Volume 5, No. 12
December 2013
Business
Connection
Kelso Longview
Chamber of Commerce
Videos highlight best of area In November, the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce launched four online videos that showcase the communities and invite visitors to come to the area to play, work, live and participate in events. “It is so much more impactful to show a video of the area than a still photo,” Chamber Chief Executive Officer Bill Marcum said. “People who have seen them say, ‘WOW! These are great.’” Each video runs 1 to 2 minutes in length in one of four areas – Welcome, Quality of Life, Education, and Real Estate and Relocation. Since joining the Chamber, Marcum said he had found similar videos had been done for Cowlitz County and he began investigating. “I really like how they were done,” Marcum said of the videos. “Very professional, informative and showed the beauty of our area.”
Monday
December 2 – Noon Ribbon Cutting The Salvation Army Christmas Center 2013 Opening 1015B Vandercook Way, Longview
Friday
December 6 – 6 to 8 p.m. Kelso Tree Lighting “A Celtic Christmas” Kelso Train Depot, 501 S. 1st St., Kelso
Saturday
December 7 Longview Civic Circle Tree Lighting & Christmas Parade Parade – 5 p.m. (Commerce Avenue) Tree Lighting – 6 p.m. (Civic Circle)
To view the videos click on the ▶ button on the photograph Chamber staff worked with Lucas Gardner of CGI Communications of Rochester, New York, to produce the videos. Marcum said he and his staff are contacted, mostly via email, each week by people asking about the area. “Now, I just send them links to various sites that can help them get more information about our area, including video,” he said. “It is a great communication tool and it also gives us an opportunity to break out of the 20th century mold.”
Calendar
Saturday
December 14 Jingle All the Way 5K: The Sequel Historic Downtown Longview (Intersection of Broadway/Commerce)
Tuesday
December 10 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Holiday Mixer Red Lion Hotel, Kelso $20 advance/$30 at door Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Friday
December 13 – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jingle All the Way 5K: the Sequel Packet Pick-Up
(MERK Building Lobby, 1339 Commerce Ave.)
www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
4 p.m. – Rudolph Free Kids Run (Kids 9 and under; register at event)
5 p.m. – Main Event 5K Run/Walk $20 without shirt registration
(available until race time in MERK Lobby)
Friday
January 14 – 5 to 7:30 p.m. Non-Profit Night Mark Morris High School 1602 Mark Morris Ct., Longview $15 advance/$20 at door (Students 18 and under $5)
If you are a non-profit interested in representing your organization at this event, please contact Brooke at the Chamber Register at: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Jingle All the Way 5K The Sequel Saturday December 14, 2013
It’s back with bells on! Jingle All the Way to this second annual mega holiday event! Run, walk and be entertained by local musicians. Visit Santa and his holiday friends. Experience the downtown shops and eateries. Festive holiday costumes are encouraged as prizes will be awarded to best individual and group attire. Get on board for a magical evening!
4:00 pm The Rudolph Run/Kids Event
A Backwards Run put on by the Sandbaggers at Commerce & Broadway COST: FREE for Kids 9 and under. No registration required* *Parents must sign waiver for children to participate between 3-4 p.m. at race location
PRIZES: Awarded to top 3 finishers of 9-6 heat and 5 and under heat
5:00 pm 5k Run/Walk
At Commerce & Broadway in Downtown Historic Longview COST*: $25 with shirt/$20 no shirt/$65 Family of 4 including 4 shirts (more family registrations can be purchased for additional $10 with shirt) *A portion will benefit the Chamber’s Lower Columbia Professionals Scholarship Fund
Company Discounts**: $2 off per registration (25-99 employee registrations) or $5 off per registration (100+ employee registrations) **Company Teams must sign up through Chamber Office directly
PRIZES: Awarded to 1st three male and female finishers REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 29th (to get a shirt) Registration for no-shirt will be available through day of race REGISTER: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org PACKET PICK-UP: December 13th at the MERK building (Commerce & Broadway) 10am-5pm Questions? Contact (360-423-8400) Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Cowlitz Economic Development Council
Trade Mission to China opens eyes and doors to the future By Ted Sprague President – Cowlitz Economic Development Council
life into the delegation. Having the Governor as part of the delegation was a key piece for opening doors and gaining credibility, especially with the Chinese political leaders. There were three different tracts of meetings running simultaneously – business, agriculture and education. I attended the business tract, but also kept close contact with my colleagues in the education tract. Two of the greatest outcomes of the trip were meeting with current and potential companies considering locating in Cowlitz County and meeting with Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Companies considering Cowlitz County were extremely impressed with our willingness to travel to their country and meet with them on their turf. I was very impressed with their facilities and the kindness I was shown. Former Governor Locke was generous with his time, introduced me to key contacts on his staff for assistance on future projects and gave excellent advice on specific projects we have been working on. The other delegates and I were quite surprised with the way several of the private sector leaders spoke in public about the government. At times they sounded downright American. As aspects of capitalism take hold in the county, business leaders were calling on more economic freedoms from the public sector. We noticed this rhetoric occurred more often the further we were away from Beijing. Leaders in Shanghai and Shenzhen were particularly modern in their attitude and desire to modernize. I also found it interesting to land in Beijing, arrive at the hotel and see a Sizzler, Starbucks and KFC across the street. The world is indeed flattening.
