MAY 2019 WHAT’S INSIDE Resources ..................................... 02 Economic Impact ...................... 03 From the Board ...........................04 New Members ............................. 05 Ron Tonkin Subaru Parade...... 05 Business of the Month .............06 MISSION 2019 Cherry Idol ......................... 07 Chamber News ...........................08 STATEMENT Gorge Works ...............................09 Ambassadors ...............................10 To provide value to our members Cruise Ship Schedule .................. 11 through advocacy and leadership, Window Decorating Contest ... 11 Networking and Events ............ 12 promoting a vigorous economic Member News .............................. 13 climate for business, community, 2019 NW Cherry Festival ...14-15 tourism and education. www.TheDallesChamber.com NEWSLETTER RESOURCES MAY 2019 2 INVESTORS CHAMBER STAFF DIRECTORS DIAMOND LISA FARQUHARSON MINDY MCHALE Google President/CEO Hire Electric [email protected] • (541) 296-5574 [email protected] PLATINUM [email protected] SHANNON RED CLOUD Mid Columbia Medical Center Pure Yoga LLC Fred Meyer KATIE MCCLINTOCK [email protected] • (541) 296-5414 Executive Administrative Assistant GOLD [email protected] BILL TIMINISKY Hire Electric BET Construction, Inc. [email protected] • (541) 980-2886 U-Haul Co. of Oregon CHLOE GOODWIN City of Moro Visitor Services Manager ANDREW STANEK Spooky’s Pizza SILVER [email protected] [email protected] • (541) 298-2211 Blue Zones Project – The Dalles MARY CALDWELL RANDY ANDERSON Brown Roofing Company Accounting NWCSD #21 [email protected] •(541) 506-3424 Camp’s Plumbing [email protected] Cheri Belander Real Estate JAMES MEJIAS MARY GAILLEY Helping Hands Home Care City of The Dalles Gorge Works, Intern Coordinator [email protected] Columbia Bank [email protected] (541) 769-1221 Columbia Gorge Community KARA SIMPSON College Columbia Bank Cousins Country Inn [email protected] • (541) 296-1157 Discover Rentals JEFF NICHOLS Gorge Athletic Clubs Jeff Nichols CPA PC Gorge Outfitters Supply [email protected] • (541) 769-1157 Greater Oregon Behavioral LISA REITEN Health, Inc. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Dalles Inn [email protected] • 541-296-9107 Helping Hands Home Care NW CHAIR: ANDREW MYERS Insitu Peachey & Myers JENNIFER GONZALEZ One Main Financial ISU Insurance Services -The [email protected] [email protected] Stratton Agency (541) 296-6375 (541) 296-4666 Last Stop Hotel & Saloon Lilo’s Hawaiian BBQ CHAIR-ELECT: RICK LEIBOWITZ DAVID SHEPARD Small Business Development Center Griffith Motors Luna Designs [email protected] • (541) 399 -5013 [email protected] McGrath Chiropractic Hand (541) 506-6121 BRIAN LAUTERBACH and Foot Clinic Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge North Wasco County SD21 VICE CHAIR: CONNIE FORD [email protected] 541-298-4451 One Main Financial Zim’s Brau Haus Oregon Veteran’s Home [email protected] Platinum Marketing & Design LLC (541) 296-2368 EX-OFFICIO Rivermark Community Credit PAST CHAIR: LISA RUNDELL DIRECTORS Union Washington Federal Sky Heating & Air [email protected] KATHY SCHWARTZ Conditioning (541) 298-5585 Wasco County Skycam Construction, Inc [email protected] • (541) 506-2524 Steamtrain Glass SECRETARY: MEGAN THOMPSON Cascade Cherry Growers DAVID GRIFFITH The Springs at Mill Creek [email protected] Port of The Dalles Union Pacific Railroad (541) 980-6753 [email protected] • (541) 296-2271 Wasco County TREASURER: FRITZ ELLET JULIE KRUEGER Wilson Orchard and Vineyard Ellett’s Green Ridge Tree Farm City of The Dalles Supply [email protected] [email protected] • (541) 296-5481 (541) 296-3036 NEWSLETTER ECONOMICS MAY 2019 3 YOUR ELECTED BUSINESS STATISTICS LODGING REPORT OFFICIALS MARCH 2019 MARCH % OF OCCUPANCY Chamber Walk-in Count ...........................140 2018 2019 U.S. SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY Incoming Phone Calls ............................... 192 Wasco Co. .....................52.9% ....... 62.2% 107 Russell Facebook Impressions .......................124,913 United States .............. 68.4% .......68.4% Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3753 WEBSITE STATISTICS www.merkley.senate.gov MARCH 2019 MOST VIEWED PAGES: #1 Home Page, #2 NW Cherry Festival, U.S. SENATOR RON WYDEN Visitors ......................................................1,664 #3 Events, #4 Membership Newsletter, 223 Dirksen Page Views .............................................. 4,906 #5 Events Calendar Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 LOCAL TOURISM CHAMBER VISITORS (202) 224-5244 MARCH 2019 MARCH 2019 www.wyden.senate.gov Columbia Gorge Discovery Center ........000 STATES: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE Maryhill Museum of Art ......opens in March Alabama, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South GREG WALDEN Old St. Peter’s Landmark ........................ 