns and mid-sized

communities located along the few, but well-traveled highways — primarily U.S. Highway 101, which runs north-south along the coastline from southern California to the northwest corner of Washington. West-east travel from Curry, Coos, and western Douglas counties inland to connect with Interstate 5 is also scenic and time-consuming — well-suited for the area’s tourism industry but challenging for transporting goods to market.

The Pacific Ocean not only provides natural resources and tourist-related activities, it offers this corner of Oregon a variety of transportation options. The International Port of Coos Bay is the largest deepdraft maritime trade center between San Francisco and Puget Sound.

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

ANNETTE SHELTON-TIDERMAN Oregon Employment Department‌

Lee Enterprises graphic

and Eastern Douglas counties, indexed to spending in 1991. It shows that tourism spending in Curry County rose more than 50 percent between 1991 and 2015, while Coos County and Western Douglas County visitor spending more than doubled in that time frame.

Although the effects of the Great Recession are particularly obvious in Eastern Douglas County and Coos County, the overall trend has been reasonably steady growth. This is important since tourism relies on discretionary income, which means that when the economy gets tight, it’s an arena where people can easily cut back on spending.

The key role played by demographics: Against the backdrop of our physical geography, natural resources and transportation considerations, southwest Oregon’s demographics play a key role in the development of our economy.

As is true for nearly all of Oregon’s rural counties, not only are we home to an older and aging population, we see substantial out-migration of our youth. Comparing the Reedsport area, Coos and Curry counties with the state, it is easy to see that on a percentage basis, our area has an older population. This affects the types of goods and services that will be in greatest demand; it also affects the availability of the workforce needed to supply those goods and services.

Portland State University’s Population Research Center tracks Oregon’s population dynamics. Their studies show that Coos and Curry counties had substantial out-migration of youth ages 20 to 29. These are the years associated with moving for work and educational opportunities. Additional information about Oregon’s youth can be found in the Oregon Employment Department’s report Endangered: Youth in the Labor Force.

During the Great Recession (December 2007–June 2009), and for a number Please see Economist, Page F3

DresseD for suCCess We have been running our locally owned & operated linen business since 1995, originally under the name of Washtub Laundry. In 2005, Lanny Boone offered us the opportunity to expand our operation to Dry cleaning as well, and we moved into Wardrobe Cleaners.

We purchased the eco-friendly drycleaning machine in September of that year. We currently employ four employees. We want to thank all of our customers for our continued success.

Wardrobe Cleaners (Uniforms • Linens • Dust Control)

246 W. Commercial Ave. Coos Bay, OR 97420

541-267-6118

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South coast strong

The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | F3

A glass half full There’s a bounty of blessings amid the challenges we face

C

All this is allowing for another important occurrence — our own young people are returning home to seek careers and to raise their families. ... Our next generation of leaders — business, professional, political and educational — are stepping forward.

OOS COUNTY — It is appropriate that we identify problems in our county and work to resolve them, but not that we dwell on them to the extent we overlook the many blessings — both natural and manmade — that we enjoy. Let’s take a moment to reflect on these blessings and the good that is going on about John us. sweet They start with the natural beauty and bounty of our home. We are learning to balance our use of our natural resources with concern for our environment and sustainability. Even though some would tell us otherwise, Coos County may well be a showcase for such balance and healthy economic diversification that has resulted.

Timber and wood products, long the driving force of our economy, are rebounding. Upward of $60 million has recently been invested in wood products manufacturing and shipping terminals in the county. Roseburg Forest Products is engaged in a major expansion and upgrade of their Coquille veneer and plywood plant. Northwest Hardwoods has purchased a local sawmill, upgraded it and is now processing alder logs into lum-

Pacific.

Dairy is alive and well in Coos County once again, too. This time around we are seeing large, organic dairies converting the lush pastures of our county into vitamin-rich milk. Bandon’s Face Rock Creamery is a year physician, dental, pharma- testament to the revival of this ber here in Coos County instead caught salmon, tuna, bottom industry. ceutical, nursing and physician fish and shrimp, all sustainable of Eugene. Southport Lumber Our communities are addressassistant students.

Co. has added a new production fisheries, remain a significant ing the decaying remnants of Even though Coos County is part of our economy. In addition line, significantly increasing its our industrial past with restored to the jobs created for fishermen remote from major population output. Two privately owned centers, we have a transportation waterfronts and highway imand processors, we are seeing ocean shipping terminals have provements, refurbished treatsystem that many larger combeen upgraded and we are enjoy- new investment and jobs in fish ers, commercial buildings and a munities would envy — north/ ing regular ship calls as a result. boat construction and repair.

