March 2023 Business Connection

Business Connection

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce

Julie Rinard Project Manager

Visibility for your business

Can your business benefit from more visibility? We can help! In this issue, you will see many ways we support members by increasing their visibility.

When you are a guest on Your Chamber Connection radio show, BiCoastal Media runs promos announcing your name and business name, encouraging listeners to tune in to KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM. The show is broadcast every Wednesday at 6 p.m. We also take photos, as you will see in this newsletter. Photos of our guests are shared in social media and print ads in The Daily News and Columbia River Reader. We appreciate our media partners and there is no cost to Chamber members.

Ribbon cuttings keep our Chamber Ambassadors busy. We have celebratory ribbon cuttings to welcome new members and congratulate Chamber members on milestone anniversaries and new locations. Ribbon cuttings are announced in the Chamber Happenings eblast, you will find them on our calendar, photos are posted on social media, and we run photos in The Daily News. It’s our pleasure to celebrate with our members, and there is no charge to you. An Ambassador will even deliver your framed photo with a souvenir piece of ribbon!

Have you checked the calendar on our website lately? This is a popular way for Chamber members to look into what’s happening, check the details and register. Anyone, including nonmembers, may access our calendar, see what is happening with Chamber members and register for events. An immediate e-receipt follows registration. Members are finding this to be a great improvement from our previous website. Did you know you may add your events to our calendar? Be sure to check out our website and share your feedback with us.

There is a lot going on around the Chamber among our members, too. If you would like your announcement or event to be included in our Around the Chamber eblast, please let us know. We’ll use your flyer, or we can help design a flyer with graphics and your important

For more Visibility, see page 3

Carey Mackey, Karen Sisson and Lindsey Cope have a little fun during a radio broadcast

Presented by:

March 29, 2023 | 3:00 pm - 7:30 pm

(Business After Hours starts at 5:30 pm)

BUSINESS & TOURISM EXPO & BUSINESS AFTER HOURS | Cowlitz County Event Center

Booth Space (36 Available)

Chamber Member

$300 before March 10

$500 after March 10

Non-Chamber Member $400 before March 10 $600 after March 10

Non-Profits get 50% off the above rates

Table Space (84 Available)

Chamber Member

$200 before March 10

$300 after March 10

Non-Chamber Member $300 before March 10 $400 after March 10

Non-Profits get 50% off the above rates

Additional Sponsorship Packages Available

Includes booth space, logo on all printed material, logo on website, banner at event and all advertising. Call today 360-423-8400 or register online: www.kelsolongviewchamber.org

REGISTER NOW! Save up to $200 for early sign up.

Major Sponsors:

Media Sponsors:

Resort Casino

details. This is one more way we help Chamber members increase visibility – with no cost to you.

Do you follow us on Facebook? We’re happy to include your news in our posts. Followers are increasing and we appreciate the interesting content that our members share.

You increase visibility by attending our events, too. Every Chamber event has networking opportunities among like-minded people. Sponsor packages are available that include multi-media recognition.

How would you like your business to become more visible? Would you like to recognize your employees for their volunteerism? Have you reached a milestone? Are you offering a new product or service? Maybe you’re interested in giving a member-to-member offer. Has an employee reached a milestone work anniversary, educational achievement or won an award? Is your nonprofit planning an event? Do you need volunteers? This is all great news to share on our Facebook page.

Take advantage of your Chamber member benefits and let us know how we may help your business increase visibility.

Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Marlene Johanson, President Heritage Bank

Marc Silva, President Elect Red Canoe Credit Union

Jason Gentemann, Vice President Foster Farms

Lisa Straughan, Past President Express Employment Professionals

Neil Zick, Treasurer Twin City Bank

Michael Claxton, Legal Counsel Walstead Mertsching

Diane Craft Koelsch Communities

Duane Dalgleish

Cowlitz PUD

Rich Gushman Gibbs & Olson

Keenan Harvey City Council, Kelso

Sean Kiffe NORPAC

Nick Lemiere

Edward Jones

Cherelle Montanye St. John/PeaceHealth

John Paul KUKN-KLOG-101.5 The Blitz

Bruce Pollock

Bicoastal Media

Ted Sprague

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Michael Vorse Minuteman Press

Dennis Weber

Cowlitz County Commissioner

Pam Whittle Realty One Group Pacifica

Ted Sprague President

What is economic development?

Economic development is a powerful tool for improving the standard of living for individuals, communities, and nations. It is the process of creating jobs, increasing productivity and income, and promoting economic growth. The power of economic development lies in its ability to bring about positive change in people’s lives, from reducing poverty and inequality to providing access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and improved infrastructure.

One of the key drivers of economic development is the creation of new jobs and businesses. This can be achieved through investments in infrastructure, education and training, and supportive business environments. For example, the construction of new roads and bridges can create jobs in the short-term, while improving access to markets and resources in the long-term. Education and training programs can equip individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the workforce, while supporting small businesses can create an environment where entrepreneurs and innovators can thrive.

Another important aspect of economic development is increasing productivity and income. This can be achieved by investing in technology and innovation, as well as improving access to capital and markets. Access to capital can provide businesses with the resources they need to grow and expand, while access to markets can help to increase sales and profits.

By creating jobs and increasing income, individuals are able to provide for themselves and their families, breaking the cycle of poverty and giving them a brighter future. Furthermore, by providing access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean water, economic development can help to improve the overall quality of life for individuals and communities.

However, the power of economic development is not limited to individual and local benefits. It also has a significant impact on the broader economy, driving growth and increasing the overall wealth of nations. For example, increased economic activity can lead to increased tax revenue, which can be used to fund public goods and services such as schools, hospitals, and infrastructure. Furthermore, increased exports can help to balance the trade deficit and create a more stable and sustainable economy.

The power of economic development lies in its ability to bring about positive change in individuals, communities, and nations. It is up to us – governments, businesses, and individuals to work together to make the most of this power and to ensure that economic growth and prosperity are shared by all.

Cowlitz Economic Development Council

Carson Winter WorkSource Communications and Outreach Coordinator

How to use WorkSource as part of your onboarding to cultivate employee retention

Businesses, especially small ones, face many dilemmas in the modern working landscape. With everyone hiring, small businesses must often fight against corporate titans for talent, and it takes more than a good nose for stellar resume writing to find the right people to staff your organization. More challenging still: it’s no easier to keep them.