After travelling nearly 16,000 miles, flying on four different airlines and countless hours on a bus I returned last week from a whirlwind trip to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen (each city with a population of well over 10 million people). China is a country with incredible potential for export of Washington State goods, students for Lower Columbia College and investment by Chinese manufacturing into Cowlitz County. Washington State leads the nation as the largest exporter to China, with 13 percent of all U.S. exports into China leaving from our state. With so much travel included in the Trade Mission sponsored by Governor Inslee’s office, you never really had an opportunity to unpack. Our days were filled with individual business meetings, conferences, receptions and travel. The typical day began with a delegation meeting prior to 8 a.m. and ended back at the lobby after 8 p.m. The Governor’s office staff and the staff of the Department of Commerce did their best scrambling to keep the schedule together after Governor Inslee announced his delayed arrival due to the tenuous Boeing negotiations. The Governor joined us at the tail end of the trip and his arrival breathed new
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Team Bill Marcum, CEO Amy Hallock, Bookkeeper Brooke Fisher, Project Manager Kelso Longview Business Connection is published monthly by the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce. 105 Minor Road • Kelso, WA 98626 • 360-423-8400
TUNE IN every Wednesday Your Chamber Connection
KEDO AM 1400 – 3 to 4 p.m. Contact the Chamber to schedule YOUR 10-minute business spotlight
To advertise, call Brooke Fisher, 360-423-8400 ext. 16 or e-mail bfisher@kelsolongviewchamber.org. Ad Deadline: 20th of each month.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Norco extends giving season to all year By Brenda Sexton For the Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce
Norco Medical donates equipment to meet hospice patient needs
‘Tis the season for giving, but in the span of a handful of months the Kelso-Longview community is finding itself the recipient of Norco Medical Supply’s bighearted spirit yearround – a way of paying-it-forward that isn’t expected to stop. “At Norco it’s very, very important to give back to the community they are located in,” said Rhonda Paull, Norco Medical Supply store manager in Longview. “They are a very generous company.” Caring and generosity are built into the 65-year-old company’s motto, “Serving You Better.” The “you” is its patients, customers, employees, vendors and the communities it serves. According to Paull, the company tithes, setting aside funds specifically for charity and, she said, the customer is at the head of the company’s organizational chart. The two are built into the corporate culture. Norco takes its motto seriously by helping patients stay in their homes during challenging health issues by offering a full line of home healthcare products including oxygen, hospital beds, wheelchairs, bath aids, lift chairs, scooters, sleep products, incontinence products and more. Norco is the nation’s second largest privately owned medical, gas, welding and safety supplier, currently operating in more than 65 branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. A second-generation, family-owned business, Norco is based in Boise, Idaho. This summer, Norco acquired decades old and familyowned Care Medical, a respiratory and medical supply firm with locations in the Portland and Seattle region, and Walgreens Respiratory Services with four locations in the Vancouver and Seattle regions. These acquisitions welcome more than 200 employees to Norco’s existing 950 employees. Paull, who has been in the medical field for 30 years, said, “This company really does, for lack of a better phrase, put their money where their mouth is, they do a lot of giving.” In addition to its recent donation of medical equipment and supplies to Community Home Health and Hospice (see sidebar), Norco works with Providence Centralia Hospital and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview with
Norco Medical (formerly Care Medical) recently donated medical equipment and supplies valued at $16,500 to Community Home Health and Hospice (Community). The equipment will serve some of the most urgent needs of hospice patients. Walkers, wheelchair cushions and thousands of individual medical supplies were delivered immediately to patients. Norco partners with Community year-round to provide home equipment such as portable oxygen tanks, adjustable beds, safety rails, foam mattresses, walkers, wheelchairs and pressure relief cushions. This equipment improves patients’ comfort and safety in their own homes. For some, having this equipment allows them to live at home with their family rather than move to a care facility. “What I appreciated most about the care my father received was no waiting,” said the son of a Community Hospice patient. “When we needed help or in-home equipment, it was provided almost immediately.” Norco has sponsored Community’s annual charity care fundraiser, “Home at Last,” the past two years. Rhonda Paull, Norco’s Longview branch manager said, “We just love being able to partner with Community. We couldn’t think of a better organization to partner with. That’s the feeling of every employee here.” “Norco’s gift demonstrates their commitment to supporting excellent healthcare for patients,” Community’s Chief Executive Officer Greg Pang said. “It was an honor for our staff to deliver the equipment and supplies to our grateful patients.”
indigent programs. “As owners and managers we are able to run our own business,” Paull said, which gives them flexibility to donate where they see need in their community and the ability to say, yes to requests far more than no. “We can’t serve and help everyone, but we really do try.”
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2013 Downtown Longview Christmas Parade You are cordially invited to participate in the 2013 Christmas Parade in Downtown Longview. The parade will be held Saturday, December 7 at 5 pm. The theme is “Home For The Holidays”. This is the 33rd year we’ve had a twilight parade. There is no charge to enter the Christmas parade, but the Longview Downtowners would appreciate any contribution to help expand the decorations from downtown Longview to the Civic Center. The parade route will be from the Cowlitz PUD at Commerce and Fir down Commerce to Maple, left on Maple, left on 14th and right on Broadway to the Civic Center & right at the Civic Center in front of the library to the Monticello Hotel for the annual Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Tree Lighting—approx. 1 mile. The parade will disband at Larch. Parents must pick up their children at the back of the Hotel or LCC parking lot; they are not allowed to ride in the floats back to the lineup area. All floats must have a fire extinguisher on board. Once you indicate that you or your group will be participating, a map will be sent to you of the lineup area along with a lineup number (the week of the parade) which should eliminate any confusion the night of Saturday, December 7, 2013. St. Nicholas himself will be participating in the parade again this year. We ask that there be no impersonators so the children will not be confused. Thanks for your cooperation. Plaques will be awarded for the best entry in each category to be determined by our panel of judges. They will be available to pick up at Candy Bouquet in the Merk at Commerce and Broadway. If you have any questions, please call Arleen Hubble evenings & weekends at 425-7707 or email ahubble61@gmail.com Hope to see you at the parade. Arleen R M Hubble Christmas Parade Chairperson
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
When is your creative time? By Chuck Nau Retail Consultant and Sales and Management Trainer Murray & Nau, Inc.
