July 2020 Business Connection

Business Connection Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Norway Pass by Joelle Wilson

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Bill Marcum CEO

k July 2020

Volume 12 • Issue 7 Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626

STAFF

Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock, Project Manager Pam Fierst, Office Manager Joelle Wilson, Social Media Service

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Resetting the 2020 calendar

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ow, what a first half to 2020. Seems like we have not had a Business After Hours, Ribbon Cutting, Quarterly Luncheon or Lower Columbia Professional event, or even a normal day, in I can’t remember how long.

Yes, I thought by July 7 we would be in Phase 4 and things would look more normal... boy, was I wrong. Now I am hoping to be in Phase 4 by the end of July or mid-August.

The Chamber staff and I sat down recently and looked at the schedule of events we have postponed and canceled over the first six months of this year and have put together a new schedule for the final six months of 2020. Keep in mind this schedule could change depending on what coronavirus phase we are in since the number of attendees per event and even per table is dictated by the phase.

The Quarterly Membership Luncheon is a good example. We plan to have our membership luncheons in July, August, September and November with a “Recovery Cowlitz County” theme and speakers associated with this process. They are all planned for the Elks Lodge in Kelso. The first, July 24 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., will feature County Commissioners Dennis Weber and Arne Mortensen, along with Deputy Health Officer Dr. Steve Krager. In Phase 3, we are limited to 50 at a gathering, so the first 50 to sign up will be able to attend. If we make it to Phase 4, the number is unlimited as long as we can keep the social distancing practice.

CONTACT US

360-423-8400 kelsolongviewchamber.org To advertise, call Bill Marcum 360-423-8400 or bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org Ad Deadline 20th of Each Month

The next “Recovery Cowlitz County” is set for Aug. 21 with back to school as the topic exploring what that really means. Will our kids be going back to school in person? Virtually?

A combination of both? We will have school superintendents Mary Beth Tack from Kelso and Dan Zorn from Longview to discuss the reality of “back to school” during the pandemic. As Dr. Zorn said to me last week, “It’s changing by the minute as to what that will look like.” We should have some concrete answers by Aug. 21.

Speakers for the September and November “Recovery Cowlitz County” membership luncheons are not yet booked. I hope to keep tabs on where we are and what is the most important topic to be discussed with our local businesses. Stay tuned.

For more Recovery, see page 2

Recovery from page 1

The Chamber Golf Classic is scheduled for Aug. 17, moved from June 15. Again, the phase determines if we are able to hold the awards banquet after golf or if we will need to plan for a virtual awards presentation. I will say our sponsors have been excited to see this on the schedule and are anxious to get out and see friends they have not seen in a while and hit a little white ball around the course. A special thank you to Stirling Honda for again stepping up as our premier sponsor. Put Aug. 17 on your calendar, barring any setbacks this tournament will happen...with social distancing measures set in place by the course and the Chamber staff.

At the right is a schedule of events for the remainder of the year... again, all subject to change depending on what phase we are in, limiting how many can participate.

One last thing... as of this writing, the Chamber office/ visitor center is still closed; however, we are available to meet with you by appointment. When Cowlitz County moves to Phase 3, both will resume business as usual and our door will be open to the public.

2 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

■ UPDATED CHAMBER SCHEDULE July 24 – Chamber luncheon “Recovery Cowlitz County” speakers include County Commissioners Dennis Weber and Arne Mortensen, Kelso Elks Lodge, 11:45am-1:15pm August 11 – Business After Hours, Mint Valley Golf Course, 5:30-7:30pm August 21 – Chamber luncheon “Recovery Cowlitz County” speakers include school superintendents Dan Zorn, Longview, and Mary Beth Tack, Kelso, Kelso Elks Lodge, 11:45am-1:15pm September 15 – Business After Hours, American Workforce Group, 5:30-7:30pm September 18 – Chamber luncheon “Recovery Cowlitz County,” speakers TBD, Kelso Elks Lodge, 11:45am-1:15pm October 7 – Business and Tourism Expo, Cowlitz County Conference Center October 13 – Business After Hours, Farm Dog Bakery, 5:30-7:30pm October 16 – Chamber’s Island Bingo changed to Haunted Bingo November 10 – Business After Hours, Monticello Park Prestige, 5:30-7:30pm November 20 – Chamber luncheon “Recovery Cowlitz County” speakers TBD, Kelso Elks Lodge, 11:45am-1:15pm December 8 – Holiday Mixer December 11 – Jingle all the Way

Chamber Luncheon Friday, July 24, 2020

Premier Sponsor

Elks Lodge Kelso 11:45 — 1:30 pm Cowlitz County has been hit hard over the past four months by the pandemic. Unemployment at record highs, loss of revenue to the county in sales tax, property tax collection, loss of local businesses and community frustration and fear continue to be a concern. The County received $5.9 million in Federal Relief Funds, with $1 million to be designated for local businesses relief. How will these funds help Cowlitz County? Come listen to our County Commissioners. (We may be limited to the first 50 reservations)

$25 in Advance (by July 21st) $35 at the door.

Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Dennis Weber Commissioner Cowlitz County

Arne Mortensen Commissioner Cowlitz County

Steve Krager, MD MPH Deputy Health Officer Cowlitz County

Buiness Toolbox Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

Time to pay attention to changes

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eading into the third quarter we must come to grips with a number of realities we haven’t faced in our lifetimes.

moment:

There are three “pandemics” impacting us at the

1. COVID-19 2. Economic collapse 3. Protests against racial injustice Three months and counting of stay-at-home restrictions, business shutdowns, and the confluence of these pandemics has taken a heavy toll. And these conditions show few signs of going away anytime soon.

As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread and surge (Apple and others reclosing stores they had recently reopened is a sobering reminder), the uncertainty and anxiety is being reinforced.

It is not just we business owners who are unsettled by all this.

So are our customers! A perpetual state of uncertainty is not very appealing or desirable to many.

There is an opportunity presenting itself along with all this uncertainty: When “everything is changing,” when “nobody expects to go back to normal,” what better time to reinvent your business? NOW is the time to make sure that the business is working for YOU, the business owner.

Has this been your experience?

■ Maybe as you’ve gradually reopened, it has been on a very reduced schedule (e.g., five days per week – Wednesday through Sunday – eight hours a day. Key staff are working full time; online sales are happening 24/7.)

o Why rush to expand those hours? Just because that is what we used to do? o Have you looked at the financials from this “modified” operating format? Perhaps you are making more profit working less hours than before?

■

What about your vendors?

o Which vendors do you most want to continue with? Grow with? o Which vendors or lines or categories are you most comfortable discontinuing? Customers understand that change 4 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

IS and now is a great time to reset expectations.

■ Think about one or two restaurants you frequent. As they have reopened, how has their menu changed? What's gone? What’s featured more? What does that suggest about their thinking?

Are their hours reduced? Offerings limited? Do you think they are able to optimize their labor and food costs to achieve higher profits on lower or similar sales volume?

■ These same realities may apply to your customers. Which customer groups do you most want to serve? Why? How much is it costing your business – in time, money, resources – to attract and serve those groups? Might there be customer groups you could stop spending resources to attract – if they come in, fine.

Just do not spend anything pursuing them.

What else might need to be reinvigorated? How about your staff? How might you take better advantage of their talents and strengths? Or, is it time to bring in some new people with different skills/knowledge?