But by using the resources available to you, there are ways to stack the deck in your favor.

WorkSource is funded by federal and state grants to help people find work. But we also help businesses find workers. When used correctly, WorkSource can level the playing field between you and your competition, giving you the support you need to face down a challenging and ever-changing job market.

What does WorkSource do for businesses? For starters, we offer additional support services to eligible job seekers. These support services can help eliminate barriers to entry that can prevent some individuals from finding and keeping a job. If your employee is enrolled in On-the-Job Training (OJT), they also have the benefit of having access to support services and a collaborative training plan.

Having WorkSource in your corner can pay in dividends. And the best way to take full advantage of these resources is to make WorkSource part of your onboarding.

But what does that look like?

The most common process for most of the businesses we work with is to talk about our services at the time of job offer. When you have found a good match for your organization, you can offer them a flyer or communicate directly with them about WorkSource benefits. Here, we have one example of the flyers we give to businesses to pass on to prospective hires.

But how do you know if they qualify?

The truth is: you don’t. How people qualify for WorkSource services is often personal and complex, which is why we recommend letting us figure out the eligibility question. The best way to work with WorkSource is to explain the benefits of contacting us to all employees at the time of offer.

Karin LaValla, a member of the Business Support Team at WorkSource, had this to say:

“Through this practice, we have been able to identify customers that are eligible for support services such as transportation

assistance, professional or appropriate work clothing and/or tools necessary for the job. In doing so, we have removed or significantly reduced the financial burden that might otherwise be in place and potentially prevent the individual from participating or accepting the position. This model also allows us to continue to build our partnerships with local business and ensure that we are assisting them in supporting the hiring of new qualified talent.”

The aforementioned OJT is one of the more lucrative ways we help local businesses support their new hires. With On-theJob Training, your employee earns while they learn. Every job requires a certain amount of training, and this is one way to make sure your employees get what they need to thrive. Workers see training as an investment, as well as a testament to their worth. In LinkedIn’s 2022 Workplace Learning Report, 94 percent of employees agreed that they’d stay longer with a company that supported them with training. While it may seem like an obvious aspect of any job, formal training can often be left on the backburner in busy workplaces. WorkSource’s OJT program can help get your new team members the training they need, and at the end of the participation timeline, WorkSource will reimburse 50 percent of the employee’s wages.

Support services are an umbrella term for several services WorkSource can provide to eligible job seekers. And like OJTs, they support employee retention. Director of Business Services at Workforce Southwest Washington, Darcy Hoffman says, “…We hear a lot from employers about how a new hire was not able to keep a job because of life events like a car breaking down. WorkSource support services can help with that.”

A car breaking down, no gas, no clothes, no tools, no work boots – all of these problems may be solved with WorkSource support services. By providing people with what they need to work, we also keep them working.

One of the biggest issues for the long-term unemployed is childcare, which is another barrier to employment with which WorkSource can assist. Childcare can be incredibly cost prohibitive, but for those that need to work, it can also represent a reason they can’t work. WorkSource can screen these new customers for eligibility, identify their needs, and provide support services to keep these barriers from interfering with their employment.

The key to employee retention lies with your onboarding process. A strong initial experience leads to 69 percent of employees staying three years or longer according to a survey from CareerBuilder and Silkroad Technology. Considering the

For more WorkSource, see page 9

Spring Series starts Friday, March 3

Friday Mornings ★ 7:30 am - 9 am

Boardmanship series

March 3

Role of the Board vs the CEO

Frank McShane

Square Peg Consulting

March 10

Succession Planning

Chris Bailey

LCC President

March 17

Handling Conflict

Jennifer Leach

Past President Longview School Board

March 24

Working as a Team

Frank McShane

Square Peg Consulting

March 31

Financial Accountability

David Futcher Futcher CPAs

No pricing change since 2013! $100 Members ★ $160 Non-Members

Includes up to 4 members of your organization.

April 7

Facilitating and Leading Meetings (Robert’s Rules)

Jennifer Leach

Past President Longview School Board

Sponsored by:

Bill Fashing Executive Director

Broadband planning for this area

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments (CWCOG) is working on two new plans to serve the needs of the community relating to broadband. Under the direction of Washington State University Extension and the Washington State Broadband Office (WSBO) the CWCOG has initiated work on a Broadband Action Plan for Cowlitz County and is also working on a Countywide Digital Equity Plan. These plans are required to receive funding for broadband improvements from certain federal and state programs. Local public agencies and some private Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will become eligible recipients once the plans are complete and incorporated into the statewide plans.

The goals of the effort will include getting fiber to every home in the county and enhancing the ability to access broadband services for those household that desire the service. These plans will provide a local framework for planning and implementing projects to expand broadband infrastructure and promote digital equity for everyone in our communities.

The local action plans will support the state’s local coordination efforts required under the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) and Digital Equity Act (DEA) programs established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). This local coordination will provide WSBO the local input and data they need to ensure that the implementation of these programs serves Washingtonians for decades to come.

The combined funding pool of $2.75 billion for the Digital Equity Act established two programs – the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant and Digital Equity Competitive Grant. Both programs aim to ensure that all people and communities have the skills, technology, and capacity needed to reap the full benefits of our digital society. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) established a partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau to determine the allocation of funding to each state.

If you are a member of a group serving any of the covered populations or have interest in participating in this effort, please contact me at 360-577-3041. We are specifically interested in reaching the covered populations for the Digital Equity Act. A covered population includes (under 150 percent fed poverty level, aging adults, incarcerated, or formerly incarcerated, Veterans, disabled, ethnic minorities, rural area residents, and learning barrier individuals), it also covers underserved populations such as children and youth in foster care, and individuals experiencing housing instability.

Part of the overall process to improve broadband in the region includes providing local input into the federal mapping processes that seek to identify areas that are not currently served by broadened services. The following information was provided by Sen. Maria Cantwell’s office regarding the process

to challenge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maps.

Internet access is essential to participating in today’s digital world. The FCC has released a draft National Broadband Map showing where internet service is – and is not – available across the country, including Washington state.

The FCC is relying on you—individuals, local governments, tribal entities, and organizations—to review your location on the map and challenge the information if you believe it is inaccurate. The initial deadline has passed but your input can still add value to local broadband development efforts.

The initial draft maps are based on where internet service providers report they offer service. Your participation in the challenge process helps build a more accurate map that will identify the communities most in need of high-speed broadband investments—and ensure they receive their fair share of government funding to expand internet access.

