Homes Eugene Oregon

The Veteran’s building will be hopping for the March 18th Business After Hours. Join our hosts FireMed, Macs Custom Catering and Parties to Go for networking while they provide you with a flavor of the night life offered every weekend at “Eugene’s Home of the Blues”, Mac’s Restaurant & Night Club.

Discover how FireMed saves lives and money, enjoy the ambiance created by Parties to Go and explore the event facilities while enjoying entertainment by Barbara Dzuro and Paul Biondi. In addition to great beer and wine, Mac’s Custom Catering will be offering an elaborate assortment of culinary delights throughout the building including: chilled lemon shrimp, baked brie, portabella mushroom crostini, and Mac’s famous pan fried oysters. Don’t forget to stop by the Sugar Shack to satisfy your sweet tooth. Door prizes include gift baskets from Parties to Go, FireMed memberships, and Mac’s Restaurant gift certificates.

Plan on hanging out after the event for high energy live music and dancing in Mac’s Night Club provided by Michael Tracy and the Hi-tones beginning at 7pm. The Veteran’s Memorial Building is located at 1626 Willamette Street.

Register early at www.eugenechamber.com


 

The A Champion in Education (ACE) Awards program is a collaborative effort between the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce and the Eugene, Bethel, and Springfield School Districts with support from local businesses. The purpose of the ACE Awards is to recognize excellence in education among local teachers, administrators, classified staff and volunteers while reinforcing the important connection between education, business and a healthy local economy.

Twelve awards are presented each year with winners receiving a $1,000 monetary award for a project or program in their school. Winners are also honored at an elegant event at the Hult Center in Eugene on Thursday, May 6th. Over the past four years local schools have received over $45,000 through this program.

How can you support this program?

·         Nominate a deserving local educator

·         Participate as a Supporting Sponsor

·         Attend the event

Call Kim Clark, Events Manager at (541) 242-2354 or e-mail kimc@eugenechamber.com for more information.

The ACE Awards wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses including our 5th annual presenting sponsor Oregon Community Credit Union, reception sponsor Pacific Source Health Plans, nomination software sponsor All Academic, and supporting sponsors SELCO Community Credit Union, brass/Media Inc., Horace Mann Insurance, and Hamilton Construction.
 

As part of its on-going effort to support entrepreneurship and innovation in the region, the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is producing the Willamette Angel Conference, an investor conference, connecting early stage and seed businesses with angel and venture investors.  Entrepreneurs and start-ups can submit their business plans for review and coaching, ultimately vying for a minimum $125,000 investment.  The event is set for May 13, 2010 at the historic McDonald Theatre in Eugene. The Chamber is currently accepting business plan submissions from emerging growth companies, headquartered in Oregon, seeking between $200,000 and $2 million in investment capital.

Click here to learn more or to submit your company’s plan before midnight, Feb 16th in order to take advantage of the Early-Bird discount.

Recently the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce received the City’s Community Recognition Award for two separate categories. The Community Recognition Award, a standard based on the goals of City Council, is awarded once a year to a group or organization that advocates and supports goals set out by the City Council. For their hard work and contribution to the drafting of form based code for the Walnut Station Node, the Chamber, along with the University of Oregon and the Fairmount Neighbors Association, received the Community Recognition Award for contributing to “Effective, Accountable Municipal Government.”

In a partnership with Downtown Eugene Incorporated, the Chamber received the Community Recognition Award, recognizing their commitment to making Eugene a safe place to live and work. For the downtown guides; a Chamber-sponsored program, we are honored to accept this year’s Community Recognition Award for contributing to a “Safe Community.” We are pleased to have the opportunity to help improve safety in Eugene.

We would like to give a special thanks to Tim Campbell, Bruce Mulligan, and Gary Wildish, from the Chamber’s Local Government Affairs Council, who spent hours working through the various aspects of the draft code language to ensure that developers will have the leeway they need in order to build, and existing businesses are protected in their current locations.
 

Making international sales is challenging enough without having to worry about getting paid. Sometimes buyers demand credit can expose your company to commercial and political risks. Sometimes buyers simply default and leave your company with a loss.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank - www.exim.gov), the official export credit agency of the United States government, can substantially reduce the risk of nonpayment. Without this worry, your company can enter new markets and increase its international sales with confidence. In fact, Ex-Im Bank’s export credit insurance can cover your risk in over 150 countries.

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a roundtable with Ex-Im Bank representative, Jim Lucchesi at 10am on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Chamber offices (1401 Willamette St.).  Mr. Lucchesi will explain how this agency's products can help your company enter new markets and increase sales in existing markets by:

• Extending credit terms to your foreign buyers and minimize nonpayment risks
• Obtaining working capital financing to fulfill sales orders
• Protecting your balance sheet from nonpayment risk

The program is free and you can register here, or by calling the Chamber at 484-1314.

If you wish to meet privately with Mr. Jim Lucchesi, please respond with your contact information ASAP to Dana Shannon at Business Oregon. You can reach Dana by e-mail dana.shannon@state.or.us or tel: 503-229-6053.
 