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In retailing, change has always been the name of the game. And the events and experiences of 2020 have magnified this truth significantly.

For the savvy retailer, these unprecedented times offer an overriding excuse, and wonderful cover, for all manner of change in your business.

There will be no better opportunity to reinvent your business – especially for those serving the public. Not only what you want, but what do your ideal customers really want from your firm?

What is your “brand promise”? What does your business deliver (literally and figuratively) better than anyone?

Ask yourself: What are the conditions/marketplace/competition/opportunities you expect to be in play 30/60/90 days from now? What are your plans to take advantage of those possibilities? Set the wheels in motion NOW – don’t waste the lead time you have before you.

Remember – your informed good judgement is your best resource and tool in times of uncertainty.

This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA, and certified business adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Jerry provides confidential business advisory services at no cost to the client. To make an appointment email him at jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org.

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Frank Panarra, President Foster Farms Chris Roewe, President Elect Woodford Commercial Real Estate Lisa Straughan, Vice President Express Employment Professionals Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching Nick Lemiere, At Large Edward Jones Christine Schott City of Longview Councilmember John Paul KUKN-KLOG-101.5 The WAVE Rich Gushman Gibbs & Olson Marlene Johanson Heritage Bank Wendy Kosloski Teague's Interiors Nancy Malone Mayor of Kelso Cherelle Montanye St. John/PeaceHealth Bruce Pollock Bicoastal Media Tom Rozwod NORPAC Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Washington Retail Association RenĂŠe Sunde President and CEO

Retail sales reflect pent-up demand while counties struggle to open

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lthough it still feels like spring in Washington, summer is just around the corner. As warmer weather approaches, life is slowly returning to normal as the Washington Retail Association (WR) team has returned to the office after working remotely for the past two months.

Retailers across the state are safely welcoming customers back inside their stores and recent reports indicate May retail sales rose dramatically as retailers and other businesses closed by the coronavirus pandemic began reopening. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, retail sales during May were up 17.7 percent seasonally adjusted from April but were down 6.1 percent year-over-year. This all follows a record-setting 14.7 percent month-over-month drop in April.

Pretty much every category of retail saw month-over-month gains with clothing stores leading the gains with a 188 percent increase. Furniture stores rose 89.7 percent and sporting goods were up 88.2 percent. Pent-up demand is driving much of the gains as retail categories that were mostly closed over the past few months are seeing the largest gains.

Although sales are up, numbers don’t reflect the same economy that we were enjoying before the pandemic. Our biggest concern now is ensuring that retailers can stay open and that we do not penalize small business again, in the event of another surge.

While a majority of counties in Washington are operating in Phase 2 or 3 of retail reopening, we continue to work with a handful of regions as they strive to drive down infection rates. Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties are currently open to Phase 1 curb-side retail only. These counties all share agriculture as a primary industry that has allowed employees to maintain their status as essential employees.

Unfortunately, the environment has created a hot bed of outbreaks throughout the industry. Long-term care facilities are also of particular concern by spreading the virus through steady contact.

The WR team has been working closely to support our leaders in Yakima County including Mayor Byers, Commissioner Baker and Yakima Development Council Executive Director Jonathan Smith with their newly launched Mask Up campaign.

Recently, Gov. Jay Inslee traveled to Yakima to speak with local leaders about the challenges facing their community.

Each day a small business is forced to close their doors is another day closer to their demise. Each and every business is essential to the families, customers and communities they serve. WR will continue to partner with retailers in communities throughout Washington state to support employees and customers for a safe and steady reopening of our economy.

Reprinted with permission

Michael Vorse Minuteman Press Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 5

2020

Monday, August 17, 2020

Shotgun at 1 p.m.

Thank you John Paul for this great photo!

The Game is On! A fun day is scheduled!

Make your Reservations Early!

Early Entry Fee: $500 per Team of 4 (Price goes to $600 on August 7) $125 per Individual ($150 after August 7) Includes: Lunch, driving range, $5,000 putting contest, awards ceremony, steak dinner, 18 holes of fellowship, $10,000 hole-in-one opportunity, a great tee prize and two carts per team. Lesson included!

We will give you a call the first week of August to secure the people playing on your team.

Register at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org or call the Chamber at 360-423-8400

360-423-8400

www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

The Executive Corner Frank McShane Square Peg Consulting

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Don't just reopen – revitalize!

s you navigate the various state phases for reopening your businesses, you have an opportunity to do more than just reopen. This may be a once in a lifetime chance to revitalize your company. The world of commerce will continue to evolve and you must adapt. Some changes will be safety and health related so that we do not impact lives and health systems. Other adjustments will involve how you conduct business, with your suppliers as well as how you interact with customers. You can choose to just reopen with business as usual (before the pandemic) or you can take advantage of new opportunities for growth.

Start with Data Use your own data to conduct an analysis of your business before the pandemic: • Understand the current moving parts that either contribute or consume cash. o Measure the gross profit generated – by customer, product, and service. o Determine the costs to serve those customers and market segments.

• Assess the role requirements of your sales and leadership positions. o Have these jobs changed in light of the new opportunities versus the core values of the company? o What is the most efficient way to shift your organization to pay off in the new normal?

Decide Where to Aim The most important decisions you will make to revitalize your business will be determining which customers to serve and which products and services to offer. Good data is essential here. Many companies do not have useful insight into the profitability of their customers. They cannot see where most of the gross profit comes from and what the real costs are to serve their customers. Based on your gross profit analysis, you will gain insight as to where most of the cash was being generated prior to the crisis. You will also see where you were spending time and resources for little to no return.

Address the Fit of your People Most companies have a mix of people who do and do not fit the necessary roles for success. As you rethink your business going forward, it is critical to think through what is required for success in each role. Once you have that clearly in mind, resist the temptation to bring back the people who did not fit before. Examples are under-performing salespeople or supervisors. Hopefully, there is another role for those employees that suits their strengths. Take advantage of the expanded pool of qualified people and bring in new employees who are a better fit. There are several tools available to help you with this process, including the Predictive Index.

Combine Aim and Fit into Execution Once you have determined the best mix of customers, products, and services take advantage of the changed market. Combine your new aim with the people who now better fit their roles in selling and delivering those products and services to the targeted customers. Help employees understand the reasoning behind the choices you have made, especially as it differs from the pre-crisis focus.

Communicating “why” you want something done is generally the weakest area of communication for most leaders. You understand the rationale. Do not assume others will have that same understanding. Once they do, you will get more of their discretionary effort. Once you have fine-tuned your aim and put the right people in the right roles, you will be ready to focus on and take full advantage of the new opportunities awaiting you.

Frank McShane is president of Square Peg Consulting. For questions or comments, please contact him at fvm@SqrPegConsulting or 360-562-1077.

Our focus is on your business.

We’re committed to serving your banking needs, providing capital and guiding you in taking advantage of every tool we have at our disposal to help your business.

Contact one of our business banking experts or visit HeritageBankNW.com to learn more.