How to Submit Individual Challenges

• First, look up your address on the map at https:// broadbandmap.fcc.gov/

o If you do not have an address, you can enter a town name and state, or select “Location” underneath the search bar. You can zoom on the map to find a particular location.

• Availability Challenge. If the information on the map about the available internet services is inaccurate, you can dispute it by clicking on the Availability Challenge link on the right side of the map and submitting the form.

o You can base a challenge on several reasons, including that the provider denied a request for service, does not offer the reported speeds, demanded excessive fees, or failed to schedule a requested installation within 10 business days.

o Providers are expected to communicate and work directly with you to resolve challenges that they do not agree with. If a provider disputes a challenge, then the FCC will make the final decision. If decided in your favor, then the provider must update its information so that the map does not show the location as served.

• Location Challenge. If your location is missing or inaccurately reflected on the map, you may submit a Location Challenge to correct or add the location. The FCC will review and decide on your submission.

o You can correct a location by clicking on the Location Challenge link to the right of the address on the map.

o You can add a location by clicking on the place on the

For more CWCOG, see page 9

COMMERCIAL LOANS WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

CWCOG

from page 8

map where the location should be and then clicking the “Challenge Location” button.

• Mobile Challenge. If the information on mobile coverage is incorrect, you can dispute it by taking outdoor (or in-vehicle) speed tests on your mobile phone with the FCC’s Speed Test App.

The CWCOG serves a variety of planning functions for its member agencies. We serve as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Longview/Kelso/Rainier bistate metropolitan area, the Regional Transportation Planning Organization for a five-county region and we also serve as the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated Economic Development District for Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. The CWCOG has also recently been recognized as the Administrative Coordination Entity for the Spirit Lake – Toutle/Cowlitz River Collaborative working to address catastrophic flooding, sediment management, fish passage and other issues pertaining to the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

WorkSource

from page 6

expenses associated with hiring and training new employees (not to mention the time cost), it makes sense for employers to supercharge their onboarding process by referring new employees to WorkSource.

If you’re looking to learn more about how WorkSource can work with your business, or want to learn more about the services we offer your new hires, reach out to Mei-Ling Taylor at mei-ling.taylor@esd.wa.gov or 360-735-5013.

WorkSource is a network of nonprofits, community-based organizations, local and state agencies working in partnership to provide an array of employment and training services to job seekers and businesses in Washington state. WorkSource is funded through the local workforce development board, Workforce Southwest Washington. For information, visit www. WorkSourceWA.com

Carson Winter is the communications and outreach coordinator at WorkSource. Reach him at carson.winter@esd. wa.gov or 360-735-4962.

Cowlitz County Commissioners

Arne Mortensen County Commissioner, District 1

Uncovering the "hidden" gems

It is my turn to write the commissioner’s article for the KelsoLongview Chamber of Commerce newsletter and that is an honor. It also is a burden. What is the point of a letter if not to communicate with the reader, but what does the newsletter reader want to read? I have no idea, so, with apologies, I write what I think is ignored or hard to find, which is either some “hidden” story or some fundamental issues that drive the current political problems.

“Gang in Possession”

In one of my recent submissions to the Chamber newsletter, I wrote that the USA now is a banana republic. Banana republics exist because it is human nature to press for more money and power.

wants to take on “city hall.”

The quest to tax the public further could not be met solely on the income tax, so may other taxes were invented. The second most clever tax of all is inflation. This was setup effectively as follows:

1. The Federal Reserve Act was signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson on December 23, 1913, after years of debate and discussion over the need for a more centralized and flexible banking system in the United States.

2. President Franklin D. Roosevelt creates Executive Order 6102 on April 5, 1933, making it illegal for individuals, partnerships, associations, and corporations to own or possess monetary gold (with certain exceptions such as jewelry and collector’s coins) in the United States.

3. Conversion of the U.S. dollar to gold was officially ended on August 15, 1971, by President Richard Nixon.

Our founding fathers had superb command of history and human behavior, so to make a “more perfect union” they created a republic with rules explicitly written in a constitution. The spirit of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution are fundamental building blocks of the USA, and the simple and basic rules define the fundamental compact for a REPUBLIC. Benjamin Franklin cautioned us, “a republic, if you can keep it.” If not zealously guarded, the republic will get alloyed by willful misuse of language. The book, “1984” should come to mind. Ben Franklin would struggle to understand “woke.”

The fundamentals of a banana republic are repugnant to most hard-working people, who are not given the truth or complete picture of most circumstances. Of course, there is a group which enjoys using government to pursue their own personal material or psychic gains. As this group got larger, we ran into the end of a very good thing, the USA, and its founding principles.

Deceiving the People

To get to be a banana republic takes time, and it starts with obfuscation of truth so that an agenda can be pushed onto the people.

4. The ban on private ownership of gold in the United States was lifted on December 31, 1974, by President Gerald Ford. It should be obvious that the above actions in 1,2, and 3 had no Constitutional standing, yet under the concept of expediency or emergency the people of the USA allowed that to take place.

Some ask, where is the harm? The most serious harm is in the abandonment of the Constitution. The easily identified harm can be seen in the following chart:

Notice that prior to the dumping of the gold standard, there was

One effort to deceive the people was federal income tax paycheck withholding. It was clear that the people would not have tolerated being given a yearly bill for their income taxes, so withholding a bit of tax at every paycheck was invented. The rest is quite a sordid history of lies and manipulations that the people allowed, largely because one can do many bad things, but not paying your taxes will elicit a very nasty response from the government and who

For more Commissioner, see page 11

“The true strength of rulers and empires lies not in armies or emotions, but in the belief of men that are inflexibly open and truthful and legal. As soon as a government departs from that standard it ceases to be anything more than ‘the gang in possession’, and its days are numbered.

H G Wells

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we start to deceive" Walter Scott in his poem "Marmion."

a tendency for prices to decline. The reason is quite simple: It is easier to dig a ditch with a machine than it is by hand. The drive to compete, inherent in capitalism, means that inventions make work easier and products cheaper.

Rental Subsidies

Let me bring this back to something specific to us, the rental subsidies that we are told are justified by the lack of affordable housing.