Salmon once more abound in our south connections on U.S. High- new history museum, to name a Roseburg Forest Products will way 101, two east/west routes to few improvements. We have lost soon start shipping a new prod- rivers and streams, generating some major retail outlets of late, Interstate 5, rail service, a deep uct, wood fuel chips, to Japan for a new sport fishery. This has but they are being replaced with sea port and air service to Portenergy production. This will add brought us increased sales and land, San Francisco and Denver. small specialty shops, many loservices of recreational boats ship calls and jobs, and create cally owned. Bandon has led the Not bad for a county of 63,000 and helps fill our motels and a use for formerly unusable log way in these endeavors, but our citizens. restaurants with fishermen and species and grades.

While on the subject of trans- other communities are catching Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has guides. up.

And then there is our medical portation, let’s not forget Sause brought national and internaAll this is allowing for another Bros. Long home-harbored in tional attention to Coos County community. Bay Area Hospital important occurrence — our Coos Bay, they have quietly and has shown us just how ben- is a dynamic part of our comtransformed their tug and barge own young people are returning munity. The recent addition of eficial tourism can be. In a few home to seek careers and to raise company from sole reliance on more hospital rooms, a cancer short years they have become a their families. After years of demajor employer and the county’s treatment center and cardio care shipping lumber to California clining enrollment, our schools from the many now defunct unit have attracted new heath largest payer of property taxes. are growing again. Our next gensawmills that once dotted the care professionals. Our medical Their generosity in funding eration of leaders — business, scholarships, creating and fund- clinics, our local hospitals in Co- Oregon Coast, to service the professional, political and eduentire West Coast, Hawaii and quille and Bandon and our ening Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, the South Pacific. No longer de- cational — are stepping forward. supporting improved air service gaged medical professionals all There can’t be a better sign of to our regional airport — the list add significantly to the quality of pendent on a single commodity progress. life on the South Coast. It is not market, the company and its goes on and on — is a model for what business can do for a com- happenstance that Coos County fleet of modern, cutting-edge tugs and barges now transport a John Sweet is a Coos County comhas been chosen by Oregon munity.

Health and Science University to vast array of cargoes to multiple missioner currently in his second Don’t forget our fisheries. pilot a rural rotation of their final markets throughout much of the term.

Our Dungeness crab, our troll-

Economist

decline in the workforce. As the older demographic retires, questions arise as to who will be available not only to fill the openings but to step into new and expanding business opportunities.

The unemployment rate is the share of the civilian labor force that is out of work. It is subject to the dynamic interplay between job availability; skills needed by employers; and number of workers ready, willing and able to participate in the marketplace.

Currently, unemployment rates

From F2

of years afterwards, older adults reportedly delayed planned retirements. Not only did this keep them in the workforce longer than expected, it had a somewhat chilling effect on the entry of youth into the labor force. This impacted the overall labor force participation rate. The graph below shows that on a percentage basis, there has been a steady

around the state are low compared with historical norms, but the recovery from the Great Recession was a long time coming to southwest Oregon.

While the Great Recession officially ended in December 2009, our area continued to experience job losses. Coos County’s lowest employment levels were in January 2014 (23,502); Curry County’s lowest levels were in July 2014 (7,690); and Douglas County’s lowest employment levels were in October 2013 (39,250). Un-

employment rates are now, in 2016, below their pre-recession averages, but the number of area jobs has not fully recovered the levels seen in early 2007 before the recession struck.

Southwest Oregon’s geography, rich natural resources, transportation-related considerations and demographics have traditionally shaped our economy. The dynamic nature of these factors can be expected to continue well into the future. Any number of shocks could change

the industry structure of the area. Yet underlying those shifts, a stock of natural resources and well-established industries based on those resources will continue to be crucial to the SW Oregon economy.

Annette Shelton-Tiderman is the southwestern Oregon regional economist in the Research Division of the Oregon Employment Department. She can be reached at annette.i.shelton-tiderman@ oregon.gov.

The Southern Oregon Coast is flooded with amazing local talent and quality products that make us locals proud. These businesses are responsible for building local JOBS, COMMUNITY, ECONOMY, AND STRENGTH! This is what it means to JOIN THE GROUNDSWELL! Coney Station, Shark Bites Cafe, Benetti’s. EZ Thai, Captain’s Cabin, Dave’s Pizza, High Tide Cafe, Millers at the Cove, Rodeo Steak House, The Mill Casino, Ashworth’s, Back Alley, Goonies, Three Rivers Casino, The Spotlight, Fisherman’s Grotto, The Blue Moon, Margarita’s, Eagles Lodge, Walt’s Pourhouse, Hilltop House, Bandon Dunes, The Arcade, Beverage Barn, Redfish Rocks, and Homegrown:

THANK YOU for buying local beer!