Kelso | 1000 South 13th Ave. 360.423.7800 Longview | 927 Commerce Ave. 360.423.9800 Equal Housing Lender | Member FDIC

HeritageBankNW.com |

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 7

Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments Bill Fashing CEO

Developing a comprehensive economic development strategy for our area

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he Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) is anticipating Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding to assist with economic recovery and resiliency of the region. The pandemic has taken a significant toll on the residents, businesses, nonprofit sector and local governments over the recent months. Residents have dealt with new stressors; businesses have gone without revenues, while nonprofits and local governments have been tasked with a wide variety of recovery challenges and funding shortages. Main streets are rapidly changing and businesses are shutting down in many locations. Other businesses are seeking out and implementing new strategies to ensure survival. As a region familiar with significant economic adjustments, we understand that our actions in the coming year will greatly affect the overall economic well-being of the region’s residents long into the future.

The CWCOG will be starting this month with the update of the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to focus on recovery of the region. The new CEDS document will be built with input and guidance from the community and the CWCOG is seeking a variety of volunteers to assist in various element of the effort. The CEDS is a fiveyear strategy document that will identify a work plan to assist local businesses and communities in their efforts to overcome our current challenges and put into place resilience planning processes to provide ongoing direction and focus to the recovery efforts. The plan will also assist in providing insights and guidance into preparing for and dealing with future events and crisis situations that may affect the region in the years to come.

The new CEDS would incorporate five core-planning elements.

Retrospective – Looking at the economic impacts of this pandemic across the region, helping to identify the needs and gaps in current regional economies and to help frame conversations on the impacts and responses to the current crisis.

Economic Resilience Tool Kit – Building resources for use by staff and other stakeholders in working with businesses to put actual plans in place to help move out of the pandemic caused challenges and prepare for future events. This effort will update previous work done by the CWCOG. Regional Broadband Infrastructure – It has become brutally obvious that much of the region has inadequate broadband.

School districts, nonprofits and the general business community have expressed concerns with the broadband capacity.

Implementation efforts will include improvement of broadband capacity for telemedicine, education, and general business activity.

Transportation and Infrastructure Maintenance and Development – Freight and other transportation issues weigh 8 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

heavily on communities within the region, as do other elements of our infrastructure. The CEDS update will provide insights and direction on the CWCOG’s role in preparing to meet our infrastructure needs.

Business Development – improving the business support network is crucial to the region. The resources that are in place acted quickly and effectively, but were not adequate to address all of the needs. The plan will update approaches to support the business community of tomorrow.

The grant will fund staffing additions to support small business outreach and technical assistance for area agencies. Efforts will be made to enhance and build relationships with Washington State University extension, Lower Columbia College and other anchor institutions within and serving the region. A significant focus of the efforts will be to help identify recovery and development of grant-eligible projects and assist community partners with project details necessary to lay a foundation leading to funding readiness and project implementation.

Watch for opportunities to engage in the CEDS planning process. If you are interested in playing a role in the effort or want additional information, please call me at 360-577-3041.

Economic Vitality Survey The CWCOG is kicking off the second annual Economic Vitality Survey beginning July 10. The survey will be open through Sept. 30. This eight-minute economic vitality survey will collect information from economic and community development, to transportation and quality of life related issues. We will also be seeking information and thoughts on regional recovery steps.

Click here to go to the CWCOG website (www.CWCOG.org) where you can find a link to the survey. Your input is important for ongoing regional planning efforts.

About the CWCOG The CWCOG is a governmental planning and services agency composed of local governments in southwest Washington state. The CWCOG Board of Directors consists of representatives from Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties but it serves throughout the southwest Washington region, including the City of Rainier, Ore. It provides a forum for members to work together on issues crossing jurisdictional lines and creating cooperative solutions. In addition, the agency provides planning, technical assistance, and grant support in the areas of transportation and economic development, contracts to provide long-range community development planning, and coordinates insurance pooling to select members.

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Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

announces publication of the 2020 Visitor Guide and Directory!

The updated guide to Kelso, Longview and Cowlitz county will be available Tuesday, May 12. This publication will be delivered directly to hotels, motels, restaurants and chamber members during the remainder of the month of May. Inside is 48 pages of information for a fun-filled summer in Cowlitz county including the 40th anniversary of Mount St. Helens spectacular eruption. The 2020 Visitor Guide and Directory will also be available online - just look for a link on our website!

105 Minor Rd, Kelso WA 98626 | 360-423-8400 Fax: 360-423-0432 www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Directory

| Page 13

Workforce Southwest Washington Alyssa Joyner Senior Project Manager – Manufacturing

Manufacturing moving forward through COVID-19

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anufacturing is a key sector driving growth and employment in southwest Washington. On June 11, in partnership with the Cowlitz Economic Development Council (CEDC), Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC) and Impact Washington, Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) held an informative convening, assembling manufacturing businesses and community stakeholders from throughout the region.

Impact Washington shared information about managing COVID-19 risks for employees and other resources for manufacturers and a free COVID-19 risk assessment they provide. The assessment follows Operational Guidelines for Manufacturing Facilities posted to the governor’s website on May 12.

Current disruptions were discussed and opportunities for strategic investment were identified. Some highlights from the meeting: • At the top of job growth projections for manufacturing are positions such as maintenance mechanics, supervisors, welders and machinists. Manufacturers in the conversation agreed we should continue investing in training programs to produce these types of candidates, as they project a continued need for skilled tradespeople.

• There was consensus around the need to develop programs to teach basic manufacturing skills: use of hand tools, small electrical tools, mechanical drawings and blueprint reading, basic wiring and instrumentation, manufacturing terminology, and safety.

• Companies on the call are interested in a broad candidate pool that can enter the workforce in many types of manufacturing positions and let their career path develop organically as they discover their own interests and strengths. These types of jobs tend to be difficult to fill with candidates who are truly “entrylevel.” Additionally, it allows for more job opportunities upon completion because skills learned are needed throughout the industry for many types of jobs. Employers also felt it would be important to host site tours as part of the program to highlight the various types of manufacturing environments. It’s likely these tours will be virtual in the near term.

• This type of an industry-driven, short-term basic skills program could serve as a springboard for young people in our region to enter an industry that offers earnings that are 19 percent higher in our region than the nation; median wages are $21.68 10 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

compared to $16.80 across all other industries, according to a 2018 Advanced Manufacturing Labor Market Report produced

by WSW and its Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative partners. In Washington, 36 percent of manufacturing workers earn at least $40 per hour compared to 21 percent of workers across all other industries.

• Age remains a major concern for manufacturing. Nearly onefourth of the sector’s workforce is 55 or older and set to retire in the next decade — leaving thousands of jobs available. At the same time, only about five percent of the sector’s workforce is below age 24, compared to 12 percent across all industries. The lack of young workers entering the sector persists as an issue following the Great Recession.

WSW has scheduled one-on-one follow-up conversations with each company that expressed interest during the conversation.

We will be learning more about specific needed skills and gauging each company’s interest in helping to design curriculum, student/ candidate recruitment, ability to offer site tours, and commitment to interviewing and hiring post-training.

We’d like to hear from additional manufacturing companies, so please reach out.

Alyssa Joyner is the senior project manager for manufacturing at Workforce Southwest Washington. Reach her at ajoyner@ workforcesw.org or 503-410-0408.

Workforce services currently available for adults and youth job seekers

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hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our local workforce system has been providing services and assistance to adults and youth.

Although the physical WorkSource and Goodwill centers are not open for in-person visits, staff and services are available online, through email and virtual meetings.