Last year (or late 2021), as I recall, we were showered with all sorts of grants to make up for the severe damage of the COVID response. One of those programs was a Department of Commerce rental and utility subsidy, with a total price tag of a bit more than $9 million. That money for that program will be exhausted by March, if I recall correctly. I am told that more than 95 percent went to rent subsidies.

I am not allowed to get the names of the recipients of this money, and that is a serious issue for two reasons:

• How can the County audit the expenditures? This is unacceptable. The opportunity for abuse of this program is massive.

• The public should have visibility into every detail of how its money is used. As an elected official, I have to disclose many personal details; the public knows what money I get

for what purpose. The idea of taking welfare with dignity is counterproductive.

However, I was able to get the following information (to date)

200 who received between $1-10,000

134 who received between $10,000-50,000

11 who received between $50,000-100,000

13 who received between $100,000-375,000

The rental assistance was not paid to the renter, but to the landlord. What do you think about paying some landlord $375,000? There is an attractive argument that these landlords were damaged by the COVID rules (but who wasn’t), so the subsidies were warranted. My Momma told me that two wrongs don’t make a right. Aside from being unfair to other businesses, these subsidies greatly aggravate rental affordability. The average rental subsidy was $860 per month. There is no incentive for landlords to compete for tenants.

The Take Away

Each of us has a part to play if we are to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, there are no other categories; there is no fence sitting. Next time you lobby the government, realize that you are playing their game. All this will end; try to make it on your terms.

Landlord/utility company info (number of landlords/utility companies who have received ERAP assistance)

Jerry D. Petrick Certified Business Adviser

Resolving financial distress

As we approach the end of the first quarter of the new year you probably have a good idea of what happened, financially, for your business in 2022. You have closed the books and are now digesting the results in an attempt to carry forward successes and address issues.

One of the most common challenges is to determine what happened and WHY. The financial cause-effect relationships that exist in every business are important to know and understand when working to improve performance.

I thought I would share one of my favorite financial diagnostic tools to help illustrate the interrelationships between several aspects of cash flow. Below you will see a comprehensive and easy to visualize map of how cash flows in virtually any business.

The way to use this map is as follows:

1. Identify one of the GREEN “symptoms” rectangles.

For example: Let’s say your business is experiencing “LOW CASH”

2. To understand what causes “LOW CASH” trace the arrow “upstream” to find the primary contributors to this condition:

• High Current Liabilities

• Too Much Inventory

• Too Much Customer Credit

3. And to determine what “LOW CASH” causes or impacts trace the arrow “downstream” – in the direction of the arrows:

• High Borrowing

• No Cash Discounts on Payables

Using a tool like this road map can make it easier to understand what issues you may be experiencing AND what areas of your cash cycle to focus on to improve your financial performance. I encourage you to take a look at your 2022 financial reports and identify an area or two for you work through and improve.

For help with this and other tools to improve your business feel free to reach out to your local Small Business Development Center adviser.

This article was prepared by Jerry Petrick, MBA and certified business adviser with the Washington State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Jerry provides no-cost, confidential business advisory services by appointment. He can be reached via email at jerry.petrick@wsbdc.org

SPENCER CREEK BUSINESS PARK IS WAITING FOR YOU.

• ZONED FOR MIXED USE

Large land site perfect for lodging/hospitality, retail, etc.

• CONVENIENTLY LOCATED OFF I-5

Just 30 minutes from PDX & the amenities of Portland • 45 ACRES OF PRIME, SHOVEL-READY LAND

Environmental permits & road improvements in place

• COMPETITIVE UTILITY RATES + INCENTIVES

Designed to promote growth & ensure your succes

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR LEASE:

LOOKING FOR A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY PLACE TO GROW? KALAMA RIVER

PARK

• LOCATED OFF I-5

• FLEXIBLE 50K SQ. FT. WAREHOUSE + 1,750 SQ. FT. OFFICE SUITE

Your Chamber Connection Radio Show

Wednesdays at 6 pm

KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

Contact Julie Rinard at 360-423-8400 or jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org to schedule your interview

Christina Hubbard, Clear Bookkeeping Solutions LLC

Joseph Govednik, Cowlitz County Historical Museum

Amy Covey, Emerald Haven

Aaron Bunn, Bunn and Done LLC

Shawna Cronk, Canterbury Inn

Nathan Douglas, Canopy Mortgage Kevin Kearns, American Workforce Group

Kurt Sacha, City of Longview, Bill Marcum, Kelso Longview Chamber of Commerce, and Phil Roger, BiCoastal Media

John Lile, Assured Home Inspections Northwest LLC

APRIL

5

Education Foundation, 8:30am, Zoom

Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

6 Chamber Ambassadors, 7:30am, Canterbury Park

7 Small Business Boot Camp Boardmanship Series, 7:30am, American Workforce Group

11 Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill Business After Hours, 5:30pm, Cowlitz

Wahkiakum Legal Aid

12

Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

13 Lower Columbia Professionals, 4pm, TBD Scholarship scoring and selection committee, 5pm, TBD

18 Chamber Executive Board, Noon, Mill City Grill

19 Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

26 Your Chamber Connection radio show, 6pm, KEDO 1270 AM or 99.9 FM

New Members

Add your business to our growing membership. Call 360-423-8400 Today!

Membership packages to fit your needs 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

• 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

Look Who Joined in February

Assured Home Inspections Northwest LLC

John Lile

1106 North 22nd Avenue

Kelso, WA 98626

360-355-5476

john@assuredinspectionsnw.com

Performance Occupational Health Services

Shannon Barnes

1516 Hudson Street, Suite 201

Longview, WA 98632

360-910-3533

shannon@pohsnw.com

Alzheimer’s Association

Maddy Carr

19031 33rd Avenue West, Suite 801

Lynnwood, WA 98036

425-230-4668

mjcarr@alz.org

Nutrition for All

Jenny Beal

2121 8th Avenue

Longview, WA 98632

360-232-8565

Jennybealpm@msn.com

Columbian Artists Association

Eileen Thompson PO Box 2862

Longview, WA 98632

206-949-9811

webster9821@comcast.net

Ethnic Support Council

Cindy Lopez Werth 1213 14th Avenue

Longview, WA 98632

360-751-4427

cindy@ethnicsupportcouncil.org

Lynn Madsen

132 Lakeview Drive

Silverlake, WA 98645 760-650-6792

dawgfamily68@icloud.com

Lower Columbia College

Chris Bailey President

LCC goes global

With our community being the home to multiple ports, and with manufacturing and international trade being a significant driver of our local economy, your local community college has made an intentional effort to internationalize its campus. While Lower Columbia College (LCC) continues to bring more international students to its campus, the college is also focusing on giving our local students and faculty more educational and learning opportunities outside of the United States.