Over the past ten years the Eugene Chamber Economic Forecast event has become the region’s most comprehensive economic outlook conference each year featuring a panel of leading economists along with local experts presenting insights and predictions on the economic future for the region for the year ahead. This year’s event is set for Wednesday, Feb. 3rd at the Eugene Hilton and Conference Center. Set for 2:30-5pm, this year’s event will feature three components:

• Joe Cortright, President and principal economist for Impresa, a Portland consulting firm specializing in regional economic analysis, innovation and industry clusters will offer insights into community and university collaboration in economic development.
• Timothy A. Duy, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Director, Oregon Economic Forum, Department of Economics, University of Oregon and author of the University of Oregon Index of Economic Indicators will offer his insights into the economic future of the region.
• The event will conclude with the well-known economist panel of experts offering predictions on what’s to come in 2010 including: Bill Conerly, economist and financial consultant; Tom Potiowsky, former state economist; Brian Rooney, local economist for Oregon Employment Department; Timothy A. Duy, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Director, Oregon Economic Forum, Department of Economics, University of Oregon Ed Whitelaw, president of ECONorthwest; and John Mitchell, M&H Economic Consultants of Portland,

Chamber member costs include $450 Table for 10 - Preferred Seating; $40 Individual seat at table (non-reserved); $30 Individual seat - theater style. Non member costs $50 Individual seat at table or $40 Individual seat - theater style.

Economic Forecast is sponsored by Oregon Community Credit Union and Providence Health Plan. Register now.

Poet Rita Dove summed it up well when she said, “There are times in life when, instead of complaining, you do something about your complaints.”

When it comes to the topic of public safety in downtown and other commercial districts, a good part of the community dialogue often focuses on what is going wrong. In this issue of Open for Business we focus on the actions of business leaders who are facing the public safety challenges in their respective commercial districts. Examples of what is going right.

There is no denying the public safety challenges in downtown and other commercial districts. As a member of the Downtown Safety Task Team, a group of downtown and community interests formed to develop recommendations to city leadership, I helped identify four main areas that contribute to the problems in the city core, many of which could, at one time or another, could have applied to either the University District or Midtown area. They are:

• A lack of consequences for criminal behavior because of an inadequate police presence downtown and a shortage of jail beds, which served as a sanction for criminal activity.
• The presence of behaviors ranging from illegal to obnoxious.
• The lack of a cohesive, coordinated downtown public safety plan, including resources such as staff, facilities and treatment.
• The debilitated state of many physical spaces in the downtown (e.g., empty storefronts, dark corners), which invite illegal activities.

These are significant challenges. At the same time, there are positive stories to tell about how business and property owners have stepped up to address public safety challenges:

• Businesses in the downtown formed a special services district more than a decade ago, voluntarily agreeing to tax themselves to create resources to fund, through Downtown Eugene, Inc., the Downtown Guides, graffiti abatement and other strategies to make downtown clean and safe.
• University District businesses also formed a special services district to fund a portion of a police officer dedicated to providing community policy services in the district, West University Guides and more. Over the last decade the collaborative efforts of the University Small Business Association (USBA), the City of Eugene, University of Oregon and PeaceHealth Oregon Region have made significant strides in turning around a significant public safety challenge in the commercial district adjoining the University.

Through commitment, collaboration and good strategic thinking, I am confident that as a community we can make a difference in our downtown. The business community, through the Chamber and Downtown Eugene, Inc., has and will continue to move beyond complaining and, instead, actively participate in finding solutions to the public safety challenges in our commercial districts.

Dave Hauser is president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. As the area’s leading business advocate, the Chamber works to create an environment in which business will thrive. The Chamber works with partners in business, government and education to improve the quality of life for local residents.

John Sheppard, owner of Sheppard Motors, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2009 First Citizen Award. Sheppard will receive the award at the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Celebration of Business on January 20, 2010 at 7:00 PM at the Hilton Eugene & Conference Center.

The First Citizen Award is given annually to an individual who made notable contributions to our community through business and community service efforts. The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce has presented the award each year since 1938. Sheppard was selected by a panel of former First Citizen honorees.

John Sheppard has been owner and partner of Sheppard Motors since 1972. Sheppard has long dedicated his time to the community, including serving as Chair of the Board of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce in 1990. He’s been a major supporter and contributor to the Rotary Duck Race for the past 15 years in an effort to help fight child abuse in Lane County. Sheppard has been a large supporter of the Arts, including the Eugene Symphony, the Eugene Opera, The Shedd Institute, and the Oregon Bach Festival.

• The Celebration of Business is one of the area’s premier professional events, with over 650 business and community leaders in attendance each year.
• The event includes celebrating the Future First Citizen: local high school students at top of their class pursuing their dreams as well as the best interests of others.
• Recognition of extraordinary Chamber volunteers, our Shining Stars.