Some of the virtual services available include: • job search support • leads to open jobs • resume writing • mock interviews • workshops and classes related to job preparation • funding for job retraining

• fiscal responsibility • connections to housing, childcare, transportation, food assistance and other support services • online training • information related to filing an initial Unemployment Insurance claim (they cannot file a claim for you, determine your eligibility or assist with already-filed claims) Finding a new job is not easy, but WorkSource can help. To get started, visit www.WorkSourceWA.com and check out the online tools and resources or call your local WorkSource center in Kelso at 360-577-2250.

Young adults ages 16 to 24 can contact Vicki Wood at victoria.w@ nextsuccess.org or 360-890-7759.

Your Locally Owned and Operated Community Bank • Checking, Savings and CDs • Business Loans • Construction Loans • SBA Loans 729 Vandercook Way, Longview

(360) 414-4101 www.twincitybank.com

There’s a Difference.

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 11

Cowlitz County Commissioners Dennis Weber County Commissioner, District 2

Landfill tops list of projects striding ahead

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eeping Our Landfill and Low Local Rates: One of the biggest controversies impacting Cowlitz County recently was whether to privatize management of the Headquarters Landfill after two top managers retired. Initially, I supported the idea that we look at outside companies to run the system. However, our city partners, as well as our industrial customers, strongly opposed such a change in management. It was quite an education for me on landfill operations, including how to convert the methane gas from rotting garbage into electricity or natural gas, and the potential to keep more rainwater out of the landfill so it can refresh Silver Lake.

I was asked to reach out to city leaders across the county for their advice. Together we established management goals for the landfill that will provide for about 75 years of operation and target those conversion/diversion goals. We expect that staff will present a new management plan early next year.

Two of us commissioners decided to retain county management control and to maintain for in-county customers the lowest rates in the entire west side of Washington state. We now charge rent to the Public Works Department to run our landfill, based mainly on competitive rates charged customers from outside the county. This raised an estimated $6 million last year alone.

Job Training Programs: Up until the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, our employment picture was steadily improving. One key element in the growth of jobs was the work done by a little-known agency called Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW). Another jobtraining agency is Community Action Program’s (CAP) Grounds for Opportunity Café in downtown Kelso, a program that prepares low-income clients for jobs in the restaurant industry. In addition, they cook and serve congregate meals for seniors and assemble meals for delivery by Meals on Wheels volunteers.

Workforce Southwest Washington coordinates with local organizations like Goodwill Industries and Lower Columbia College (LCC) to operate job-training programs tailored to local needs. The group has developed a highly successful internship program with small businesses willing to provide on-the-job training while other schooling is undertaken by those new hires. One potential success story is their agreement with Northwest Innovation Works, the Kalama methanol plant, to pay LCC students taking a job-training course. While its operations are guided by an operating board of business leaders, I serve with commissioners from Clark and Wahkiakum counties in helping to oversee WSW’s annual budget.

Tourism and Recreation Opportunities: Cowlitz County continues to work toward quality of life improvements. We support efforts to build ball fields in several communities, as well as the SixRivers Bike Trail parallel to Interstate 5 and a potential partnership with Patriot Rail for a rails to trails project from Longview to Rocky Point. And we continue to utilize funds from the lodging tax to promote tourism to Mount St. Helens, as well as to support 12 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

community events in all cities countywide.

Along the State Route 504 Corridor to Mount St. Helens we continue to support efforts to make water quality improvements to Silver Lake and continue to operate the Harry Gardner Park. We are awaiting funding opportunities to implement plans to build a community forest between Headquarters Landfill and Silver Lake, which would be available for hunters, too. And we have begun planning efforts in partnership with the Mount St. Helens Institute to convert the shuttered Coldwater Ridge Visitors Center into an outdoor school facility, open to summer tourists, along with tent camping, recreational vehicle parking, boating on the lake, and helicopter rides.

Cowlitz Shooting Range to Expand: Years ago the Cowlitz Game and Anglers envisioned a public shooting range on volcanic sediment stored on county land at Toutle Park Road. To overcome opposition from local residents, the county asked an independent hearings examiner to review the situation. His conclusions led to significant cost increases in order to muffle the noise of shooting rifles and pistols. Today those local residents are among the strongest supporters of the shooting range. The county provided a loan to cover those additional costs but the Game and Anglers struggled with how to keep rates low while making loan payments.

Three years ago on the advice of retired County Commissioner George Raiter, I suggested that we have an appraisal of the value of the improvements made for the shooting range. It proved to be four times the outstanding loan. As a result, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) forgave the loan, and the rates for the range remain the lowest in western Washington. At Sheriff Brad Thurman’s request, we are also moving forward with plans for a law enforcement shooting range next door to the public shooting range at Toutle Park Road.

Close Partnership with the Sheriff ’s Office: Airports don’t use commissioned officers to perform security checks, why should we at our Hall of Justice? Working closely with our Sheriff Thurman we successfully negotiated a change that allowed at least four deputies on that security detail to return to the streets to fight crime. In addition, the county is now providing more deputies with new state-of-the-art night vision goggles and we are replacing our aging fleet of Crown Vics with more modern Expeditions.

In early May I supported Sheriff Thurman’s request for a proclamation of Law Enforcement Officer’s Week to correspond with Deputy Justin DeRosier’s name being inscribed in Washington, DC at the national memorial to fallen officers. The BOCC approved the proclamation two to one. The tragic murder of Deputy DeRosier cast a pall over the county last year. But the response from our community was just incredible – from the outpouring of tributes and vigils, to the crowds along the funeral procession, to his memorial service. I have never been prouder to be from Cowlitz County than I was during those trying times.

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City of Kelso

City of Longview

David Futcher

MaryAlice Wallis

Councilman

Mayor

Masks or closures – it's our choice

W

e’re an independent community. We vote both Republican and Democrat. We value our personal freedoms, and we don’t appreciate heavy-handed edicts from people who don’t understand life in our area.

With that background, it’s no wonder there is a groundswell of resistance to the latest edict from Olympia, requiring masks to be worn in public.

In some odd way, masks have taken on partisan tones. One side says you’re enlightened if you wear them, and ignorant or uncaring if you don’t. The other side says you’re a mindless sheep if you wear them, and an independent-minded patriot if you don’t. The truth is obviously not so simple.

By the time you read this, you’ll most likely have heard of efforts in Kelso to pass a resolution stating we won’t enforce the mask requirements. If you read my article last month, you’ll know how much I appreciate symbolic proclamations such as this that accomplish nothing but posturing for a certain constituency.

I personally tend to take a more pragmatic approach to the issue. Do I want to wear a mask? Not really. Do I think they’re a panacea that will eliminate the coronavirus on their own? Well, maybe not, but they’re certainly a tool that has shown promise in reducing it. But do I prefer masks to closures or going back to Phase 1? You bet your … “sweet bippy” was the term, right?

The closures and the Phase 1 reopening decimated our economy, our retirement fund balances, and many businesses. They brought record unemployment to our community. But they also kept our COVID infection rate at relatively low levels. We’ve seen infection graphs that don’t look the way we want and need them to look.

Here’s the reality: we need to get a handle on the infection in our community, or more draconian measures than masks are sure to come our way. If the thought of potentially saving lives isn’t enough to convince you to wear a mask, how about potentially saving your favorite restaurant, your favorite store, or maybe your own employer? Our economy traditionally struggles enough in Cowlitz County as it is. We need to mask up to save what’s left.