answers and new solutions will keep you at the forefront, setting you apart from others and a step ahead of your competitors. To discover new things, you will find yourself stepping out of your comfort zone, conceiving and developing some new ideas while challenging and overcoming some accepted norms. You’ll observe along the way that as you ASK (Always Seeking Knowledge) questions and uncover new possibilities you will develop a hunger and a motivation for new learning and SUCCESS! Let’s pause one more time ... and clarify this thing called creativity. Creativity is simply being able to conceive, develop and utilize new ideas or strategies when working with existing resources. Your creative thinking will flourish best in an ASKing environment that allows increased questioning and thinking plus an acceptance of challenging the ordinary while utilizing your past experience and knowledge. Much like changing a habit or driving a different way to and from work... the change itself will cause you to notice things in a new way, to increase your awareness of what’s out there. Creativity is your personal treasure! Enhancing it ever so slightly will help you develop new approaches and find new solutions for every day challenges. Discipline yourself, a step at a time, to use the power of questions ... within yourself, brainstorming with yourself, to stimulate your creativity and assure both your continued learning and growth ... continual questioning will help stimulate the flow of creativity. Once you are comfortable (and confident) with yourself and your newfound creative freedom, considering bringing your staff and fellow employees into the loop. Again, the benefits to your business, your work environment and your life will grow.
When’s your creative time? Do you have any creative time? Yes! No! I do not know! Well, let’s pause for a moment, and allow me to ask you to do this simple search. Take a look at last week’s calendar, or for that matter, look at the last two weeks or past month, and highlight those times you set aside for your creative time. Surprised? You are at a loss inasmuch as you cannot find any such time ... exactly the point of this month’s column. As a small business owner, retailer or service provider, creativity is fuel for the ongoing nurturing and growth of your business. It not only feeds your business, it feeds your soul! New ideas, new products or services, new questions in search of answers and new opportunities to target for your business’ revenue enhancement – all need some time on your calendar to bubble up into that “aha!” moment. According to my artist son and many of his fellow artists, creativity is play. That’s the easy part. Learning to allow ourselves to play is the hard part and the hard work, my son will tell you. Likewise, to live a creative life, one must lose the fear of being wrong. Let’s pause again for a moment … some of this sounding familiar to you? In today’s changing and challenging environment, finding your creative voice is one of the most critical skills you can invest in. As things change around us, we sometime forget that things need to change within us also. The heart of that change is inside us – the seeing, the observing, the awareness. Enhancing your creative voice to find new ideas, new
Please see Nau, page 7
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Nau, from page 6
“We go the extra mile, and so does Fibre Federal.”
When’s your creative time? To find it .... schedule it! Start slowly ... reserve one hour a day, three days a week, for the first month. At the end of the first month, check how well you did and then challenge yourself to do more next month. The best time to schedule your creative time? Creative people will often tell you it is first thing in the morning, as soon as you wake up and begin your day. And yes, it’s ALWAYS best do it BEFORE you check your phone or email! Last, but not least, something good is going to happen today ... make sure you are looking for it! © Murray & Nau, Inc.
“At Bell Studios we are willing to go the ‘extra mile’ for our customers, and Fibre Federal is no different. Fibre Federal has risen the bar, demonstrating how a financial institution should treat their members.” - Ben Musgrove, Owner of Bell Studios
Picture yourself with a financial institution that makes you and your company’s success their #1 priority.
Chuck Nau of Murray & Nau, Inc. is a Seattle area based consultant and sales and management trainer. He is a 25-year veteran of advertising, sales, media and management, who knows and understands the everyday challenges of starting up, growing, and surviving in today’s ever changing retail climate. He has spoken to and conducted workshops for a number of local retail and chamber organizations, national publishing groups, national retailers and manufacturers, state press associations, and newspaper groups. Comments and questions are welcome and may be directed to Chuck via email: murnau@nwlink.com or at 425-603-0984.
CREATE HOPE
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360.423.8750 1.800.205.7872 www.fibrecu.com
During Our Hiring Drive
Hiring Drive as we strive to place 100 job seekers in Cowlitz County during the weeks of November 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013. Being out of work during the holidays can be particularly tough, and we would like to make sure as many people as possible earn a paycheck just in time for the holidays.
November 1st - December 31st, 2013 Let’s put Cowlitz County back to work!
Join us in our effort to help put 100 people to work in our community in, bringing hope and encouragement to them and their families.
360.414.1200 • www.expresslongview.com
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Non-Profit Night Friday, January 17, 2014 5-7:30 p.m. Mark Morris High School (1602 Mark Morris Ct.) $15 advance/$20 at door Students 18 and under ($5)
Start off your 2014 year by exploring and interacting with our local NonProfit organizations! Learn about their services, events and impactful changes made in the community. You may even find the urge to get involved or volunteer with one throughout the year. This event creates a community synergy, and starts your year off with a positive boost! Chamber Member Non-Profits that wish to showcase their organization at this event pay a $25 participation fee which includes, table, chairs, personal setup liaison and admission for two to represent your table. Non-Chamber Member Non-Profits can participate at a rate of $40. Please contact the Kelso Longview Chamber to reserve your space.
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
KDRA bringing in expert to show business owners how to put razzle-dazzle into storefronts Retailers seeking to increase foot traffic and boost their sales know that first impressions matter but are often stymied by the specifics of where to start or what to do. Knowing the importance that each storefront plays in a successful downtown district Kelso Downtown Revitalization Association is excited to bring in Seanette Corkill, a retail store design and merchandising expert and nationally recognized speaker, to present a 90minute seminar packed with critical and practical information on how stores and restaurants can and must look their best.
ever competitive market she covers key aspects such as lighting, window displays, signage and the role color plays in improving retail visibility just to name a few. If you've struggled with how to refresh your look or fix a visibility problem this seminar is for you. A regular speaker and popular design consultant for both Oregon and Washington Main Street programs she will be providing 60-minute, one-onone consultations (valued at $375 each) to three lucky winners drawn from attendees immediately following the presentation.