Contact the Eugene Chamber of Commerce at 541-484-1314 for reservations. Tickets are $75 each, which includes dinner and the evening program.
 

On January 1st, 2010, a law will go into effect that requires building owners to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on the premises. The law affects facilities over 50,000 square feet where business is conducted AND twenty-five or more people will congregate or pass through in the course of the day. Note that this requirement pertains to building owners, not tenants. Private residences and places of worship are exempt.  Training is not required, nor are exact locations within a facility specified.
 
AEDs are portable electronic devices that can automatically diagnose and treat cardiac arrest. They are designed for use by a layperson. Most models cost between $1,000 and $2,500.

For more information, or to learn how to acquire an AED, businesses can contact the Health & Safety Institute. Health and Safety Institute provides AEDs and AED training, and is providing a special discount through December 31st to those businesses who mention “Oregon AED”. Contact HSI  through their AED webpage, www.hsi.com/oregonaed or call 541-284-3898 to speak to client services about the Oregon AED special.

If you've never been to the Eugene Emerald Awards you're missing the best business awards ceremony in our community.

Tomorrow night | Tuesday, October 6th At the Hult Center
Reception: 5:00 – 6:00pm; Program: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Register now Emerald Awards event or call the Chamber at 484-1314.
The cost is only $25 per person

Listen to remarkable stories about local businesses and the ways in which they contribute to the area’s quality of life in each of the award categories: Community Caring, Innovation, Growth and Environmental Values, and will culminate with a stellar presentation of this year’s Business of the Year award to Palo Alto Software.

Enjoy networking and making connections at an elegant reception featuring lively jazz music and delicious hors d’oeuvres followed by our award ceremony in the elegant Soreng Theater.
 
Be inspired by a keynote address from Richard Lariviere, President of the University of Oregon.
 

Earlier this month the Eugene Chamber participated in Palo Alto Software's Oregon Small Business Boost. The Eugene Chamber gave away over 600 cards, the second largest number in the over 80 locations throughout the state of Oregon that participated in the one-day event. The cards allowed the recipients to download a copy of Business Plan Pro software.

Recently Tim Berry, President of Palo Alto Software, posted the following testimonial on his blog from a satisfied user of the software. The entrepreneur said "I owe Business Plan Pro, SCORE and (the) Chamber of Commerce a huge round of applause and gratitude for being available, supportive and a constant reminder to me that success is about passion, drive and intention." Contact Caroline Cummings, director of entrepreneurial development at the Eugene Chamber, 541.484.1314, or call SCORE, Counselors to America's Small Business, 541.465.6600, for assistance for your business.


 

Demographics and livability may significantly contribute to our region’s economic recovery. At least the research of one Oregon economist says it’s so — and that bodes well for our region.

No matter that you are not an expert demographer. You can probably guess the key trends shaping all cities and regions: More baby boomers are planning to retire; the number of women joining the workforce has stabilized; and college attainment levels have plateaued. As a result, young professionals are becoming increasingly important to the economic health of growing cities, according to a recent national report.

The study by Portland economist Joe Cortright indicates that young, college-educated workers are capable of counteracting this impending economic shift because of their entrepreneurial nature and willingness to relocate. The key to growing cities will be to attract and retain young professionals, Cortright says in “The Young and Restless in a Knowledge Economy.”

And much is at stake in attempting to attract these young and talented 25 to 34 year olds who will determine the path of our economy.

These trailblazers are more concerned about quality-of-life issues than being in a hot market. They are 60 percent more likely to live in areas close to the core of a community. So you can argue that young professionals will not only influence the future of local economies, but their desire to live close-in will help drive long-standing planning goals of building and preserving healthy downtown cores.

Recognizing that opportunity, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce is leading and supporting a host of efforts to retain, engage and attract young professionals:

• The creation of the Young Professionals Network (YPN). The focus of YPN is to provide young professionals with programming specifically targeted to meet their needs for networking, professional and personal development, community involvement, awareness and influence.
• The development of programs that we believe will create a local climate that supports entrepreneurs and innovation. Through Chamber initiatives such as the entrepreneurial support group SmartUps and the investor-focused Willamette Angel Network and Willamette Angel Conference, we’re creating an environment that supports new ideas and business success.
• Partnerships since 1986 with the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to promote and foster the development of volunteer leadership in our communities. Leadership Eugene-Springfield (LES) is a program designed to meet our area’s need for the active participation of informed, skilled and motivated community leaders. While not exclusively for young professionals, LES has attracted participants who have used the program to establish meaningful volunteer leadership roles in our community.
• A central role in the creation of the Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene (ABAE). The mission of the new group is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of our community by acting as a catalyst for creating dynamic partnerships between the arts, culture and business sectors.

Eugene-Springfield’s well-deserved reputation for outstanding livability, coupled with efforts to hold on to and attract talented young people, will be an important piece of an economic strategy that drives a prosperous future.

Dave Hauser is the president of the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, a 1200-member organization dedicated to promoting a healthy local economy.