14 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

City continues to be in good hands

N

ow having been in the mayor’s seat for six months, I’d like to mention a few of the noteworthy events that have taken place so far. Consider the following scenes:

Scene 1: On Jan. 9 I took the mayor’s oath to solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington, and all local ordinances, and that I will faithfully and impartially perform and discharge the duties of the office of mayor according to the law and the best of my ability.

As Longview’s 23rd mayor, I want to affirm to you that I take that charge seriously and am grateful for the opportunity to serve our community in the office that I hold. After all the unusual events that have commenced in 2020 (and dare there be more), I am doing my best to uphold that oath. I was elected to represent you, and I do all I can in my power and authority to weigh public policies and facilitate community action that furthers a consistent respect for our city code and for our state and federal constitutions. I continue to work tirelessly for our community each day, and I offer my time to citizens through calls, emails, and regular office hours (temporarily squelched by COVID-19) and have pledged to be transparent, impartial and accessible to the council and citizens of the city.

Scene 2: Enter the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its disease COVID-19. Signing the proclamation for the Incident Management Team of Cowlitz County to disseminate official information and direction to our citizens was a bold and necessary step for each of the mayors of all five cities in Cowlitz County. Doing so has allowed each city a seat at the table to participate in the governor’s four step phasing, and the choice personally to participate by governing our actions with the measures that will protect the citizens (social distancing, facial coverings, modified work). This will help us achieve our ultimate goal of reaching Phase 4, where businesses can function near/full capacity and citizens can get back to regular daily schedules and enjoying all our freedoms. Our eagerness as a city to progress quicker has created quite the stir – so much so that at the time of this column, Cowlitz County is “stuck” in Phase 2 with consideration of a “partial” Phase 3 for the next three weeks. To be continued…

Scene 3: Deep-seeded hatred, blatant bias and racism have no place in our hearts or in our city. Come on folks, it’s 2020! I am absolutely a proponent of free speech – including expressions of peaceful protest; but deliberate lawlessness? NO! Looting, desecration of property and disregard for the law do not solve problems but rather create them. Supporting our police force and their tremendous bravery in taking on their difficult roles each day is a privilege. Trusting in our local officers and For more Longview, see page 15

Longview from page 14

acknowledging their efforts on our behalf is critical to the morale of the department – and the community.

We have some work to do…

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Scene 4: The Cowlitz County homeless population residing at Alabama Street has grown and continues to grow. It was the intention of the city manager to close the camp for cleaning on March 30, but with COVID-19 on the scene, it would have been an irresponsible move. The Cowlitz County Ad Hoc Siting Committee met multiple times to discuss new sites only to find that not one site was acceptable to the public or met the criteria of the committee and ultimately, to my disappointment, the committee was disbanded. To be continued…

Scene 5: • The city council, the city manager and the city staff have been busy. Project completions and building permits continue despite COVID-19. The Beech Street Business Park is underway. Soon there will be a brand-new section of street with 46 acres to accommodate 14 new businesses in Longview. Notwithstanding the difficult constraints placed on our community from state and local authorities through an abundance of caution to protect us all from the COVID-19 pandemic, Longview will rise responsibly out of this challenge and will be OPEN for business!

• Our Revolving Loan Fund committee has recommended changes for entrepreneurs, including no loan fees, no application or administrative fees, low interest at favorable rates and a payment deferral.

• A much-anticipated traffic signal improvement project is underway now in downtown Longview.

• Through a successful grant acquisition, additional American Disabilities Act requested improvements will be installed for 16 sidewalk ramps along 30th Avenue, and 46th Avenue will receive brand new resurfacing and improvements.

• Council approved and instituted a new committee – the Complete Streets Advisory Committee, which allows assisting and advising city staff on best practices for complete streets for all varieties of active transportation in Longview.

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• Through our Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grants and document recording fees, council allocated close to $500,000 in funds for service agencies within our community and assisted in the utility rate reduction for nearly 300 seniors in our community.

Please be encouraged, friends. The city is in good hands and we are working hard on your behalf. COVID-19 will not prevail! Please be safe, wise and find ways to uplift and encourage one another. Be kind to each other. We are all worth it!

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Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 15

Lower Columbia College Chris Bailey President

What COVID-19 is teaching us about the future of higher education and our society

S

o many local folks have asked me the same two questions.

First, “How will the COVID-19 epidemic permanently change Lower Columbia College and higher education in general?” Next, “What are some lessons learned from the crisis?”

As with all things associated with this “event,” the answer is that I can’t be entirely sure. Herein is my best attempt at a response to the questions posed.

(1) People are Generally Resilient. Nearly everyone I have worked with and interacted with have responded to the need for serious immediate change with an entrepreneurial spirit and with grace. Faculty had four weeks to convert their courses from mostly face-to-face to entirely online. IT and eLearning staff worked with faculty to assist in the conversion of the courses.

They also helped us provide service to our students remotely through creation of a virtual “one-stop” welcome center, and a “Zoom Room.” Advising, tutoring and counseling went to a totally remote modality. Others within the organization found grant sources for funding of laptops, hot spots and other technology needs for students. Students also responded to these significant changes to our service delivery with patience and grace. This leads me to my next “aha moment.”

(2) “Large Bureaucratic Organizations” Can Respond Quickly to a Crisis. As many of you know, I was a practicing lawyer and the CEO of a sand and gravel and construction company in my prior life. Coming from industry, I often heard and still hear negative talk from individuals complaining about “government workers” and “state employees.” These people couldn’t be more wrong based on my experiences at both Centralia College and LCC. Many faculty, administrators, supervisors and staff regularly and effectively put in over 60 hours a week to make things happen. Public service and student service are a real thing at Lower Columbia College. Community colleges are effective and valuable to their local communities. This leads me to my next “aha moment.”

(3) Einstein was Right. Albert Einstein is attributed with the saying, “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.” I think Albert was probably pretty smart.

(4) Online Education and Online Student Services are Here to Stay. With LCC’s average student age being 30, many of our 16 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

students are “time and place bound” and need convenient options for educational delivery. As a result, LCC had been intentionally growing its online and hybrid options for the adult learner and for those who prefer online learning. In fact, we made it one of our key enrollment initiatives. We were also moving to mobile applications and online student support services. The COVID-19 pandemic has exponentially accelerated our work in these areas and much of what we are doing now will be here to stay. Students and the public will benefit from increased access to classes and services.

(5) Fully Online Instruction and Student Services Will Not Work for Everyone. However, we also learned that online instruction and online and remote student services will not work for everyone. The new methods led many students to fail to register or to drop their existing classes. Access to technology isn’t even. Some students cannot learn effectively or persist in their educational pathway without face-to-face interaction.

(6) Rural Areas Need Greater Internet Access. Internet access also isn’t even. Many rural areas don’t have the infrastructure to support online learning or emergency communication. We need to partner together and support expansion of access to the internet to benefit all of our residents and all areas of the district.

(7) Some Colleges and Universities Won’t Survive. Apart from the large private universities with large endowments, many colleges and universities nationwide are underfunded and some may fail over the next four years. Small private colleges, regional universities, and community colleges are particularly at risk given current funding levels. Colleges and universities will have to rely more on private fundraising and community support in the future. For some communities, access to higher education could be at risk.

These are my thoughts on the questions many have posed. I couldn’t be happier that LCC will be a part of the solution to rebuilding our local economy, post-pandemic, and in providing long-term opportunity for our local citizens. If properly funded, community colleges are a great mechanism for economic growth and community prosperity. The LCC family has certainly delivered in the recent pandemic.