Face Rock, Empire Cafe, Coastal Mist, Oven Spring Breads, Oregon Seafoods, Chuck’s Seafood, Bridgeview Coffee Roasters, Abby’s Greens, Valley Flora, and Stillwagon Distillery:

THANK YOU for providing us with QUALITY local products!

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SOUTH COAST STRONG

F4 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

TRANSPORTATION THRIVES

The trains came back and airport’s success grows JILLIAN WARD The World‌

COOS COUNTY — ‌ Transportation is one of the main factors that drives a stable economy. In Coos County, there are U.S. and state highways, but no interstate, which places a lot of reliance on Southwest Oregon Regional Airport and the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay’s railroad.

The railroad is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in August. But there was a terrifying moment in Coos County when people watched the last train leave the area in 2007. The rail system shut down with just 24 hours’ notice, forcing companies that had shipped products to use more costly trucking. However, one train car is equivalent to three truck loads.

“We didn’t have our first full year of operation until 2012,” said Brooke Walton, the port’s director of external affairs and business development. “The port purchased the railroad from the original owners, Southern Pacific, in 2009 and did rehabilitation efforts to put service back on the line.”

Walton said the rail lines connect to Union Pacific in west Eugene, and had been shipping almost 7,500 revenue cars a year.

When the railroad opened again in 2012, it moved 2,300 revenue cars. In 2014, it moved over 7,500 cars and has now brought back all of the original shippers and added even more.

“It has been a huge success,” Walton said.

In fact, in 2014 the railroad won Railroad of the Year nationally.

As for how the port was able to get the railroad back

LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD‌

A set of blue diesel engines pull a train with empty cars down Front Street in Coos Bay on a recent Monday morning. After the cars are filled with lumber products from several local mills, the lumber will be hauled to the main transportation links in Eugene for nationwide markets. up and running, Walton said it was the combined efforts with Energy Transportation Services from Eugene that did it. ETS runs two short line railroads, one in New Mexico and one here.

Members from ETS went out and knocked on shippers’ doors, let businesses know the rail line had come back and proposed, “Let’s have a conversation.”

“They did a lot of the work to bring the shippers back online,” Walton said.

In 2015, the port hired a new CEO who made it a point to go on a rail tour and meet with every single company currently using the rail. This included tours of the business operations and feedback on how the port was doing, if it was serving their needs, and how it can do better.

“One customer said if they didn’t have the rail line, they wouldn’t be in business,” Walton said.

The port took on the efforts to reopen the rail because it was commissioned by the governor to step in.

“The port was charged with (nurturing) stable de-

velopment for southwest Oregon, and that comes down to transportation and infrastructure,” Walton said. “We don’t have major highways, and so the next best thing is a rail and to grow the harbor. If that went away, we would be taking away a huge lifeline for the infrastructure for any potential growth here.”

To help the train system succeed, Congressman Peter DeFazio, ranking member of the House Commission on Transportation and Infrastructure, announced that DOT awarded an $11 million federal grant to rehabilitate nine of the crumbling tunnels on the Coos Bay rail line between Coquille and Eugene. In a press release, it stated that the grant was awarded through the newly-established Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Project program, and that the Coos Bay application was one of 18 selected for funding among a total of 212 submitted across the nation.

“This is great news for southwest Oregon,” Defazio said. “This project will cre-

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Airport District, said the last few years has seen more and more airport properties leased out. The airport has leased land to the Oregon State Police and closed lease agreements totalling $360,000 a year with the Department of Human Services offices for Seniors & People with Disabilities and for Child Welfare and Foster Care.

“Buildings are going to be built on the hill behind the airport,” Cook said. “The other is on the street as you drive up.”

The airport has also updated its aircraft over the past five years from turboprop to jet aircraft services. This followed an environmental assessment that stated the noise factor wouldn’t affect the community. The newer, bigger airplanes are flown by United Airlines through SkyWest.

“We also now have seasonal service to Denver on United Airlines,” Cook said.

“That was done through a combination with Bandon Dunes (Golf Resort) and a small grant, leveraged to subsidize service. It was successful enough the first year that United did it again this year, with the subsidy still in place. We didn’t use the entire subsidy last year and likely won’t use it all this year.

“You can get from here to Denver, to anywhere.