This informative event is scheduled for noon January 15 at the Kelso Theater Pub. Lunch will be available for purchase. The cost is $25 for non-KDRA members and $10 for KDRA members.
Sponsors include Portland Store Fixtures, Reprographics, Cowlitz Electric, and Heritage Bank. For more information contact Mike Julian at mike.julian@ comcast.net.
Designed to educate specialty store owners on the seven essentials that every location must have in order to make it in an
The Sky is the Limit! We started in a garage in April 2007. Twin City Bank has provided us the necessary funding to grow our business into a multi-million dollar company. By early fall Twin City Bank will help us move into our new 15,000 square foot facility with room to continue our growth. Jon Hansen, General Manager Sid Somers and Steve Norby Fabricast Valve
729 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 1-800-319-2265 | 360-414-4101 Creating products to fuel the world
www.knifegates.com
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twincitybank.com
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Lower Columbia College
Rural Outreach spans miles with technology and partnerships By Chris Bailey President – Lower Columbia College Eighty years ago, Lower Columbia College was established to provide access to higher education for students in rural areas of Washington State, like the young mill town of Longview and neighboring Kelso. Even today, residents of Wahkiakum County and communities like Castle Rock and Woodland face similar challenges created by distance from the nearest college. LCC is now spanning those miles with technology and by establishing new Rural Outreach partnerships with two Wahkiakum County communities and three high schools. Designated computer centers at Castle Rock, Woodland and Toutle Lake will enable juniors and seniors to get a jump start on college through online courses without giving up their high school experience. Similar facilities at community centers in Grays River and Cathlamet will provide access to LCC services and courses for local residents. Superintendent Susan Barker tells us that Castle Rock School District is “... excited about the arrival of Online Running Start for our high school students. Clearly this is an advantage for students who want to participate in Running Start but also want to have a complete high school experience.” Created by the Washington State Legislature, Running Start provides academically qualified students an opportunity to take college courses while they are still in high school. Tuition is covered by the state for up to 15 credits while students are responsible for fees and books. Students receive both high school and college credit for completed classes. They may enroll simultaneously in high school and college classes, or solely in college classes. They can also pay college tuition if they wish to take additional credits. Previously, students in more distant school districts had to select “all or nothing” in order to commute to the LCC campus for Running Start classes. They usually gave up participation in school clubs and sports, too. Those unable to afford a car and fuel costs were often unable to take advantage of the program. Another benefit according to Barker is “the Rural Outreach will open the doors of opportunity to low-income students who may want to enter post-secondary education but simply do not have the resources available to do so. This collaboration with
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LCC is a sound investment in our collective futures and we cannot wait to ‘open the door’ for the students of Castle Rock.” Woodland Principal John Shoup agrees, “The Rural Outreach partnership changes the dynamic for the school and our students. We can now give our students the option to take college classes and still have their high school experience.” For example, a student can work on LCC courses in the new computer center adjacent to the Woodland library, then step out the door to attend a high school club meeting. LCC will provide computers for the areas at both Castle Rock and Woodland. There will also be a part-time tutor to assist students at Castle Rock. At Toutle Lake High School, students can complete their LCC classes in the new Resource Center. Parents like that students will be at their nearby school and not commuting on icy roads during winter months. Historic building makeovers will provide library-community center facilities which each include a bank of LCC computers in both downtown Cathlamet and Grays River. The latter opened this fall in the former Rosburg Elementary School and work is nearing completion at the 1930s era firehouse in Cathlamet. In addition to providing computers and online access to LCC classes and services at both locations, the College also plans to offer career exploration and job search skills workshops and non-credit community education courses in the future. Improved Internet access, especially in Wahkiakum County, and a growing selection of online courses and programs available from LCC make it the perfect time for the community center partnerships. The College offers nearly 100 online credit courses each quarter and students can also complete associate degrees in business or general transfer and a certificate in Digital Forensics all through online studies. A wide range of community education classes, from personal finance to computer studies to languages, are also available online through LCC. Just like in 1934, LCC and its community partners will continue working together to provide education and training our region needs to benefit our citizens and local economy.
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Council of Governments
State Route 432 Project shifts into high gear By Scott Patterson Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments Executive Director Hopefully by now you may have heard at least something about the state Route 432 Rail Realignment and Highway Improvement Project. This project took on new relevance back in 2010, following a multi-decade effort to deepen the Columbia River Channel, which has created the opportunity for increased production for business and industry operating along this critical industrial corridor. That is why a number of local partners: The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG), Cowlitz County, the cities of Kelso and Longview, the Port of Longview and the Cowlitz Economic Development Council (CEDC) have partnered together to advance this critical project. The SR 432 Rail Realignment and Highway Improvements Project has begun to identify potential concepts to address the safety, traffic congestion, system mobility and freight capacity issues where the rail and roadway systems overlap along the corridor. In mid-November the project hosted its first public open house that attracted more than 50 local residents, business owners and interested stakeholders. This was the first opportunity for many to review the initial design concepts and to provide input on them and also offer comments on the most important screening criteria to employ as the project begins to narrow down the total number to study further. Prior to the open house, the project has been meeting with local businesses and the rail operators to learn more about their current operations and future projections. This information has been critical in developing the initial round of design concepts. Now we need to hear from you. Over the next couple of months, the project will be utilizing a speaker’s bureau to make presentations to a number of community groups, organizations and local neighborhoods. The community’s input will be key as the project team will screen initial concepts based on
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feedback and will work to narrow down the range of concepts that will move forward for further design and environmental analysis. Please take some time to attend one of the upcoming presentations or you can even learn more information on the project’s website: www.SR432Corridor.org. You can also provide comments directly to us on the web site as well.