LCC proud!

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Kelso Public Schools

Longview Public Schools

Mary Beth Tack

Dan Zorn

Superintendent

Superintendent

Hats off to the Class of 2020

Returning to school in September

s another school year comes to a close and we say goodbye to the Class of 2020, it’s a natural time to think about the future and what it holds for our bright, young adults. While we don’t know what all our students have planned, we believe they are equipped with a great education and carry within themselves all they need to live happy, successful lives.

Here are some other things we know about this graduating class.

his school year will go down in history and is one many of us will be talking about for decades to come.

I am proud of all of our employees and families who worked together to finish the year strong. Summer is here and work at Longview Public Schools is ramping up as we prepare to implement our expanded Summer Meals Program, a new Longview Virtual Academy, and the reopening of school.

A

On June 6, 331 Hilanders earned their high school diploma.

Twenty-eight (or 8.4 percent) of them also earned an associate degree from Lower Columbia College. Seventy-one seniors (or 21.4 percent) received scholarships.

Of the $547,863 in scholarship awards for the Class of 2020: • 82 scholarships totaling $120,275 were awarded by Kelso Public Schools Foundation • 89 awards were given from community organizations totaling $88,094 • 15 colleges and universities gave a total of $339,494 for athletic and academic scholarships For a list of awards by student, visit bit.ly/summer2020hh.

Whether our graduates go off to college, enter an apprenticeship for the trades, join the military, or begin working, we hope they always feel the pride and sense of family that comes with our We Are Kelso mantra.

We’re so proud of all the accomplishments of every student in our district, and we know the future is in very good hands.

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T

This year, we are excited to be offering an expanded version of our Summer Meals Program, which serves free meals to any child 18 years of age and under. The district will be providing a “grab and go” breakfast and lunch at numerous sites around the community. The expanded program will allow the district to provide meals each Friday to feed kids throughout the weekend.

The district is very appreciative of the work our nutrition and transportation employees put into this program to support students and families.

I am also excited to announce our new pilot program – Longview Virtual Academy. The district has about 150 secondary students who attend school online outside the district. For a number of years, we have had parents request a local virtual academy option. The school board approved the pilot program, which will be open to students in 6th-12th grade.

This model of teaching and learning helps serve those whose struggles in a traditional classroom have impeded their success and those who are habitually truant. One of the added benefits of the program is the ability for our students to have a local teacher assigned to their learning, and continued connections to other services students might need. Students enrolled in the program will be able to join school clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities. We believe this program will help us retain local students and provide support services from within the district.

As you can imagine, the reopening of schools this fall is dominating much of the work that will occur at the district this summer. The state has announced schools will reopen this fall using guidelines provided by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Health and Labor and Industries. The safety guidelines are significant and we are working hard to figure out how to open school next year under these new rules.

We are planning to start school with all our kids in class, but For more Longview Schools, see page 19

Longview Schools from page 18

■ Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction School Reopening Guidelines To read the complete guide, click here are preparing for different options should conditions and state guidance dictate the need for an alternative approach. Present guidance from the state includes an assurance of social distancing and cloth face coverings for all staff and students (with a few exceptions). Frequent hand washing, increased frequency of facility cleaning, and health screening of individuals who enter one of our facilities are also being included in our planning efforts. Adhering to the social distancing guidelines outlined by the state is proving to be very difficult, particularly for our middle and high school students.

The other options we are preparing for are a “hybrid option” in which students would be split into two groups. Each group of students would receive a combination of in person instruction (likely two days a week) and remote instruction (likely three days a week). This option may be necessary if we are unable to adhere to the state’s social distancing requirements. We are also planning for a full remote learning option should the state close schools this fall. In this option, we are determining ways in which

we can improve the delivery of the instruction, the quality of the assignments given, and the consistency of the expectations and format for remote learning. We are also working on the creation of a remote learning option for families who are not comfortable with their children returning to face to face learning due to health concerns related to COVID-19.

We will do all we can to assure a return to school that is as “normal” as possible while instituting practices that assure the health and safety of our students and staff. To help us with the planning, we have formed a steering committee and four subcommittees that include parents, teachers, nutrition workers, administrators and union representatives.

During this highly uncertain time, one thing is certain – the district will be prepared to start school in the fall with flexible plans that can be implemented quickly. We anticipate spending considerable effort communicating those plans to our families and the community in early August.

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Mind Your Own Business (At The Library) Chris Skaugset Director – Longview Public Library

Library offers study on today's top issue

T

he issue of race and racism, once again, rose to the forefront of American news, thought and discussion after the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. The COVID-19 crisis slid, at least temporarily out of the headlines by all of the commentaries, protests, and violence surrounding the issue. The United States has a very long, complex, and violent history as it relates to race and racism that began from the first slave brought to the New World through today, and clearly into tomorrow. I hope that one day, that racism won’t be a topic of conversation except in history classes, but until that day I’ve listed some books at your Longview Public Library that discuss the history, the issues and, most importantly, the people who are part of this issue that should no longer have a place in our society.

“Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We See, Think and Do” by Jennifer Eberhardt. A Stanford psychology professor and MacArthur fellow, Eberhardt tackles the difficult subject of racial bias and how it affects our everyday interactions in this enlightening and essential exploration. In the end, there’s no easy answer, though Eberhardt believes that the key to change is confronting bias head-on rather than trying to pretend it doesn’t exist, and to question and challenge our own snap judgments and their sources.

“Origin of Others” by Toni Morrison. Nobel laureate Morrison, long known for her penetrating exploration of race in the United States, continues that examination in these essays derived from a lecture series at Harvard. Morrison draws on personal experiences, diaries of slave masters and the former enslaved, scientific studies, and literature. Morrison explores how cultures, societies, and individuals develop the notion of the Other, the reasons for it; the perceived benefits of distinguishing based on what many insist are racial traits despite the slipperiness of concepts of race. Ultimately, Morrison shares her enormous talent for examining the complexity of race and racial identity.

“White Fragility: Why it’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism” by Robin DiAngelo. According to antiracism scholar and professional diversity trainer DiAngelo, in conversations about race and combating racism, white participants often struggle with intense feelings of anger and defensiveness when presented with evidence that they benefit materially from systemic white privilege.

DiAngelo offers a valuable guide to this phenomenon–which she terms white fragility–and makes concrete suggestions for how to address it, both in ourselves (if we are white) and in our communities.

“A Sin by Any Other Name: Reckoning with Racism and the Heritage of the South” by Robert W. Lee. Lee, a pastor and distant 20 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

relative of Robert E. Lee, shares his path to fighting for racial justice in this revealing memoir. Growing up, Lee learned early the weight of his famous ancestor and the assumptions others made about his own views. Open-minded readers will appreciate Lee’s perspective on race in America as well as his story of working to overcome division, bigotry, and his own family's fraught history.

“So, You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo. Oluo believes that if you eschew potentially significant discomfort, then you’re probably not ready to talk about race. Then again, denial is no longer an option. With raw vulnerability, Oluo’s–whose mixed-race African American and Caucasian parentage has marked her with both insider and outsider status–confronts disparity, inequity, privilege, cultural appropriation, and more. Commingling sociopolitical history, personal memoir, and enlightening how-to lessons, Oluo’s has created a hybrid treatise on the subject of race and race-relations. “‘Why are all the Black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?’

