DECEMBER 2019 WHAT’S INSIDE Resources ............................... 02 Economic Impact ..................03 From the Board ......................04 New Members ........................05 MISSION Business of the Month .........06 Ribbon Cuttings......................07 STATEMENT Tourism/Chamber............08/09 To provide value to our members Starlight Parade ..................10/11 through advocacy and Networking & Events...............12 leadership, promoting a vigorous Member Anniversaries............13 economic climate for business, Member Focus ................. 14/15 community, tourism and www.TheDallesChamber.com education. NEWSLETTER RESOURCES DECEMBER 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] RICK LEIBOWITZ Mid Columbia Medical Center Columbia Gorge Community College Fred Meyer KATIE MCCLINTOCK [email protected] • (541) 506-6120 Executive Administrative Assistant GOLD [email protected] SHANNON RED CLOUD Hire Electric Pure Yoga LLC U-Haul Co. of Oregon [email protected] • (541) 296-5414 City of Moro LISA RUNDELL BILL TIMINISKY The Gorge Business News Office Manager BET Construction, Inc. [email protected] [email protected] • (541) 980-2886 SILVER Beau Toi Day Spa & Salon MARY CALDWELL ANDREW STANEK Spooky’s Pizza Accounting Blue Barn & RV Park Inc. [email protected] • (541) 298-2211 Blue Zones Project – The Dalles [email protected] Brown Roofing Company RANDY ANDERSON NWCSD #21 Camp’s Plumbing Campbell JIM MEJIAS [email protected] • (541) 506-3424 Phillips PC Tourism & Media Relations Cheri Belander Real Estate [email protected] KARA SIMPSON Columbia Bank City of The Dalles [email protected] • (541) 296-1157 CGCC JEFF NICHOLS Columbia RIver Dental Care Jeff Nichols CPA PC Cousins Country Inn [email protected] • (541) 769-1157 Discover Rentals LISA REITEN Ellson Heating, AC, & Duct BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Dalles Inn Gorge Athletic Clubs [email protected] • (541) 296-9107 CHAIR: ANDREW MYERS Gorge Outfitters Supply Peachey Davies and Myers, P.C. JENNIFER GONZALEZ GorgeUs Tours One Main Financial [email protected] [email protected] GOBHI (541) 296-6375 Helping Hands Home Care NW (541) 296-4666 Holiday Inn Express & Suites CHAIR-ELECT: CONNIE FORD Insitu Zim’s Brau Haus ISU - The Stratton Agency [email protected] (541) 296-2368 Last Stop Hotel & Saloon Lilo’s Hawaiian BBQ VICE CHAIR: BRIAN LAUTERBACH EX-OFFICIO Luna Designs Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge DIRECTORS Northwest Rivers Fishing [email protected] North Wasco County SD21 (541) 298-4451 KATHY SCHWARTZ Wasco County One Main Financial [email protected] • (541) 506-2523 Oregon Veteran’s Home SECRETARY: MEGAN THOMPSON Platinum Marketing & Design Cascade Cherry Growers DAVID GRIFFITH [email protected] Rivermark Community Credit Union Port of The Dalles (541) 980-6753 Satori [email protected] • (541) 296-2271 Sky Heating & Air Conditioning TREASURER: FRITZ ELLET JULIE KRUEGER Skycam Construction, Inc. Ellett’s Green Ridge Tree Farm City of The Dalles Staples [email protected] [email protected] • (541) 296-5481 Steamtrain Glass (541) 296-3036 Union Pacific Railroad Wasco County Wilson Orchard and Vineyard Supply NEWSLETTER ECONOMICS DECEMBER 2019 3 YOUR ELECTED BUSINESS STATISTICS LODGING REPORT OFFICIALS OCTOBER 2019 % OF OCCUPANCY Chamber Walk-in Count .......................... 238 2018 2019 U.S. SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY Incoming Phone Calls ...............................186 Wasco County ..............87.9% .......83.3% 107 Russell Facebook Impressions .................................... United States ...............70.6% ........71.4% Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 (202) 224-3753 WEBSITE STATISTICS www.merkley.senate.gov OCTOBER 2019 MOST VIEWED PAGES: Events (1,541), Home Page (998), U.S. SENATOR RON WYDEN Visitors .....................................................3,068 Gorge Fruit & Craft Fair Event (250), 223 Dirksen Page Views ................................................9,951 Community Trick or Treat Event (205) Senate Office Building Washington D.C. 20510 LOCAL TOURISM CHAMBER VISITORS (202) 224-5244 OCTOBER 2019 OCTOBER 2019 www.wyden.senate.gov Columbia Gorge Discovery Center ......... n/a STATES: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE Maryhill Museum of Art ............................ n/a GREG WALDEN Old St. Peter’s Landmark ........................ 497 Washington, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, 1282 Rayburn Wonderworks Children’s Museum ......... n/a Idaho, New Hampshire, California, House Office Building School District Museum ........................... n/a New York Washington D.C. 20510 The Dalles Wasco County Library .... 