We have SkyWest going through San Francisco, as well. It’s a convenience to use this airport if you plan ahead.”

The airport has 374 acres, two runways, several T-hangars and nested hangars, and finished building a 30,000 square foot hangar two years ago.

“We have eight corporate hangars, and one owned by Dale Sause who is part of Sause Bros.,” Cook said.

However, while this growth has been going on, the airport lost SeaPort Airlines and replaced it with

Peninsula Airways, or PenAir, which flies once a day to Portland. SeaPort had financial difficulties, and as Cook explained, it is hard to compete with larger airlines flying into larger airports.

“Unless you have a big brother airline, like SkyWest has United, it’s a difficult industry to survive in,” Cook said.

The airport also lost a hangar in 2013, which burned down in the middle of the night. It was a 70-year-old building that had been undergoing construction. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Construction on a new, $3.5 million hangar started in 2014. The second half of the hangar is going to be built, but when the construction starts depends on whether the Jordan Cove Energy Project proceeds with plans to build a liquefied natural gas plant.

“If LNG comes in,” Cook said, “there will be an influx of air service over a period of time. As LNG is being constructed, there will be more of a demand, which will alert airlines, and airlines will send in more aircraft. There will be more need for parking.”

The airport has empty parcels still available for businesses to lease, and may be considered if LNG becomes established. However, the airport will be cautious with what is built on the open land, because short-term businesses aren’t what is being sought.

“We have had a lot of achievements,” Cook said.

“By the end of 2017, we should see an increased annual revenue of $2 million.

We’re doing very well, and if LNG doesn’t come in, we will continue to do well.”

Reporter Jillian Ward can be reached at 541-269-1222, ext. 235, or by email atjillian. ward@theworldlink.com.

Follow her on Twitter: @ JE_Wardwriter.

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ate good, living-wage jobs and spur needed economic development in rural communities that have struggled for decades. All nine of the tunnels along the line are at or near 100 years old and in desperate need of repair or rehabilitation due to deferred maintenance from the previous owners of the line. This funding will greatly improve the safety and reliability of train operations, result in a reduction in emissions and highway congestion as more cargo switches from truck to rail, and offer a long-term, lowcost option for shippers.

I congratulate the Port of Coos Bay and look forward to continuing our work to improve this critical transportation link and economic engine of the South Coast.”

The port CEO, John Burns, thanked DeFazio and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley for their support of the grant application.

“We are absolutely delighted that the U.S. Department of Transportation recognized the vast support we have for our rail line and economic opportunity it brings to the region. In fact, the shippers on the rail line account for over $100m to the local economy in payroll, goods, and services.

The tunnels on the rail line are a century old and they need a lot of work to keep the rail line open for commerce. This grant will help ensure the tunnels are structurally sound for years to come.”

In August, the port will put on a celebration for the railroad’s 100-year anniversary by duplicating the original schedule of the celebration that was held when service began in August of 1916, which involved celebrating in the streets for three days.

“We’re mirroring that celebration,” Walton said.

“We can’t do boxing competitions in the streets, but we are bringing passenger train cars to ride the rails.”

The event is Aug. 5-7.

Down the bay from the port office is Southwest Oregon Regional Airport.

Theresa Cook, executive director of the Coos County

Making sense of the numbers for you.

C.J. Huntsman, CPA, P.C. P.O. Box 569 Coos Bay, OR 97420 Phone: 541-808-3080 website: cjhcpaoregon.com email: connie.cpa@charter.net

• INCOME TAX RETURN PLANNING AND PREPARATION Individuals Businesses Corporations Partnerships Non-Profit Organizations

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In June, Constance J. Huntsman, CPA opened a new Certified Public Accounting firm in Coos Bay. Connie is licensed at the Oregon Board of Accountancy as a Certified Public Accountant and Municpal Auditor and operates as the sole practitioner of C.J. Huntsman, CPA, P.C. A major part of her business is gathering client’s financial information and turning what most people see as a mind-boggling stream of numbers into comprehensive financial reports to help businesses and organizations make sense of how their money works and to enhance financial decisions. She can compile, review and audit financial statements. In addition, she can prepare your income tax returns. Call Connie to help make sense of the numbers for you.

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The World

SOUTH COAST STRONG

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | F5

Health Authority helps outreach COAST COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

‌BANDON — Choosing the right health insurance plan is an important health decision for every individual. Coast Community Health Center is excited to announce continued funding by the Oregon Health Authority for insurance enrollment assistance for residents in southern Coos and northern Curry counties.