Industrial Buildings and Property for lease Ready to move in or build
Call Liz Newman
360-673-2325
www.portofkalama.com/ industrial_property
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Chamber Happenings
High Rollers Plenty of heavy-handed gamers were on hand November 7 at the Longview Eagles as the Lower Columbia Professionals hosted bunco night. Proceeds from the evening benefited the LCP’s scholarship fund.
Full Steam Ahead Audience members and local leaders turned fortune tellers November 21 at the annual Economic Summit at the Cowlitz Regional Conference Center. The group gazed into the crystal ball to see what 2014 may bring.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
SWWDC
Helping youth is key component of Workforce Development Council By Julia Maglione Communications Manager Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council Youth are a major focus of the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC), as shown by the recent hiring of Chelsea Jackson as the organization’s Youth Initiatives Manager. Jackson will develop, implement and manage strategies and programming in the community to expose youth to training and employment opportunities for the region’s highdemand jobs. As part of its efforts to help prepare young people for work, SWWDC partners with organizations that serve youth, including WorkSource, Educational Services District 112, Goodwill Tacoma, the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Career Development Consortium, local high schools and community colleges, among others. Recently, in conjunction with nConnect, a nonprofit organization that connects students interested in STEM careers with professionals in those jobs, the SWWDC awarded $1,000 scholarships to two local students – Rebekah Moreno and Melina Taskey. The money was a grant from the Charitable Lead Annuity Trust to be used for scholarships for students pursuing education in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). Both students graduated from high school in June 2013 and have started their first year of college at Lower Columbia College. Moreno graduated from Kelso High School and is studying psychology. She hopes to transfer to the University of Washington after obtaining her associate’s degree. Taskey, who attended R.A. Long High School, plans to study nursing. Preparing students for careers in science, technology, engineering and math fields is key to our region’s long-term competitiveness and prosperity. A large percentage of future job openings will be in industries that require knowledge in these areas, so encouraging students to learn about them and take the proper classes now will be key to them getting and keeping jobs
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in the future. I’ll talk more about the importance of programs for youth and STEM in the coming months. In the meantime, if you’d like to get involved or learn more about youth programs, contact the SWWDC’s Youth Initiatives Manager, Chelsea Jackson, at 360567-1066 or cjackson@swwdc.org.
Chelsea Jackson SWWDC’s Youth Initiatives Manager Before joining the SWWDC, Chelsea Jackson was Transitions Program Coordinator at Innovative Services NW, assisting foster youth to transition to independent futures. She has worked with a variety of organizations including Upward Bound programs in upstate New York that focused on serving youth involved in juvenile justice and inner city gangs, America Reads programs for special education services in Maine, and was a Housing Specialist with Outside In and the Homeless Youth Continuum of Care in Portland, Ore. Jackson received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. She currently chairs the Youth Access Workgroup (formerly Foster Youth Continuum of Care) that unites community providers and increases access to services for youth and young adults ages 12 to 25 that are experiencing homelessness in Clark County.
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Mind Your Own Business (at the Library)
Periodicals keep up with fast-paced world By Chris Skaugset Longview Public Library Director
also be specific to an industry. ProQuest has many of the titles we mentioned earlier plus many more including The Economist, Forbes, Money Sense, and U.S. News and World Report. All of this wealth of information is available at your fingertips. ProQuest can be accessed in the library and from home. To access ProQuest away from the library you will need your library card number (which is on the barcode on the back of your card) and a pin number (which is usually the last four digits of your phone number unless you’ve changed it to something else). So, anytime and anyplace ProQuest can be available to you, all you need is the Smartest Card in your wallet, better known as your library card. So, no matter what your business information needs might be, the library is the place to go. Whether you want to browse and read our numerous titles that physically exist in the library and perhaps even take a few home, or whether you want to check out the digital versions available online at 3 a.m. from home in your pajamas, your library is the place for you to mind your business.
I’ve written about books, and one incredible database, that you can find at your library to help you start and grow your small business, but this month I thought I would cover another area of the library that you may or may not know about. Business news and information is ever present and increasing in this rapidly changing, 24/7 business world, so having current and useful information is critical. To help you stay current, the library has numerous periodicals (newspapers, magazines, and journals) related to business, small business, and personal finance that you can find, and check out, from your library. It begins with the eminent business newspaper The Wall Street Journal. Come see the day’s copy in the library’s periodical room on the Main (2nd) Floor. Currently, we also keep the last two years of WSJ on file. For broad national, and international, business news you can turn to the juggernauts of the industry in Barron’s, Business Week, Harvard Business Review, and The Wall Street Journal Magazine. For information pertaining to small, and home, businesses readers can look to Entrepreneur, Fast Company, and Home Business. For information on investing and other matters related to personal finance there is Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Money. Finally, for more local and regional business information there is the Portland Business Journal and Seattle Business. The last two years’ worth of each of the periodicals is available for check out except for the latest issue, which is only available for in-house use. This is just what is in the actual physical library. If you want to visit us virtually and have access to even more business-related articles and other information you can use the magazine, newspaper and journal database ProQuest. I took a quick glance at ProQuest and saw that that there are more than 1,000 publication titles available that include reports, trade journals, scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and wire feeds just to name a few. These titles can be specific to a region or locality, but they can
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Date: Tuesday, December 10th Location: Red Lion Hotel, Kelso Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cost: $20 advance/$30 at door
Raffle tickets will be sold for a fabulous trip. Proceeds go to the local Community Home Health & Hospice. Register at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Business Toolbox
My business is performing well...what is my next act? By Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser All is well with your business. Goals are on track, operations are at a steady state, and there is an orderly pattern developing ahead. As a business owner, you might be asking, “What should I be doing now? Where should I focus my energy?” Your business might be emerging from a development phase, stabilizing after the recession, or cruising ‘steady Eddie’ style through the year. If so, you are now in a position to work on more advanced and refined goals and opportunities that have the potential to make you and your business stronger and more valuable. As relentless entrepreneurs, we work intensely to get ahead of the business, and work on the future. When you reach that state and everything is going well, where should you direct your focus?