In 2011-12, there was no international program at LCC and just one enrolled international student. A plan for an international program was formalized in 2013, and the program grew to a peak of 30 students by fall 2020, just prior to the pandemic. While the pandemic resulted in a decline to 25 enrolled students this fall, new recruitment should bring the program enrollment back to pre-pandemic numbers by fall 2023. It is expected that LCC will then see continued growth in international student enrollment. The current international student body reflects students from 10 different countries.

To advance its interests in seeking foreign students, LCC has entered into contracts for admission with Three Rivers Christian School and its international program, with Atomi University (Japan) and Wako High School and Wako International High School (also in Japan).

February and March 2023 saw the Atomi University short-term program return to Lower Columbia College. Atomi University is a women’s college with campuses in Niiza and Tokyo, Japan. Beginning in winter quarter, 2015, the first six students from Atomi came to LCC for approximately three weeks to study English and American culture. LCC added a second, summer cohort, for Atomi students in 2018. The twice-a-year program then went on hiatus at the end of the winter 2020 cohort (19 students) due to the pandemic.

This winter’s “return of Atomi” cohort has 14 students and two chaperones. Each student is housed by a local host family. So far, 91 students have come through the program. Three students have subsequently later returned as “full-time” student enrollees at

Lower Columbia College.

In addition to the Atomi University program, Lower Columbia College has embarked on several other cultural exchange opportunities to enhance the international aspects of our campus. We are currently working with a network of South Korean high schools to increase our connectivity within that country. LCC recently hosted two tours of 27 students connected to that network. It appears three students from these campus tours may be enrolling at Lower Columbia College in the upcoming fall. Three other students from this network are currently enrolled at LCC.

For the past three years, Lower Columbia College has hosted students from a German exchange program. LCC students and Longview high school students are also eligible to apply for this program to study for a year in Germany.

LCC has also established a partnership in Russia funded by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The program brings top Russian students to LCC for a year long stay. LCC hosted five Russian students in 2021-22 and is currently hosting three more this year.

This spring, LCC officially sends its first two students for a study abroad program. These students will spend the quarter studying sociology and Italian life and culture, earning credits for their degrees at LCC.

The international program is now also benefiting LCC faculty. This fall, geology faculty member Dr. Morgan Salisbury will lead a quarter-long study abroad program to Chile where students will study geology, geography, and Spanish. Business faculty member Dana Cummings was selected to participate in the Global Exchange Academy sponsored by Green River College. In this program, Professor Cummings will connect with a fellow faculty member in Mexico to create a joint collaborative class where students from both countries will work on class projects together virtually.

With our efforts, it is hopeful Lower Columbia College will become a more diverse community, that brings global perspective to LCC students and to the area citizens.

Chris Bailey, President Lower Columbia College

Kelso Public Schools

Mary Beth Tack Superintendent

Career and technical education in Kelso

February was Career and Technical Education (CTE) month and I’d like to tell you a little bit about this program and how it helps our students. CTE programs are an integral part of the K-12 education system and are coordinated with other workforce development programs. These courses offer students the opportunity to develop skills through project-based hands-on learning, acquiring specific skills to pursue their career passion while building a foundation for lifelong learning inside and outside the classroom.

All CTE courses focus on industry-aligned technical skills strengthened with core academic standards. Many of these courses provide an opportunity to earn both college and high school credits. Classes offered for CTE dual credit are competency-based, reflect state- or industry-defined skill standards, and often provide opportunities to earn industryrecognized certificates or credentials. Through industry partnerships and collaboration between secondary and postsecondary educators, CTE dual credit offerings are academically rigorous, responsive to employer needs, focused on essential workplace skills, and contextualized to make the subject matter relevant.

CTE teachers are required to stay up to date on industry standards and best practices by participating in advisory committee meetings three times a year. The purpose of the CTE advisory committee is to support educators, students, and local industry partners in developing, establishing, and evaluating CTE programs to ensure students are well- prepared for the world of work.

There are currently 70 CTE courses offered by Kelso School District, seven of which are held off-campus and led by industry partners. We want to thank the 38 staff members who work closely with the local community, industry leaders, and colleges to continually stay current on course offerings.

Did You Know:

• Employability skills are integrated throughout the content of each course, and students in CTE programs apply these skills in each program.

• CTE instructional equipment, facilities, and environment must be comparable to those used in the workplace.

• CTE programs are structured so that supervision, safety, and the number of training stations determine the maximum number of students per classroom.

• Program specific advisory committees guide the relevance and continuous improvement of the program. Advisory committees must include balanced representation from

Longview Public Schools

Dan Zorn Superintendent

Students need safe, well-kept buildings

Longview Public Schools is focused on student learning and providing opportunities for student success. We believe that all students can learn and that it is our responsibility to teach them to become critical thinkers and discerning consumers of information while being challenged to reach their academic potential. As an educational institution, our primary goal is increasing student achievement. One of the many things we need to do to help our students achieve, is to provide quality learning environments in which our students can thrive. We recognize that the condition of school buildings is important to the teaching and learning process and ultimately to student achievement. The safety and security of our schools also plays an important role in how our students perform. When our students are comfortable and our buildings are healthy and safe, teachers can focus on what is truly important – delivering the quality education our kids deserve.

At Longview Public Schools, we have been working to improve the learning environments in our aging facilities by investing voter approved levy dollars to repair and maintain our buildings, and by making improvements to lighting, heating, and classroom technology, gymnasiums, and our athletic facilities. We have also invested heavily in safety and security so our students can feel safe and our parents have peace of mind. We have installed fencing around our campuses, added security cameras, and built front access vestibules that require our staff to buzz visitors into our buildings once they have been cleared to do so.

The work will continue this summer when a number of schools will undergo the replacement of heating/cooling systems to improve air quality and temperature control, new flooring will be installed and additional building security measures put in place to help keep students and employees safe. Some schools will have gym floors refinished and locker rooms revamped. We will also break ground on the Memorial Stadium project and will have a new turf field and track by the time fall sports roll around.