The insurance enrollment process can be complicated, said Leesa Cobb, Executive Director of the Port Orford Ocean Resource Team and Coast Community Health Center board director.

“This grant from OHA provides another year of continued funds to pay for the assisters who have been helping people in our community get signed up. This is a terrific opportunity for local folks to access (health) insurance coverage and get health care services,” Cobb said.

Public funding allows Coast Community Health Center to provide free, confidential enrollment information to health center patients and area residents. The health center is in a unique position as a Federally Qualified Health Center to include community health outreach and enrollment workers as members of the health team.

“They can help us address those barriers that are outside the clinical space. They model to people how to be successful managing health goals,” said behavioral health counselor Rich Standiford.

Between July 2015 and June 2016, enrollment assisters from health centers and other human services organizations helped facilitate 514 Oregon Health Plan and private federal insurance marketplace sign-ups for families in Bandon, Langlois and Port Orford. Coast Community Health Center staff assisted with 405 of those household applications or policy renewals, which represent 1,060 adults and children.

Outreach workers and enrollment assisters are trained to help individuals and families navigate the online federal insurance marketplace at healthcare.gov. Area residents can check their eligibility, enroll and re-enroll in the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon’s public insurance plan for adults

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO‌

Lennae Wright and Kim Trimble are available for free, confidential health insurance enrollments appointments at Coast Community Health Center’s Bandon and Port Orford offices. and children. OHP enrollment is open year round, and eligibility is based on several factors, including household income. Assisters can also help with enrollment in private insurance plans through the insurance marketplace.

Bringing information to all‌ A personal touch eases the conversation about complex topics such as health insurance. That’s why health center staff take their message to community events and meeting spots. Kim Trimble is the enrollment assister for the health center’s Port Orford office. She’s scheduled enrollment appointments with many individuals who first learned about the service at the Langlois Public Library.

Cynthia Shields, assistant librarian at the Langlois Library helped organize monthly outreach events at the library in January through April.

“We had all sorts of people come in from all walks of life,” said Shields.

Event attendance was slow at first but grew as word spread, said

Shields. Visitors from Bandon, Langlois and Port Orford sat down with health center staff in a quiet corner of the library to have private conversations about health insurance options. They also learned about other health-related topics and programs for immunizations, housing, and Oregon’s Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

“It’s a positive thing for our little community,” said Shields.

An economic boon‌

“Each time our health center receives a grant or develops a new service, we are not only investing in the health of the community; it is an economic investment in the future of the community, because a healthy community is an economically stable community,” said Linda Maxon, health center executive director.

Coast Community Health Center was established as a nonprofit rural health center in 2009 and started clinical operations as Bandon Community Health Center in 2010. The health center was

approved as a Federally Qualified Health Center in the fall of 2013.

Between 2014 and 2015, the health center moved to its present, larger facility in Bandon and opened its Port Orford outreach office. Growth in services and locations prompted the center to adopt a new business name. The health center offers primary medical care and behavioral health counseling for patients of all ages. Public and private insurance is welcome, and payment choices include a sliding scale private pay option — no one is turned away for inability to pay.

“We have grown from six employees now to 23,” said Maxon.

“The jobs we have created are family wage jobs with benefits. We have developed jobs that allow local people to discover new careers in the health care field, some of which are non-traditional health care jobs that make a tremendous difference in the lives of our community members.”

Competitive OHA insurance enrollment assistance grants are made available to community health centers throughout the

state. The health center will utilize the 2016 award of $100 thousand for staff time and training and will recruit an additional enrollment assister to serve Port Orford area residents.

“We are grateful to the Oregon Health Authority to receive this grant award for a second consecutive year,” said Maxon. “Last year we far exceeded our goals in the number of applications we assisted with and lives our assisters touched in being advocates for community members who needed help with their Medicaid coverage.

“This year OHA awarded a mix of grants, to both existing grantees in renewing their grants, and new grantees. With our grant, we will expand the services offered in Curry County and partner with more agencies in this region.”

For insurance enrollment assistance appointments, call the Bandon office at 541-347-2529, or the Port Orford office at 541332-1114. Find more information at coastcommunityhealth.org/ insurance-enrollment-assistance.

Caddy Hanen McKeown “Our Voice for the Oregon Coast.”

State Representative District 9

503-986-1409 • 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301

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rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us • www.leg.state.or.us/mckeown

F6

SOUTH COAST STRONG

| SATURDAY, JULY 23, 2016

THE WORLD

Entrepreneurial philanthropy:

GIVING WITH PURPOSE M MIKE KEISER

y philanthropy has been shaped by two pieces of advice.