13,332 (202) 225-6730 The Dalles Farmer’s Market ..................1,962 Fort Dalles Readiness Center .................. n/a www.walden.house.gov COUNTRIES: Rorick House ............. closed for the season Austrailia, Canada OREGON GOVERNOR KATE BROWN 160 State Capitol PERMITS Salem, OR 97301 RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS 2018 2019 (503) 378-6827 New Construction ........................................................................... 51 .......................................16 www.governor.oregon.gov Additions........................................................................................... 14 ........................................ 6 Alterations ........................................................................................24 ........................................11 OREGON SENATOR CLIFF BENTZ 900 Court St, NE S-301 COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS 2018 2019 Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1730 New Construction ........................................................................... 16 ......................................8 Additions............................................................................................5 .......................................2 [email protected] Alterations ........................................................................................ 13 ......................................9 OREGON REPRESENTATIVE (County) Construction Value ............................................ $4,094,974.00 ..$6,257,307.03 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 ....................................................................12,492 ........................ 12,376 900 Court St, NE S-423 Unemployment Rate Seasonally Adjusted .............................. 4.0 ................................. 4.5 Salem, OR 97301 (503) 986-1729 NON FARM PAYROLL EMPLOYMENT [email protected] Total Nonfarm ..............................................................................10,446 ........................ 10,180 OREGON REPRESENTATIVE Trade Transportation & Utilities ............................................... 1,973 .......................... 2,050 GREG SMITH Leisure and Hospitality .............................................................. 1,348 ........................... 1,260 900 Court St, NE H-482 Salem, OR 97301 GOVERNMENT (503) 986-1457 Federal Government .................................................................... 289 ...............................290 [email protected] State Government .........................................................................254 ............................... 270 Local Government ....................................................................... 1,502 ............................1,410 Source: Oregon Employment Department NEWSLETTER FROM THE BOARD DECEMBER 2019 4 HAPPY DECEMBER! Greetings Members, I hope this newsletter finds you well. I’d like to start by ADVERTISEMENT saying thank you to all those who attended November’s Business After Hours at Peachey Davies & Myers, P.C. It was great to see you and have you as our guests. We had a wonderful time and hope you did too! Thanks again to Cobblestone Catering, Freebridge Brewing, and Optimist Printers for their help in putting things together. The next few months include two of the Chamber’s main events. Mark your calendars! The Starlight Parade & Community Tree Lighting took place Friday, November 29, 2019, at 6:00pm. Starting out the new year, the Distinguished Citizens Awards Banquet will take place on January 16, 2020! Nominations are due by ADVERTISEMENT December 6, 2019. Awards include Business of the Year, Outstanding Agricultural Achievement 2019, Outstanding First Responder, Outstanding Educator, Outstanding Woman, Outstanding Youth, Outstanding Man, and Outstanding Volunteer. Please take some time to consider nominating someone you know. With the holidays here, there will be no Business After Hours or Coffee Connections in December. Enjoy your time with family and friends and have a wonderful holiday season. Lastly, I’d like to give a very special welcome to your 2020 Board Chair - Connie Ford! We ADVERTISEMENT are lucky to have you, Connie - the Board couldn’t be in better hands! Very truly yours, Andrew J. Myers Peachey Davies and Myers, P.C. Chair of the Board, The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce Social Events Lunches Cards First Friday Prime Rib Friday Specials Great value Consider Joining Not a golfer