These improvements extend the life of our facilities, and create healthy learning environments where our students can thrive. These improvements can be attributed to the generous, financial support of our voters and federal funding that has been made available to our district for the improvement of air quality. Our community’s backing is critical to our students’ success, and we are grateful for the Longview community’s support of our capital

Longview Schools

from page 20

projects and technology levy which helped make these projects possible. I also want to thank the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce for its consistent support of our public schools as we continue striving to improve the education we provide the children of Longview.

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

Animal Health Services, Inc, PS

Baker Lumber Company, Inc

Behrends Body Shop

Kelso Schools

from page 20

business/industry and labor reflecting the diversity of the community.

• CTE programs are reviewed annually and the results are used for continuous program improvement.

We are proud of our robust CTE program in Kelso, and how it supports our mission of preparing every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

Biggs Insurance Services

Brusco Tug and Barge, Inc

Collins Architectural Group, PS

Dick Hannah Toyota

Global Images Graphic Design and Marketing

Green Hills Crematory – Cascade Northwest Funeral Home Chapel

Hilander Dental

Kay Green

Kelso Rotary

Les Schwab Tire Center

Les Schwab Tire Center – Ocean Beach

Lower Columbia CAP

Noelle A. McLean, Attorney at Law

Northwest Motor Service

Teague's Interiors

Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company

Wasser and Winters Company

William (BJ) R. Boatsman, CPA

City of Longview

MaryAlice Wallis Mayor

Moving Longview into its next 100 years

It is now two months into the 100-year birthday celebration of Longview. There are so many great things worth celebrating in our lives, and in our community. Perhaps you attended the 100-year birthday kick-off at the historic Merk Building in January, or may have noticed the beautiful banners honoring our 100 years, placed by Sen. Jeff Wilson and team, located at the newly restored and installed Longview log arches (a special thank you to the Longview 23 Club) at Lake Sacajawea, and at the historic Shay locomotive located at the Longview Public Library. The Longview Public Library, one of the earliest buildings built in Longview, was initiated in 1923 with a generous gift of $150,000 by founder Robert and Martha Long. The library, dedicated in 1926, has continued to be a treasured part of our community. With Longview City Council approval of more than $800,000, the restoration of the Longview Public Library, including repairs to the roof, windows and brick grout to the exterior now shines bright again.

Each year the City Council has the opportunity to meet with our state and federal lobbyists and legislators to discuss capital budget requests and potential congressionally designated spending requests. We enjoy a great partnership with our state and federal representatives.

For 2023, our state and federal legislative agendas include the following opportunities for improvements in our community:

• Highlands Neighborhood Lighting and Safety Improvements – $500,000 toward lighting improvements in the Highlands Neighborhood.

• Martin’s Dock Replacement – $750,000 to renovate the historic Martin’s Dock, and to meet safety, seismic and ADA standards.

• Windemere Park Playground Replacement – $150,000 to renovate this wonderful 30-year-old neighborhood park playground.

• Columbia Heights Road Safety Improvement Project, Phase ll – $2.5 million toward new sidewalks for students attending Columbia Heights Elementary School and Cascade Middle School, and greater and safer mobility for those traveling on Columbia Heights Road.

• Hope Village – $1 million toward operations for the homeless micro community.

• Downtown Streetscape Project – $1.5 million to complete the final block of Commerce Avenue with enhanced sidewalks, lighting and other pedestrian improvements.

City of Kelso

Mike Karnofski Mayor

City goals and priorities for 2023

Kelso’s 2023 priorities and goals (see the full list of priorities and goals on the next page) were briefly discussed at the February 7 Council meeting. The progress of the priorities and goals will be reviewed at a workshop on March 21. A summary of the priorities and goals is discussed below.

The Community Building and Housing Project is the result of the $250,000 grant the City received from the state. The report, presented to the Council at our January 17 meeting, reviewed three options for a combined community center and affordable housing project. The Council approved an agreement with CAP to further study the project and potentially begin application for funding. The Council also recommended that the most promising project would have 40 single bedroom units on the second floor and community facilities yet to be determined on the ground floor. The community facilities could include conference rooms, kitchen facilities, a library and offices. A team of City leaders and citizens will develop further recommendations.

Beginning construction of the Hazel Street Crossing project is a significant priority for the year. The City is awaiting final resolutions to a couple of relatively minor issues.

The Council approved a Transportation Benefit District, and the City will begin to receive these funds in June. Ultimately the goal is to be able to dedicate $1 million/year to road and street improvements.

The next three projects – Spray Park recycle/improvements, senior center maintenance and train station roof – were funded from federal COVID funds and are scheduled to be started this year.

The Upgrades to Parks are a group of park improvement projects that are also funded by federal COVID funds and total about $250,000.

Assuring the City keeps its facilities repaired and is able to recruit and retain competent employees are the purposes of the City facilities and staffing priorities.

Finally having vibrant, viable business areas is important to the livability and economic health of the City. The group of downtown/West Main area priorities covers a variety of projects to improve our business areas. These projects include making sure the planters are taken care of, downtown codes are appropriate to encourage business development and a project to improve the American Legion building.

Please attend the March 21 workshop at 4:30 p.m. to provide

Longview from page 22

• Mobile Roof Vitalization Prop – $50,000 to purchase a portable roof ventilation training prop for training firefighters to be shared with other agencies in our region. These enhancements to our community would be an incredible blessing. The City Council is grateful for the time and energy that our state lobbyists Josh Weiss and Annika Vaughn, from Gordon Thomas Honeywell, and Joel Rubin from CFM Advocates, as well as our 19th District delegation, Sen. Jeff Wilson and Reps. Jim Walsh and Joel McEntire, our state leaders Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray and 3rd District Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp-Perez, and all of their respective staff, spend on behalf of our community.

Finally, the City of Longview, and the Council bid farewell to our esteemed leader of five years, Kurt Sacha, as he retires from the City of Longview after 46 years of service. Auf Wiedersehen, Lieber Freund. Lebewohl. (Good-bye, dear friend. Be well.)

Empowering local businesses to grow

At Heritage Bank, we believe that keeping our local economy strong starts with supporting businesses like yours.

We make switching banks easy, and your dedicated business banking team will guide you through each step of the process.

Kelso

your comments on these priorities and goals.