The first was from my dad, a former Eagle Scout. He’d instruct me and my three brothers to always leave a campsite nicer than we found it. While it took some time before I became a conservationist, my father’s rule made me aware at a young age of the land around me (not to mention taught me to be neat and tidy).

In fact, my father had helped create the vistas of my childhood. A stockbroker living on two acres outside of Buffalo, he’d tell us that he had always dreamed of being a lumberjack in the Pacific Northwest, and he planted pine trees all over our property.

Years later, my father’s philosophy was reflected in our approach to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s development, which was very much a restoration project. The three courses on the ocean were largely covered in non-native plants such as gorse, Scotch broom, and European beachgrass. We removed those plants, and the courses are now primarily covered in native red fescue — we left the land better than we found it.

I received the second piece of guidance years later, when I had accumulated some wealth of my own. A friend told me that he gave away twice as much as his family spent on themselves.

At first I was a bit flabbergasted, and then I tried it. I learned that if you have the means and live reasonably simply, it’s not so hard to give four times the amount we spend on ourselves.

It’s a guideline I’ve lived by ever since.

My philanthropy has been focused on four issues: in-

In 1999, I opened Bandon Dunes in a county that had seen much of its economy disappear, that was known for its wind and rain, and that was hours away from the nearest city. The evening before its opening, the forecast for the next day was for rain, cold and wind.

We had a full tee sheet, but we were moaning that most of the golfers on the list were coming from Portland; we worried they wouldn’t make it.

Three people didn’t. But 10 people who weren’t on the list showed up instead. We had found a formula for a successful golf resort — build on links land, and its authentic beauty will compel people to come.

We also discovered a formula for protecting the land and sea by developing working landscapes and seascapes. Ultimately, the impact I seek is to keep the Oregon coast as it is now for the next 100 years.

One way to do that is to keep this area sparsely populated by CONTRIBUTED PHOTO ensuring that the existing, gorMike creator of Bandon Dunes Resort, has focused his philanthropy on conservation and other issues. geous sheep and cattle ranches Below: The Washed Ashore project is one of many things the Wild River Coast Alliance sponsors along the that dominate the coastline Southern Oregon Coast. A plastic fish made out of garbage collected from local beaches attracts visitors in remain in operation. Current Old Town Bandon including a mother and her two kids stopping for a photo. (Lou Sennick, The World) land use laws greatly support this goal, and we can supplefore. Over the past 10 years, Chicago by providing public ner-city education, conservaand charter schools with 1,500 I’ve increased my conservation ment these protections with tion, support for the Rehabiliagricultural and conservation support from 5 percent of my tation Institute of Chicago, and teachers, and, in the next two easements. annual giving to between 15 years, it will place over 300 relief and safety-net services.

Another way to preserve and 20 percent, and I expect principals and deputy princiImproving outcomes for the the region is to develop clean to ramp that up to 50 percent poorest students in Chicago has pals in 625 public schools. In within the next five to 10 years. tourism that will incentivize been something my wife, Lindy, addition, my wife and I sit on preservation and conservation As an entrepreneur, I apply boards at the Rehabilitation Inand I have worked toward through our support of organi- stitute of Chicago and have re- the same mindset and approach while boosting the economy. cently given significant support to my for-profit businesses as I Take, for example, the rockfish zations such as the Big Shouland salmon that once thrived do my philanthropy. Our work to its capital campaign for its ders Fund, which successfully in Oregon is a great example of in this area. Farming practices works to keep inner-city Cath- new state-of-the-art research have radically decreased their how you can achieve a triple olic schools open and to propel hospital. populations. But if we can find bottom line — gaining social, Those causes are important their students out of the cycle creative means of altering those environmental and financial to us, but our work in conserof poverty. practices in a way that would returns. vation — particularly on the I’ve also been the board help farmers, preserve the I came to the South Coast chairman at Teach For America. South Coast of Oregon — is of Oregon in search of land to something we’re focusing on The organization is increasbuild a links-style golf course. even more intently than being the quality of education in Please see Keiser, Page F7

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The World

Saturday, July 23, 2016 | F7

Be part of making Coos County a Blue Zone ‌C

OOS COUNTY — Did you know that Coos County could become the next Blue Zones community in Oregon?

Jordan Carr from the Blue Zones Project Oregon says we can!

We know that our county has great needs in regards to health.

In 2015, the county FLORENCE ranked 29th out of POURTAL- 34 Oregon counties for overall STEVENS health outcomes.

For instance, we had 40 percent more premature deaths than the state average.