And Other Conversations About Race” by Beverly Tatum. This insightful exploration of the varieties of Americans’ experience with race and racism in everyday life is an excellent starting point on this topic. Tatum, a developmental psychologist with a special interest in the emerging field of racial-identity development, is a consultant to school systems and community groups on teaching and learning in a multicultural context. Not only has she studied the distinctive social dynamics faced by black youth educated in predominantly white environments, but also since 1980, Tatum has developed a course on the psychology of racism and taught it in a variety of university settings. She is also a black woman and a concerned mother of two, and she draws on all these experiences and bases of knowledge to write a remarkably jargon-free book that is as rigorously analytical as it is refreshingly practical and drives its messages home with a range of telling anecdotes. Tatum illuminates why talking about racism is so difficult and what we can do to make it easier, leaving her readers more confident facing the difficult terrain on the road to a genuinely color-blind society.

“How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. When we realize old words do not exactly, and clearly, convey what we are trying to describe, we should turn to new words, writes Kendi, winner of the National Book Award, in his memoir-with-history about confronting personal racism and embracing antiracism. Accordingly, to give context to his experience as a Black youth, budding scholar, ethicist, and activist, he defines different kinds of racism (biological, behavioral) and describes antiracist policies and terms in light of racial strife today. Kendi successfully models self-examination and inspires readers to consider whether ignorance or self-interest drives racist policies into reality.

It takes a community to raise a curtain.

Your $38 will make a difference.

STRANGELY QUIET.

Imagine for a moment sitting quietly in an empty Columbia Theatre. Sit there long enough and you can feel the history of past performances echoing off the walls—a renowned musical group, a stand-up comic, a Broadway touring show, dance, classic film—or as important, the memory of watching someone very close to you spread their joyful, youthful wings.

At the Columbia Theatre it is quiet these days. Strangely quiet for an organization used to lighting up the night some 80 times a year. Our world has changed.

But, pausing to think about what kind of future we want is not a bad thing. And I hope you believe the Columbia Theatre should be a part of that future.

SATURDAY APRIL 18, 2020

HERE’S WHAT I AM ASKING.

This fall marks our Columbia Theatre Association’s 38th year and we are going to need your generosity now more than ever to get through. If you have already made a gift to the Columbia Theatre this year, thank you!!! If you have not gotten around to it yet, won’t you consider renewing that gift and kicking in an additional $38—that’s $1 for every one of the 37 years the association has been a part of this community, and then one more dollar just to bet on our future!

If you have never given at all—your gift of $38 can make all of the difference in the world especially as we move beyond these times into a new and bright chapter.

WE’RE STILL HERE.

A lifetime of memories—that is what the Columbia Theatre and the Columbia Theatre Association is all about. You see, the building is just bricks and sticks and plaster and paint without the performances made possible by more than 150 volunteers, sponsors, a dedicated, professional staff, and 400 generous Friends. We’re still here and we will be back with a terrific 38th season this fall.

Please help to make that possible.

Thank you.

Gian Paul Morelli, Executive Director

P.S. ANOTHER REASON TO SUPPORT.

The Federal CARES Act includes a $300 “above the line deduction” for all taxpayers. That means if you pay taxes, you can deduct a $300 donation to a nonprofit, no matter what you earn! This deduction applies to individuals, and households (but not Donor Advised Funds). All gifts made in 2020 are eligible.

www.columbiatheatre.com • 360.575.8499

2020

January 14: Specialty Rents February 11: Wheeler & Columbia Ford March 10: Kelso/LV Elks April 14: Canceled May 19: Canceled June 9: Canceled July 14: Postponed August 11: Mint Valley Golf Course September 15: American Workforce Group October 13: Farm Dog Bakery @ Life Works November 10: Monticello Park Prestige December 8: Holiday Mixer

New Members Add your business to our growing membership.

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Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.

Look Who Joined in June The Nest

Barbara Sudar 601 Allen Street Kelso, WA 98626 360-353-3828 unshodraven@gmail.com

• Annual Meeting and Banquet • Networking Events • Committee Participation • Business Contacts • Quarterly Membership Meetings • Civic Representation • Monthly Business After Hours

Business Services include marketing for your business, referrals and access to Chamber publications and research data.

• Mailing Labels • Membership Window Decals • Member Referrals • Ribbon Cutting • Website Links • Member to Member Discounts • Membership Directory • Tax Deduction • Newsletter • Business Card Display • Use of Chamber Logo

Representation through action committees, candidate forums and up-to-date action alerts.

• Legislative Representation • Issues Tracking and Information • Task Forces • Candidate Forums • Legislative Update Breakfast • Demographics Publication

Membership Packages Basic • $275 or $26 per month Bronze • $500 or $46.66 per month Silver • $1,000 or $86.33 per month Gold • $2,500 or $211.33 per month Platinum • $5,000 or $416.66 per month Diamond Club • $10,000 or $834 per month Nonprofit • $180 or $18 per month

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 23

BUSINESS BUSINESS AFTER AFTER r o f HOURS HOURS d e l du e 5 h 1 c s R e E R B M E T P E S July 14, 5:30 to 7:30 pm

HOSTED BY AMERICAN WORKFORCE GROUP

1145 14th Avenue, Longview $15 in advance $20 at the door Food, Drink, Prizes Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

Calendar July 2020 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday 1

Thursday 2

Friday 3 Chamber offices closed

Saturday 4 Fourth of July

CANCELED GoFourth Festival 5

6

7

8

9 CANCELED

10

11

12

13

14Chamber Exec.

15

16

17

18

19

20

21Chamber Board

22

23

24 Recovery

25

26

27

28

29

30

31 POSTPONED

Board, Noon, Mill City Grill

Meeting, Noon, Mill City Grill

Ambassadors Meeting, Columbia Bank, 7:30-8:30am

Cowlitz County, Kelso Elks, 11:45am

Island Bingo–Kelso Elks Lodge New Date: Oct. 16

August 2020 Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11 Chamber Exec.

12

13

14

15

16

17 Chamber Golf

18

19

20

21 Recovery

22

23

24

25Chamber

26

27

28

29

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31

Classic, Three Rivers Golf Course, 1pm

Board, Noon, Mill City/BAH–Mint Valley Golf Course, 5:30pm

Board Meeting, Noon, Mill City Grill

Cowlitz County, Kelso Elks, 11:45am

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 25

News & Events

News and events come from our website and press releases.

To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org

Fire department tips to celebrate the Fourth of July – safely

• Use eye protection and do not allow any part of your body to cross over the top of an ignited firework device

Celebrate Safely

• Light one device at a time and move away quickly

Each year in the United States, more than 16,000 reported fires are started by fireworks. Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries. Follow these safety tips to help reduce the possibility of a fire or injury: Be prepared…before you light fireworks

• Never attempt to re-light a “dud” – place it in a bucket of water

• Use only legal fireworks, purchased locally at licensed sales locations • Keep pets indoors • Always have a garden hose or bucket of water nearby just in case Be safe…when lighting fireworks • Only adults should light fireworks • Use fireworks outdoors in a clear area away from buildings, vehicles, and dry vegetation • Follow the directions on the device – do not hold in your hand or throw fireworks • Always place fireworks on a hard, level surface

• Never aim fireworks at people or structures Be Responsible…after you finish • Soak ALL used fireworks in water overnight • Never place used fireworks debris in or near your home!

