Category Archives: Member Blog

New in Town? Tips to Help Your New Business (and you) Fit In.

Starting a new business can be challenging, but it can be even more difficult if you are new to the community. In some areas being the “new business (or business owner) on the block” is a designation that doesn’t last long (in large cities with transient populations, for instance), the smaller, tighter-knit communities can feel like it takes forever to become part of the “in-crowd.”

As we reopen after COVID, many people are reevaluating where they live. Communities that didn’t have the jobs to support newcomers en masse are now seeing an influx of people who want to live where they vacation, or they want to get away from it all. Because of this, fitting in might start getting a whole lot easier.… Read the rest

Military Times Names Oregon Tech as 2021 “Best for Vets: Colleges”

June 21, 2021, KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Oregon Institute of Technology was recently named to the Military Times’ 2021 Best for Vets: Colleges list. Military Times annually ranks participating four-year colleges and universities based on which ones do the most for U.S. veterans.

This year, Oregon Tech appeared as one of only three Oregon universities on the list. This list is the largest and most comprehensive rankings of schools for military service members and veterans, helping them make important decisions about their education.

More than 300 schools participated in the latest Best for Vets: Colleges survey, which included more than 70 questions seeking details about the school’s costs, programs, policies and services that impact military-connected students. Federal data from the U.S.… Read the rest

Grant for Businesses in Clackamas County

Clackamas County is offering another $600,000 in grants to businesses located in Clackamas County that have been adversely affected by economic conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

These grants, provided in partnership with Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO), will be for a maximum of $7,500.

Application Opens: Friday, June 18 at 8:00 AM
Application Closes: Wednesday, June 23 at 5:00 PM

In order to be eligible, a business must meet the following criteria:
 Be headquartered in Clackamas County and have its principal operations in Clackamas County.If required by Oregon law to be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State to do business in Oregon, is so registered.Is either for-profit or an entity tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.During
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Dealing with Angry Customers When You’re Short Staffed

The scene is a common one these days. Lines of people waiting to pay in a restaurant, retail establishment, or grocery store. Tempers flare. Customers yell at staff and wonder why there’s only one person checking people out. Your staff thinks, “Who needs this?” and they’re not wrong. They feel overworked and underappreciated. Customers are demanding and loud. Customers vow not to return. It makes for a bad situation for everyone.

So what can you do to ensure it doesn’t happen in your business?

Dealing with angry people during a staffing shortage is not easy, especially since one problem creates the other. People are angry because they have to wait. People have to wait because you are short staffed. No one wants to work in an environment filled with angry people.… Read the rest

3 Things in Business That Aren’t Worth It

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We only have so many hours in the day so the last thing you want to do is spend time doing things that aren’t worth the time. Being labeled as “not worth the time” doesn’t mean they are annoying to do. In fact, some of the things you’re doing in your business may be very enjoyable but aren’t worth the effort in that you don’t get the return out of the time you’re investing. 

Every hour of your business day is valuable. 

You want what you do to move you closer to your goals. But some things we do in the name of our business don’t have the same benefits of other things we could be doing with our time. As a businessperson you should always be performing a cost/benefit analysis.… Read the rest