This means that people are dying before the age of 75 of diseases that are preventable such as lung cancer in a smoker or heart disease in an obese person.

In Coos County, 26 percent of our adult population smokes compared to a 16 percent average for the state, and 30 percent of our adult population is considered obese. Both smoking and obesity are risk factors for chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, a variety of cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, respiratory infections and more.

The good news? All of these

Keiser From F6

fish populations, attract sport fishermen, increase tourism and strengthen the economy, it would be a home run for many.

We’ve proven that developing working landscapes can work with Bandon Dunes, which has created 550 jobs and 300 independent caddie contractor positions and is one of the top five employers in Coos County, all while preserving the land and its native species. We also support the Evans Scholars Foundation, which provides full, four-year tuition and housing scholarships to caddies who have a strong caddie record, are excellent students and have a financial need. We’re proud to say that about 50 of our Bandon caddies are Evans Scholars.

In 2010, we established the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance to support our triple-bottom-line endeavors. We fund WRCA through the entire proceeds of Bandon Preserve, one of our five courses at Bandon Dunes. The 13-hole, par 3 course is remarkable in its beauty and noteworthy for its mission. The alliance funds community supported projects on the South Coast of Oregon that seek triple-bottom-line results and use approaches that blend innovative ecological initiatives with initiatives that drive economic opportunity. It focuses on supporting healthy fish and species habitats, working landscapes and seascapes, sustainable tourism, and local entrepreneurs.

Since its inception, WRCA has helped restore and enhance 67 miles of streams, supported 3,729 acres of working landscapes, and supported grantees to help 238 land-

diseases can be prevented if we build a community environment that is not only supportive of healthy choices but makes healthy choices the easy choice.

Have you ever heard of the Blue Zones communities? These are communities throughout the world — in Japan, Italy, Greece, Costa Rica and Loma Linda, Calif. — where people live measurably healthier, longer, and happier lives. These communities have been studied to identify what their commonalities are in regards to what helps build this type of a life.

These lifestyle principles, in Blue Zones jargon, are called the “Power 9.” Among those principles are: move naturally, have a sense of purpose, downshift, stop eating when 80 percent full, eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables, belong to a social network or a community, make time for your family, surround yourself with positive supportive people, and drink up to one glass of wine a day. That sounds good to me!

The Blue Zones Project works at the community level, involving and empowering residents,

owners pursue working landscapes and restoration projects.

One example of WRCA’s work is its support of the Gorse Action Group, a collaborative of federal, state and county agencies and nonprofit organizations that are strategically working to control gorse growth in Southern Oregon. Gorse is one of the worst invasive species in the region, and not only does it stifle the economy, it is dangerously flammable. Because it’s arduous and expensive to remove, few individual entities have made the attempt.

By working together, partners in the coalition aim to eliminate gorse, which would allow the land to be put to valuable use, such as for cranberry bogs or sheep grazing.

Another WRCA grantee that has seen great success is Washed Ashore, an organization that collects plastic trash from beaches and uses it to create sculptures of marine animals to educate people about plastic pollution in our waters.

The large-scale sculptures of creatures such as tufted puffins, turtles, octopi and more travel in exhibitions that inspire visitors to become stewards of our oceans and waterways.

Since 2010 it has cleaned over 300 miles of beaches, created over 60 sculptures, processed 38,000 pounds of marine debris, and engaged over 10,000 volunteers. Its most recent exhibit is on display at the Smithsonian Zoo in Washington, D.C., helping to promote Washed Ashore and spread its message more widely.

Beyond WRCA, Lindy and I have established a donor-advised fund at the Oregon Community Foundation, which has given approximately $4 million to the South Coast community. One of the most

businesses, worksites, schools, grocery stores, and faith-based organizations through projects and policy work to help build an environment that will make any community a healthier place to live, work, learn and play.

The other good news? After having empowered over 25 communities across the United States, the Blue Zones Project has come to Oregon! They selected Klamath Falls as their first demonstration community and now they are looking for their next demonstration community.

We think Coos County should be that community. We have the health needs, we have an amazing community that comes together for important issues and we have a superb natural environment that could be used to promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone in Coos County.

Also, becoming the second Blue Zones demonstration community in Oregon will mean three years of technical assistance and support from the Blue Zones Project Oregon team, a grant value of $1.25 million per year, a team of four to five people locally hired and receiving

family wages, and access to national experts to help work on community wide health friendly policies.

Are you convinced yet?