• Be a good neighbor – use fireworks in a manner that keeps debris on your property • Keep matches and lighters away from children Celebrate Legally • The best way to ensure the fireworks you use are legal is to make your purchases from licensed sales locations within the City of Longview. Fireworks purchased outside of the city (such as on tribal lands or through the internet) are often of a variety not allowed in Washington state. The following types of fireworks are illegal: • If it is guided by a stick (bottle rockets) or fins (missiles) • If it has no other function except to explode (firecrackers, M-80s etc.)

• Homemade devices or modified consumer fireworks

Consistent Courteous Complete Title and Escrow Services

• To comply with the law, up to 10 authorized vendors may sell legal fireworks in several locations within the Longview city limits.

The city’s fire marshall is responsible for inspecting all firework vendors in Longview to confirm they are eligible for permits.

• Per Longview Municipal Code Title 18, fireworks can be used only during the following dates and times: June 29 to July 3, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; July 4, 9 a.m. to midnight; July 5, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Dec. 31, 6 p.m. to midnight; Jan. 1, midnight to 1 a.m.

Except as allowed via a permit for a public display of fireworks, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, ignite, explode, or discharge fireworks of any description in any of the public parks within the City of Longview (LMC 13.01.090).

1425 Maple Street • Longview, WA 98632

360.425.2950

www.cascade-title.com 26 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

Violating the date and time restrictions could result in a misdemeanor cited into Municipal Court. Bail would be $500 under Washington law RCW 70.77.395, Sale/Purchase/Discharge Fireworks Outside Permitted Times.

For more information, please contact the Longview Fire Department at 360-442-5503 or via email at LFD@mylongview. com.

News & Events

News and events come from our website and press releases. To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org

Comcast Business virtual conference on future virtual workforce

2021-22 tourism funds application deadline extended

Is your business truly ready, willing, and able to embrace the direction of where business is heading?

An electronic version of the application can be obtained from the City’s website at https://www.mylongview.com/348/OutsideAgency-Request. If you are unable to print the application, you may call the executive office at 360-442-5004 to have one sent to you. Completed applications must be mailed to the City of Longview, PO Box 128, Longview, WA 98632, or dropped off in the utility payment drop box near the postal boxes on the Broadway Street median across from City Hall

On July 23 from 9 a.m.–noon, Comcast Business will host a virtual conference to help get businesses ready, willing, and able to embrace the direction of where business is headed in the future with a virtual workforce.

Comcast Business knows that in the B2B world, we talk a lot about the future of business – the ability to conduct business from anywhere, anytime, with anyone.

To learn more about the future of working remotely, register today to attend The Future of Business 2020 Virtual Conference hosted by Comcast Business. The conference has a robust speakers list, including a keynote from Robert Irvine of the Food Network’s “Restaurant Impossible.” This is a conference you will not want to miss.

For more information on the virtual conference and to register to attend, please visit https://web.cvent.com/event/1022a356-2bec47f7-ac08-6939c9970209/summary...

The City of Longview is extending the deadline for funding of projects that support or maintain tourism in Longview. An example of projects that qualify might include but are not limited to festivals or events, advertising brochures, etc. The new deadline for submitting an application is 6 p.m. on July 15.

The request for funding application should clearly state the amount of support needed for each year of the biennial budget on the application (example: $2,000 in the year 2021 and $2,000 for the year 2022). All requests for funding will be evaluated according to availability of funds. Any request that meets the criteria for tourism funds will then be prioritized according to its benefit to citizens, its meeting the needs of the people, and its promotion of Longview. Successful applicants will be notified in writing..

safe, open AND ready.

Your health shouldn’t wait any longer.

The care you need is safe with us.

Make an appointment at peacehealth.org/getcare.

Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020 | 27

The Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce would like to THANK the following loyal members for renewing their partnership with us this July.

Animal Health Services, Inc, PS Behrends Body Shop Bob's Sporting Goods Collins Architectural Group, PS

a

Day Wireless Systems Fiesta Bonita Mexican Grill & Cantina Foster Farms Gallery of Diamonds Global Images Graphic Design & Marketing Hilander Dental Kelso Rotary Les Schwab Tire Center Northwest Motor Service Peter C. Wagner, DMD, PS Stirling Honda Sweet Spot Frozen Yogurt Taco Time The Roof Doctor, Inc Twin City Glass Company Twin City Service Company Weatherguard, Inc Wilcox & Flagel Oil Company WorkPlace Wellness

28 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

Your Chamber Connection EVERY Wednesday on KEDO 1400AM

Join our hosts Carey Mackey, Red Canoe Credit Union; Karen Sisson, Stewart Title; Shawn Green, ServPro Longview/Kelso and Marc Silva, Columbia Bank for local guests and current events.

Would you like an opportunity to be on Your Chamber Connection?

Contact Bill or Amy at the Chamber 360-423-8400.

a Hosts Karen Sisson and Shawn Green huddled around Antidote Tap House owner Kelli Busack as she fills them and listeners in on the new 14th Avenue location.

b Jennifer Penfold with Country Financial recently dropped by to talk about her upcoming virtual event titled A Night of Opportunity.

b Stream Your Chamber Connection live at www.kedoam.com

Tune in to…

Your Chamber Connection Recorded on Wednesdays 11:00 am to 12:00 noon Listen at 6:00 pm KEDO 1400 AM or 99.1 FM Featuring your hosts: Carey Mackey - Red Canoe Credit Union Karen Sisson - Stewart Title Shawn Green - Longview Kelso Servpro Marc Silva - Columbia Bank

News & Events

News and events come from our website and press releases. To see more visit kelsolongviewchamber.org

Changes to the traffic signal system on Longview streets

Have you noticed that the City of Longview has updated the signals along Washington Way and 15th Avenue?

New features that you may notice: Left turn arrows. The left turn arrows now have four distinct modes: Steady Red Arrow: Drivers turning left must stop and wait Steady Yellow Arrow: The left-turn signal is about to turn red.

Drivers prepare to stop.

Yellow Retro-reflective Tape surrounds the new traffic signal heads. The intent is to improve the visibility of the signal head at night.

These features have all been added to your traffic signal system to improve safety at our intersections.

Additionally we have installed new traffic detection cameras and radio communication equipment at the intersections.

What’s next?

Flashing Yellow Arrow: Yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and then turn left when safe to do so. Oncoming traffic has a green light.

signals on Ocean Beach Highway between 9th and 32nd Avenues.

Steady Green Arrow: Drivers can proceed with the left turn.

Oncoming traffic has a red light and must stop.

traffic department improved communication with signals. Lastly,

Lead Pedestrian Interval. This feature retimed the walk signals to give pedestrians four seconds to advance into the crosswalk before turning traffic gets a green light. This feature should make crossing pedestrians more visible to drivers that are turning.

FOR LEASE

Interstate 5 Exit 32 Spencer Creek Business Park PortofKalama.com/available-properties 360 673-2379 30 | Kelso Longview Business Connection | July 2020

In the fall of 2020 the City will be making similar upgrades to the At that time we will be installing a software system to allow the once the new signals are in place and operational we integrate new signal timing plans.

In the end, these improvements should increase safety and improve the flow of traffic on three of our major corridors.