The First Question to Answer
What do you want out of this business…? • Growth until retirement • Sell up and out • Funding for the next business • To leave a distinctive and personal mark on the industry and the community
The Second Question to Answer
What tasks or projects have always been on your wish list? Why are you drawn to them? Is it time to follow your instincts? Trust your expertise and vision? With clarity can come a list of advanced business goals: • Recharge your business strategy! Continuously test strategic thinking against baseline decisions. Eliminate blind spots, contradictions, and decisions made for the wrong reasons. • Dive deeply into the dynamics of your industry. What really drives your business? Which economic drivers need key leading indicators? Make effective changes earlier and adjust
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processes with the luxury of lead time. • Pursue a business valuation. What is your business worth? Is your worth increasing or eroding? • Are you ready for succession? Structure a plan, put timetables in place. • Market research to support forward looking development. Inform staff decision-making and deepen critical thinking. • Model finance to identify future cash gaps. Feel the power of knowing your sustainable growth rate, see excess cash generated by your business. • Consider acquisitions. Model the accretive value and risk. • Train and develop key personnel. Enable and ensure your future success. • Innovate! Research market segments, identify those unmet needs and discover paradigm shifts. • Form an advisory board. Acceleration in performance and development nearly always results and implementation will raise your valuation! • Participate on corporate boards. An invaluable two-way proposition that will benefit your business while you help others. • Develop and implement a community based mission. Connect the special strengths and passions of your employees. Setting priorities in your business is a continual process, bringing opportunities to push out the time horizon and make good things happen for the future. Carpe Diem! “Vision without execution is hallucination.” – Thomas A. Edison This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick MBA, SPHR, CGBP, PMP and Certified Business Advisor with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Longview office. Jerry provides no-cost confidential advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via e-mail at jerry. petrick@wsbdc.org.
Best Business Practice Series Presents:
WA Health Benefit Exchange for Small Business & Individuals th
DATE:
Thursday, December 5
TIME:
7:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
LOCATION:
Lower Columbia College – Wollenberg Auditorium in the Rose Center 1600 – Maple, Longview, WA 98632
COST:
NO COST
REGISTRATION: Online at http://wsbdc.org/training-calendar Jerry Petrick, MBA Business Advisor WSU 360.578.5449 Jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org
Hosted by:
Last day to register: Friday, November 29th FORMAT: Washington Healthplanfinder representative, Michael Jackling, will be presenting information about the new online marketplace and health insurance options for individuals and small businesses in 2014 and beyond. Attendee questions will be answered. The following topics will be covered:
The Affordable Care Act Exchange Basics Exchange Functions Service Washington Healthplanfinder Description of the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Understand the requirements to participate within the SHOP Impact Responsibilities of Employers and Employees within the SHOP Individual Understand the differences between SHOP and Individual market participation Understanding Free and Low Cost Healthcare Individual Mandate
A Continental Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m. with the session starting at 7:45 a.m. Parking permits will be sent via e-mail to anyone who has preregistered. The WSBDC is partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services. SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis and available to individuals with disabilities.
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Ambassador of the Month
Chamber selects Larsen for November Ambassador honor Erik Larsen was named Kelso Longview Chamber Ambassador of the Month for November. Larsen is a commercial loan officer with Hometown National Bank Chamber Ambassadors, known as The Red Coats, are an integral part of the Chamber of Commerce. The Ambassador team is made up of active Chamber volunteers whose responsibilities include meeting and
greeting at Chamber events, welcoming new members and assisting at ribbon cuttings and community events. Ambassadors juggle busy professional careers while making time to assist the Chamber at a variety of events year long. If you would be interested in wearing a red coat and representing the Chamber, contact Brooke Fisher at the Chamber office.
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Connie Bjornstrom Lindsey McTimmonds
Dennis Bird
Alison Peters
Phone: 360.425.2950 Fax: 360.425.8010
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Bonnie Woodruff
Joel Lengyel
1425 Maple St. Longview, WA 98632
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November
Erik Larsen Hometown National Bank
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Notes and News
Cowlitz Black Bears release 2014 schedule and open ticket sales West Coast League President Dennis Koho recently announced the 2014 Cowlitz Black Bear game schedule. The Bears will play a 60-game schedule, with 33 games at Longview’s Story Field. The first pitch will be thrown out June 5. To peek at this season’s schedule go to www.cowlitzblackbears.com/schedule/game/ In addition, season tickets are on sale now, visit www.cowlitzblackbears.com for more information. As the West Coast League continues to grow, adding a recent expansion team in Yakima, the League has realigned divisions for the 2014 season. The move creates a three-division alignment, with East, West, and South divisions. The Black Bears will be part of the West Division with the Bellingham Bells, Victoria HarbourCats, and Kitsap Blue Jackets. Member teams will continue playing out-of-division games across the entire League, alternating home and away sites for non-division games. The playoff format will also look slightly different for the 2014 season. It will feature the three division champs, plus a wildcard, which will be the team with the next best record. West Bellingham Bells Cowlitz Black Bears Victoria HarbourCats Kitsap Blue Jackets East Kelowna Falcons Walla Walla Sweets Wenatchee AppleSox Yakima (expansion) South Bend Elks Corvallis Knights Klamath Falls Gems Medford Rogues “With expansion growing the league to 12 teams, the opportunity to align with three divisions creates even greater rivalries within natural geographic boundaries and will hope-
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Join Corby at the ballpark to cheer on the Cowlitz Black Bears this season. fully help member teams see some savings as it relates to evergrowing travel expenses,” Koho said.