695 Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming 1282 Rayburn Wonderworks Children’s Museum ........630 House Office Building School Dist Museum .......closed for season COUNTRIES: USA, Mexico Washington D.C. 20510 The Dalles Wasco County Library .... 13,629 (202) 225-6730 The Dalles Farmer’s Mrkt ......opens in June Fort Dalles Readiness Center ................. 650 www.walden.house.gov Sunshine Mill .............................................820 OREGON GOVERNOR KATE BROWN 160 State Capitol PERMITS Salem, OR 97301 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 2018 2019 (503) 378-6827 New Construction ........................................................................... 14 ...................................33 www.governor.oregon.gov Additions............................................................................................ 1 .................................... 12 Alterations .........................................................................................7 .................................... 30 OREGON SENATOR CLIFF BENTZ 900 Court St, NE S-301 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS 2018 2019 Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1730 New Construction ............................................................................2 ..................................... 12 Additions............................................................................................4 .......................................3 [email protected] Alterations .........................................................................................7 .......................................8 OREGON REPRESENTATIVE (County) Construction Value .................................................. $127,720 ...........$15,403,460 DANIEL BONHAM Source: Building Code Service Department 900 Court St, NE H-483 Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1459 WASCO COUNTY LABOR FORCE [email protected] LABOR FORCE STATUS 2018 2019 OREGON SENATOR BILL HANSELL Civilian Labor Force ....................................................................12,642 ........................12,566 900 Court St, NE S-423 Unemployment Rate Seasonally Adjusted ...............................4.1 .................................. 5.0 Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1729 NON FARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT [email protected] Total Nonfarm .............................................................................. 10,120 ....................... 10,030 OREGON REPRESENTATIVE Trade Transportation & Utilities ...............................................2,010 ...........................1,980 GREG SMITH Leisure and Hospitality .............................................................. 1,240 ........................... 1,230 900 Court St, NE H-482 Salem, OR 97301 GOVERNMENT (503) 986-1457 Federal Government .................................................................... 280 ...............................290 [email protected] State Government ........................................................................ 250 ...............................250 Local Government .......................................................................1,460 ...........................1,380 Source: Oregon Employment Department NEWSLETTER FROM THE BOARD MAY 2019 4 WOW - SPRING IS HERE! Greetings members! This year’s Cherry Festival was a huge success! It would not have been possible without the tremendous level of sponsorship, community support, and event participants. I’d like to thank all of those involved for your enthusiasm, hard work, and participation. The 2019 Tonkin Subaru Cherry Festival Parade had the highest attendance of any Cherry Festival parade ever. Congratulations to our first place float winner, Orchard View, Inc., our first place equestrian winner, Fort Dalles Riders Club & Queen Summer, and our first place marching band, The Dalles Middle School Marching Wildcats. Winners of the Cherry Festival Window Decorating Contest included Columbia Bank, Columbia Gorge Title, and Emma’s Boutique. You all did a great job! The 2019 Cherry Idol winners, Smrithi Chary (under 15) and Chloe Goss (15 and older), were both outstanding. Finally, a very special thanks to all of our volunteers. Without you, the festival would never have been possible! Mark your calendars because our next major event, Hops and Hogs, is right around the corner (June 15th). I hope you can join us for some award winning BBQ, craft beer and wine, live music, and backyard games. This event is only in its second year and we’re looking forward to seeing it grow. If you are looking for an opportunity to contribute/volunteer,