2023 Priorities and Goals

Drafted 9-20-22 (special) and 11-15-22 meetings; Finalized 1-17-23

Community Building and Housing Project

Hazel Street Crossing Project

Water System Commitment

Commit $1million Roads and Streets

Spray Park

Senior Center (roof and siding)

Train Station (roof and rehabilitation)

Upgrades to Parks

Lads and Lassies Park

Disc Golf Upgrade

Basketball Upgrade

Boxing Club Upgrades

Ball Field Upgrades

Pickle ball Courts

Kayak

City Facilities

Repair and Maintenance Schedule

Staffing – Recruitment and Retention

Downtown/West Main Area – Create a Vision/Sense of Place

- Planters

- Frontages/beautification: Standards/Enforcement

- Branding

- Code Updates – Food Trucks

- Signage/Sign Code

- Districts (arts, historic, etc.) – American Legion

Longview Downtowners

Lindsey Cope President; Vice President Cowlitz Ecomonic Development Council; President Kelso Business and Community Association

Downtown kicks into spring with blooming events

Downtown Longview is kicking into the spring season with three blooming events!

We hope you will join us for Shamrock Saturday on March 18. Participating businesses will have a passport program like Small Business Saturday. Returned passports will then be entered into a raffle for gift cards and prizes from participating downtown businesses. We hope you will all be feeling lucky for Shamrock Saturday 2023! More details will be available at www. facebook.com/downtownlongviewwa

March 16 – Our monthly Longview Downtowner’s meeting. Details of the delivery of the meeting will be announced shortly. We are hoping to return to an in-person meeting this month.

April 22 – 2nd annual Lonnie Knowles Downtown Longview Clean Up event. Help honor our dear friend while sprucing up downtown Longview. Details will be announced shortly.

Don’t forget to eat local, drink local, shop local, shop downtown Longview.

Kelso Business and Community Association (KBCA)

If you are interested in the economic and community development of Kelso, we hope that you will join us on the fourth Thursday of the month as we discuss initiatives to bring new life to our beloved Kelso. This spring we are registering to participate in the Growing Vibrant Communities program within the America in Bloom program. The development of this program over the next year will allow us to pursue the full America in Bloom program like our northern neighbors in Castle Rock. Meeting information can be found on Facebook at www. facebook.com/kelsobca

Grants Available

The Washington Minority Business Development Agency Business Center (WA MBDA) has been serving the Washington state business community since 2016. One of the recurring needs they observed, and the community expressed to us, are barriers to

accessing capital.

WA MBDA has allocated $200,000 to provide direct business resiliency grants that help minority and/or woman-owned businesses “achieve more.” Recipients of the Achieve More Grant (AMG) can use the funds for infrastructure improvements, employee training, and business equipment.

Click to learn more!

The deadline for businesses to apply for the Achieve More Grant is March 19.

Verity Credit Union’ s Microgrant Program is designed to provide unrestricted monetary support for organizations whose work benefits historically underserved communities within Washington state.

They aim to support organizations that may have limited access to traditional funding due to organizational size, age, or taxexemption status. They strive to uplift and empower those doing the work of our communities. As such, the microgrant prioritizes organizations with a total asset size less than $250,000.

Verity Credit Union’s mission centers the values of people, planet, and prosperity. They eagerly hope to support organizations whose work centers social, economic, and/or environmental justice and wellbeing.

The deadline for spring 2023 is March 15. They welcome all nonprofit applications and some examples of what the grant can be used for is:

• Rent/utilities costs for organization facilities

• Staff stipends and salaries

• Improvements to operations, such as new technology or software

• Research and development to create new or improve preexisting programs

More information is available at Microgrant Program, Verity Credit Union, veritycu.com

Ad Rates

✔ Used year round by hundreds

resource guide for the community.

Ad Sizes

Full Page .............. $2,453 ....... $2,230

1/2 Page ......... $1,358.50 ....... $1,235

1/4 Page ......... $1,028.50 .......... $935

1/8 Page $786.50 $715

1/16 Page $555.50 $505

All ads are full color at no extra charge. Visitor Guide is also published online.

Premium placement including back cover, inside covers, page 2, 3 and 4: add 15%

Mechanical Specifications

Electronic Files

• Should be emailed to bmarcum@kelsolongviewchamber.org

• Please include your company name and publication in the subject line.

Logos, Images, Photos

• Formats: High resolution JPG, EPS, TIFF, PDF

• Resolution must be 300 dpi. Images from the internet cannot be used.

Full Files

• PDF format, output to High Quality Print setting.

Images for Scanning

• Photographs (up to 8.5” x 11”), stationery, menus, business cards, etc.

• Artwork for scanning must be clear and unmarked.

• Digital artwork is preferred as this will give a higher quality result.

If you have any questions regarding acceptable artwork, please call 360-423-8400 or email pfierst@kelsolongviewchamber.org

Business After Hours

Hosted by Three Rivers

Law Center

Business After Hours hosted by Three Rivers Law Center was fun and festive. Guests enjoyed fiesta networking, great food and drinks, raffles and a scavenger hunt.

Chamber Ambassadors celebrated the new location and 10th anniversary with a ribbon cutting

Great conversations began in the hallways

Laine and Tammy Emmons, American Populous Designs

Old friends and new friends made connections in the conference room

Our hosts, Jami Pannell and Jeff Petersen, with Three Rivers Law Center enjoyed the evening with their guests

José Fagoaga, Foster Farms, accepted a prize from Chamber Ambassador Josh Carter, KLOG-KUKN-The Blitz

Shaun Godden, Specialty Rents, accepts a prize from Chamber Ambassador Diane Craft, Koelsch Communities

Thinking about hosting Business After Hours in 2024? Contact us at 360-423-8400 or email

jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org

January 10: Total Employment and Management (TEAM)

February 21: Three Rivers Law Center

March 29: Building Bridges Business & Tourism Expo

April 11: Cowlitz Wahkiakum Legal Aid

May 16: Foster Farms 25th Anniversary Celebration

June 13: Stewart Title

July 11: Mary Cranston, LLC

August 8: Cowlitz Indian Tribe

September 12: Northwest Enforcement

October 10: Edward Jones - Roy Gawlick

November 14: Windermere Northwest Living

December 12: Holiday Mixer

City of Longview offers First Aid and CPR certification class

The city of Longview is offering American Heart Association first aid and CPR certification training March 18.

Participants will develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond in a medical emergency and learn to use an AED.