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
CEO’s Message
Lodging tax: Circle of life for visitor center By Bill Marcum Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce CEO
20,000 people stop by in 2014. If we can get 20 percent of those visitors to spend any time shopping our local businesses, eating at our local restaurants, attending one of our events, catching a performance or just relaxing in one of our beautiful parks an additional 4,000 people will have stopped in Longview and Kelso. And of course, we would like them to spend the night in one of our hotels as the taxes collected will recirculate back to our local events adding more visitors each year.
The Kelso Longview Chamber is now at its new location at 105 Minor Rd. in Kelso. The building is about 99 percent ready and we should get our occupancy permit within the next week. We are working with the City of Longview, the City of Kelso, Cowlitz County Tourism and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to decorate the new Visitors Center with exciting graphics, art work and photographs showing visitors why we love living in this area. I anticipate the interior of the building being completed in early 2014 and ready for the many visitors that will stop by during the spring and summer months.
choose care “We not a commute.”
The Visitor Center served mainly as a Volcano Center for the past 30 plus years. Since it is one of our biggest tourist draws, the new center will continue to have a Mount St. Helen’s display area. However, the main function of the Visitors Center is to help our tourists see the value of our area and direct them to our local events, businesses and treasures with an underlying goal of getting tourist to spend some of their traveling money in Kelso, Longview or other Cowlitz County areas.
,
D
id you know some insurance plans require you to travel to Oregon for specialist appointments, minor surgical procedures and follow-up visits?
The Visitors Center’s operating budget is paid for through LTAC – Lodging Tax Advisory Committee – funds from the City of Kelso. These funds are collected when visitors spend a night in an area hotel and redistributed to local events, sports tournaments, cultural events and other happenings to advertise their event with the purpose of bringing people from outside the area to Kelso and Longview. Both Longview and Kelso have these funds available through each city. Cowlitz County also receives a percentage of the revenue raised via this lodging tax and those funds are distributed back in basically the same way. Organizations and event coordinators apply for these funds through city applications generally available in August or September.
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The Visitors Center in years past has provided information to more than 12,000 people annually. When Starbucks opened we noticed about a 20 percent increase in the number of people coming into the Visitors Center on the weekends. I expect that number to grow considerably with a newer, modern building and better signage. It would not surprise me to see close to
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Kelso
Longview
Longview has a lot to be thankful for
Shopping local IS important By Mayor David Futcher
By City Manager Bob Gregory
We’ve all heard the lectures about how we’re supposed to shop local. The Chamber even runs contests to help encourage you to do so. But once in a while, I think it’s worth revisiting the reasons why local patronage strengthens our whole area.
As I begin to reflect back on 2013, it has been another year for all of us in Longview to be thankful for all this community has to offer and for us to celebrate as we enjoy our upcoming holiday season.
Money you spend at businesses goes back into the economy in several ways. A significant part of each purchase goes to the people who manufactured the product. Another chunk goes to overhead and employees, and the rest goes to the owners as profit – hopefully! On top of these pieces, the government adds sales tax, to help fund its operations.
Our economy continues to make strides toward a recovery. We have enjoyed the opening of new retail businesses such as Napa Auto, Harbor Freight, and Big 5 Sporting Goods to name a few. We welcome Kapstone into our community with its acquisition of Longview Paper and Packaging, signaling continued employment and commitment at the Longview facility. Weyerhaeuser continues to expand and increase business activity at the Longview site and is hiring to keep a sustainable workforce. EGT has completed its first successful year of operation of the grain export terminal, expanding our foothold in the Pacific Rim and feeding the world.
I’m not unrealistic. I know people shop online. It can be easy to do, but it sends the entire amount of the purchase outside of the community. I guess if you were going to do online shopping, at least using Amazon would keep sales taxes in our state. And I know you probably don’t like sales taxes, but government has to be funded somehow, and if we short them on sales tax, they’ll just get it some other way, eventually. When you shop at a local branch of a national retailer like Target, Walmart, or Home Depot, the overhead and employee wages generally remain in our community, along with the sales tax. The costs of product and the profit, which are often the majority of the purchase price, head out of town.
We also continue to enjoy a great quality of place. The recent overwhelming response and generosity of local businesses and citizens with contributions of money, labor, and materials to re-establishment of the Shay locomotive at the Longview library will provide great experiences for generations to come! Our community will soon enjoy the opening of the Lower Columbia Health and Science building, providing state of the art educational opportunities for nursing and STEM related education.
Shopping at a locally owned store that sells the same products will help keep that owner profit in the community, where it often will be reinvested to make the business stronger and employ more of our citizens. But the best way to keep money in our community is to buy locally produced products or services, which allows us to retain nearly the entire purchase price here for reinvestment. We get jobs, government services, and more money to ripple through the rest of our economy when we do this,
These are but a few examples of how Longview continues to move forward and makes this such a great place to live, work, and play. On behalf of the Longview City Council and city staff, we thank you for the opportunity to serve and wish you all a very joyous holiday season!
So, as you consider your holiday gifting purchases, why not take a minute and see if that local art studio or gift shop has a unique piece that could fill your needs? Your gift could be the highlight of the holiday, and keep our local economy growing at the same time.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Longview Downtown Partnership
Downtown and 5K can jingle all the way By Alice Dietz Longview Downtown Partnership President
downtown patron now. We have breweries, wine bars, art galleries and wonderful shopping. We really are becoming the downtown that everyone has been wanting.