On May 18, Jordan Carr, from the Blue Zones Project Oregon, gave a presentation to over 100 community members and representatives during the Weekly Business Connections luncheon for the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. At that meeting we discussed our goal to apply to become the second Blue Zones community. The application is out and it is due at the end of August. Some major organizations and community partners have committed verbally and in writing to support our application and to be part of this project. The more we can show support and community readiness for this project, the better and stronger our application will be.

People, businesses, restaurants, grocery stores, schools and organizations that are interested in supporting this project can take the following steps to help us have a strong and successful application.

Write a letter of support (we

can provide a template to those who are interested — please email Samantha Buckley at samantha.buckley@chw.coos. or.us) Take the pledge at www. bluezonesproject.com (click on Oregon and then on the pledge tab at the top of the page) Learn more about the Blue Zones Project Spread the word in your own community!

This is a unique and exciting opportunity for Coos County! I hope you will be inspired to support and be a part of this project to help us make our community an even better place for us and our children to live, learn, work and play.

For more information about the project, the application and how to express your support you can contact either myself, Florence Pourtal-Stevens at florence.pourtal-stevens@chw. coos.or.us or Angie Webster at angie.webster@bayareahospital. org.

Florence Pourtal-Stevens is public health administrator for Coos Health and Wellness.

meaningful gifts we make is the Mr. Michael and Lindy Keiser Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to Bandon High School students that are renewable for four years.

Without scholarships, most recipients would not attend college. We’ve also supported health care in the region, with gifts to the Coast Community Health Center and the Bay Area Hospital.

Through our efforts at Bandon Dunes and WRCA, we will continue to work hard to bring more clean tourism to the area by improving the fish stock in the rivers to bring in more sports fishermen, and creating ways to attract more bicyclists, golfers and LOU SENNICK, THE WORLD‌ other outdoor recreation The Washed Ashore project is one of many things the Wild River Coast Alliance sponsors enthusiasts. We are also along the Southern Oregon Coast. A plastic fish made out of garbage collected from local turning our sights to the beaches attracts visitors in Old Town Bandon. local food economy, finding ways to support South Coast cranberry growers, and salmon, rockfish, oyster and clam fisheries in order to help them market their goods in nearby cities, such as Seattle. We undertake all these efforts with the aim of creating working landscapes and seascapes, jobs, and opportunities for those who live here.

I may not have ended up becoming a lumberjack in Oregon, but I know my father would be absolutely delighted by my deep appreciation for its landscapes and seascapes, and my solid commitment to preserve it and enhance the local economy. I am enormously proud that my own children are starting their own philanthropic efforts with the same lessons in mind, and that our family’s legacy may be one of breathtaking natural beauty that can be shared by many for years to come.

Mike Keiser is the owner of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

SharkBiteS JuSt had itS 8 Year anniverSarY on June 24th ~ We Have 26 Team Members ~ ~ We Opened SharkBite’s in the Lowest Point of the Recession as a Cash Based Business ~ ~ Our Ethos is Customer Service ~ ~ We Opened Waxer’s in January 2005 ~

The Big Idea

The Coos Waterfront Walkway will connect the North Bend Boardwalk, Mill Casino Boardwalk and Coos Bay Boardwalk. Connecting the existing boardwalks will substantially increase the size of the active waterfront boardwalk from three sections totalling 1.3 miles to a 5 mile uninterrupted stretch.

OUR MISSION

To support the creation and improvement of the Coos Waterfront Park and Walkway through awareness.

OUR PRIORITIES

Advocacy and awareness of the access and connectivity issues involved, and appreciation of this beautiful place and our working waterfront.

History of the Coos Bay Waterfront

Prior to the arrival of settlers, Native American villages thrived along these shoreline tidal flats.

Euro-American settlements in the early to mid-1800’s transformed the Bay Area to support industry, including, lumber mills, shipbuilding and other commerce. Fire destroyed almost all of the wooden Bayfront in 1922. What followed was a series of boom and bust economies, with the eventual decline of shipbuilding and timber industries.

The Coos River Bayfront is now enjoying a steady renaissance. Economic recovery and development is based on innovative change, with emphasis on a holistic economic environment that includes a robust and healthy living environment for everyone.

541-266-9020 www.surfwaxers.com

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240 S. Broadway in Coos Bay • 541-269-7475 www.SharkBites.cafe • Like Us!

Coos Waterfront Walkway Draft Concept Plan: portofcoosbay.com/projects/wwpPLAN.pdf “Like” us on Facebook cooswaterfrontwalkway 541-297-5101 • PO Box 162, North Bend • connecttheboardwalks.org

F8 | Saturday, July 23, 2016

The World

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