Participants should be 18 years of age and older. The course will run from 9 a.m. to noon at the city’s recreation building, 2920 Douglas St. The cost is $51 for residents with an additional fee of $5 for non-residents. The instructor for this course is Steve Pitts.

To register, or for more information, call Longview Recreation at 360-442-5400 or online at www.mylongview.com/recreation

Registration open for the Rainier to Longview R2L 10K Bridge Run

Experience the beauty and industry of the Pacific Northwest from a unique vantage point at the inaugural R2L 10k Bridge Run April 23.

The run begins in Rainier City Park, Rainier, Ore., and follows the Columbia River Highway up and over the historic Lewis and Clark Bridge. After crossing the Columbia River into Washington participants will run or walk along the paved Highlands Trail and wind through residential streets before following the gravel path along the banks of Lake Sacajawea to the finish line at Martin’s Dock in Longview.

Registration is $75 registration and includes a long-sleeved Nike Dri-Fit race shirt and shuttle service to/from starting area. Children ages 10 years old and younger are free with a paid adult. For registration and details, visit https://www.r2lbridgerun.com/

Retail sales surge at start of 2023 a clear sign economy continues to grow

Written by Washington Retail for Inside Washington Retail

Retail sales increased in January as job and wage growth and easing inflation encouraged spending, but strong spending complicates Fed’s fight to tame inflation.

A 3 percent increase in sales with U.S. retailers in January is the most significant increase in nearly two years. This number reflects the strength of the economy as the sales had been forecast to increase by 1.9 percent, according to a Wall Street Journal poll of economists.

Excluding sales of auto dealers and gasoline stations, the receipts increased 2.6 percent, which is still a strong number, which could increase pressure on the Federal Reserve to continue raising interest rates to tame inflation.

In an interview on CNBC, NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said, “We have very resilient consumers. People are out there spending, and in spite of what they know, and they tell us about concerns regarding inflation, they’re still finding a way to get out there to spend.”

History of Longview - Museum First Thursday

Learn a little about Longview’s start and some of its most prominent landmarks at a free First Thursday Speakers Event April 6 at 7 p.m. at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen St., Kelso.

The First Thursday Speaker Series occurs on the first Thursday of most months.

Admission is free.

Also at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum, the Columbian Artists Association will present its 45th annual Spring Art Show, March 25-April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will feature artist Eileen Thompson. Admission is free. There will be an opportunity to purchase original art from local artists.

For more information visit the website, columbianartists.org or the Facebook page, columbianartists/longviewwa

Up, Up and Away

Lower Columbia Professinals

Lower Columbia Professionals held their second annual Up, Up and Away fundraiser at Grant’s Restaurant. Guests enjoyed a gourmet buffet and drinks, great conversation and music. The highlight of the evening was the balloon pop with 150 prizes. All prizes were contributed by businesses and individuals with a desire to help raise funds for local scholarships.

Guests eager to claim their prizes

Beautiful and delicious buffet

Guests purchased balloons and each one contained a ticket for a prize

Friends and family gathered for a fun evening

Great service from Grant’s Restaurant

Want

to

earn up

to $1000 for an hour of work?

Apply Now for Scholarships from

Technical School Trades College/University

Students seeking any type of post secondary education can apply for the Maria Harris Scholarship or the Lower Columbia Professionals Scholarship. In 2022 a total of 22 scholarships were awarded!

Requirements:

Be a full-time student taking 12 credits or more. Reside in Cowlitz or Wahkiakum County.

Demonstrate financial need (Maria Harris only). Submit 2 letters of reference: one from a community member and one from an educator. Letter should address character, personality, academics or community involvement.

Describe future education goals, plans for financing your education and community involvement. Scholarship fund must be used within one calendar year of the following term.

Application Deadline is April 9, 2023

For more information and to register please go to https://cope917538.typeform.com/KLCC2023Scholar

Ribbon Cuttings

Thank you to these Ambassadors who participated in ribbon cutting celebrations during February!

Chantel Anderson TEAM – Total Employment and Management

DeDe Brill PeaceHealth

Josh Carter KLOG-KUKN-The BLITZ

Diane Craft Koelsch Communities

Katie Dillinger Life Mortgage

Fran Gehrman Academy Mortgage

Kelly Godden Specialty Rents

Kerri Guitteau and Corby Cowlitz Black Bears

James Hoyt Heritage Bank

Joy Klein Columbia Bank

Kodie Kultala

RE/MAX Premiere Group

Nick Lemiere

Edward Jones

Carrie Medack Diamond Residential Mortgage

Betsy Wyatt Shko’me Real Estate

Pam Whittle Realty One Group Pacifica

Welcome New Member Emerald Haven

Welcome New Member Discovery Coast Media

Welcome New Member Canopy Mortgage

Ribbon Cuttings

New Location

Shinju Dojo Aikido at their new location at the YMCA of Southwest Washington

Energy Efficiency Question:

What are the largest contributors to your electric bill?

Answer:

Heating and air conditioning and water heating! These two together represent an estimated 70% of your overall electric bill costs.

Solution:

We have a rebate for that!

Hybrid Water Heater

$600 rebate

Reduce the cost of heating your water by up to 65-70%!

Ductless Heat Pump (DHP)

$800 rebate

(when upgrading from electric zonal heat or electric forced-air furnace)

$100 rebate

(with a DHP replacement) Reduce the cost of heating your home by up to 50%!

Make the switch today and enjoy lower energy costs! Call Energy Efficiency Services at 360.501.9514 (office) or 800.631.1131 (toll-free) for more information.

Welcome New Member Bunn and Done LLC

Business Connection Advertising Rates

Kelso-Longview Business Connection monthly newsletter is published the first of each month, posted electronically on our website and emailed to over 7,000 local business professionals, city and county officials. To be included in this monthly email, call the Chamber office at 360-423-8400.

All ads include full color and any design work. Deadline is the 21st of the month prior to publication. Digital files: PDF format - print quality setting.

Non-Members of the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce, please add 30% to above rates.

To advertise or request additional information, please call at 360-423-8400 or contact: Julie Rinard jrinard@kelsolongviewchamber.org or Pam Fierst pfierst@kelsolongviewchamber.org

Business Name: Phone: ____________________________

Contact Name: Cell:

Address: Zip Email: Fax:

Number of Issues Invoice Credit Card Check Plus Web Ad: 300W X 100H. Ads can be changed monthly.

Signature__________________________________ Ad Rep Signature___________________________