Brooke Fisher has done a wonderful job organizing the Jingle All the Way 5K. Her main objective was to bring people downtown and promote local shopping. The hurdle we are faced with is proving to the local businesses the value of staying open past their normal hours.
Last year the Jingle All the Way 5K brought close to a thousand people downtown. If you are a downtown business and are thinking about staying open, please do and if you are a runner and are thinking about checking out all the cool shops that are transforming our downtown from ho-hum to whoop-whoop, you should.
Having had a business downtown, I understand the downtown businesses’ hesitation to stay open for these events. During my first couple years of business, I said yes to everything. I sponsored this, I opened for that and I supported anything and everything downtown centric. But I got burned out. Did I really want to stay open for a car show that produced one or two customers, at the most? After so many failed attempts at being a part of things, I only opened my doors during my regular business hours.
Here’s what I’m doing for the Jingle All the Way 5K. I’m getting a group of my girlfriends together, we are going to have a glass of wine and then shop the local shops downtown and maybe stop by Ashtown Brewery, Country Folks Deli or Gyros Gyros for a midshop beverage while enjoying all the amenities downtown has to offer. Shout Out This is new but I’m going to start a “Shout Out” section at the end of my columns. I’d like to give a shout out to Elizabeth Hue Mercantile, if you haven’t checked this shop out, you must. I buy my Tyler candles there, plus she has some great cards.
The issue Longview Downtown Partnership is faced with is the disconnect between community support and downtown businesses. The Chamber is working hard to create opportunity to bring the community downtown. We have so much more to offer the
Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Anne O’Connor onthemark associates
Bianca Lemmons Cowlitz County Title Company
Michael Julian Kelso Theater Pub
Chris Bailey Lower Columbia College
Clayton J. Bartness, DC Longview Chiropractic Clinic
Chet Makinster Longview City Council
Frank V. McShane, Past President Cascade Networks, Inc. Jerri Henry, President Futcher-Henry CPA Group
Dennis Weber Cowlitz County Commissioner Joel Hanson, President Elect KLOG/KUKN/The Wave
Michael Claxton Walstead Mertsching
Ted Sprague Cowlitz Economic Development Council
Lance Welch PeaceHealth
Steve Taylor Kelso City Manager
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Diane Craft, Vice President Koelsch Senior Communities Linda DiLembo Three Rivers Mall Julie Rinard Community Home Health & Hospice Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Ribbon Cuttings
Quack! Even the duck made an appearance at the November 8 Aflac Chamber ribbon cutting. The offices are located at 267 Commerce Ave., above Teague’s Interiors. Stop in and say hi to Maria Palafoxkey, who is also a new Chamber Ambassador.
Buy. Sell. Bid. Bidnear employees cut through the red tape at their Chamber ribbon cutting November 6. The Bidnear offices are located at 1333 14th Ave., Ste. 204, in Longview. Online you can find them at bidnear.com.
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1452 Hudson St. • US Bank Building Suite 208 • Longview, WA 360.423.9921 www.cowlitzedc.com
Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Welcome New Members
Chamber membership has its privileges Celebrate these new Chamber members with us Business Association with opportunities to promote trade through Chamber socials, special events and committee participation.
• 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 • Web Site Links • Member to Member Discounts • Membership Directory • Tax Deduction
* Reality Homes Inc. (Woodland)
Packages
• Newsletter • Business Card Display • Use of Chamber Logo
Basic Membership Package – $275 or $26 per month. Bronze Membership Package – $500 or $46.66 per month. Silver Membership Package – $1,000 or $86.33 per month. Gold Membership Package – $2,500 or $211.33 per month. Platinum Membership Package – $5,000 or $416.66 per month. Diamond Club Membership Package – $10,000 or $834 per month.
Representation through action committees, Candidate Forums and up-todate Action Alerts. • Legislative Representation • Issues Tracking and Information • Task Forces • Candidate Forums • Legislative Update Breakfast • Demographics Publication
Join today! Call 360-423-8400 Trusted.
Since 1982, Cowlitz County Title has been the company the community turns to when buying, selling or refinancing a property. Whether you need title, escrow or property search information, come in for our exceptional service. Leave with the confidence that your real estate investment is properly insured and protected.
Bianca Lemmons Vice President/Manager
1159 14th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632 Phone: 360.423.5330 ■ www.cowlitztitle.com
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
Business After Hours
Hoppy Hour Ashtown Brewing Company hosted the Chamber’s Business After Hours November 12. More than 100 people came to try the new brews from Jarrett and Erik Skreen.
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Kelso Longview Business Connection
December 2013
CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER FREE ENJOY AN EVENING OF VIP SHOPPING WHILE SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES. GIVE A LITTLE AND GET A LOT... • FREE SANTA PHOTO • OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANCE TO WIN $2000, $1000, $500 IN GIFT CARDS • SPECIAL ONE TIME DISCOUNTS FROM STORES • CHARACTER APPEARANCES BY A SIMPLE WISH PRINCESS • ENJOY JAZZ, CHOIR AND DANCE PERFORMANCES TICKETS ARE $5 AND AVAILABLE FROM LOCAL CHARITIES OR THE NIGHT OF THE EVENT AT MALL ENTRANCE DOORS. ALL PROCEEDS FROM TICKET SALES BENEFIT LOCAL NON-PROFITS. CHECK WEBSITE FOR A FULL LIST OF CHARITIES OR CALL 360-577-5218 FOR DETAILS.
Reindeer Games Rudolph, that red-nosed reindeer, stopped by the Chamber offices to remind kids about the Rudolph Free Kids Run December 14. Adults can get into the holiday spirit by registering for the Jingle All the Way 5K Run/Walk. For information, visit the Chamber website at www.kelsolongviewchamber.org.
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