Columbia Business Alliance

05/15/2026

Attention followers! Due to some technical difficulties on the backend of our Facebook and Instagram accounts, from the CET to CBA transition, we are creating a new page for the Columbia Business Alliance. To stay up to date on CBA news, upcoming classes, and business opportunities, please follow our new page here: The Columbia Business Alliance.

This page will be deleted soon to prevent confusion. Therefore, please be sure to follow our new page as soon as possible, and share the word with others.

Thank you!

Sierra

05/01/2026

Attention local business owners, managers, and entrepreneurs! Happy Small Business Month🎉

In celebration of YOU and Columbia County's small business community, the Columbia Business Alliance is hosting a FREE "Business Appreciation Breakfast." Come enjoy free food, free professional headshots, find local resources, hear from a panel of business owners about their experience with "Finding Success in Columbia County," connect with fellow business leaders, and celebrate community all-in-one at this event!

Please RSVP ahead here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987101550228?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tuesday, May 12th, 9am-12pm at the John Gumm Building & Civic Center | 251 St. Helens Street, St. Helens

(Ps. If you can't make the whole 3 hours, no worries! The main event/presentations are from 10-11am. 9-10am and 11-12 is more informal, for networking, free headshots, and resource hall hours).

Activities:
➤ Free professional headshots - 1 free photo by Lost Locals Media (made possible by the Columbia Business Alliance's GRO program)
➤ Mini Business Resource Fair - we’ve invited key, local, community-based organizations to table their business services in the hallway
➤ Free breakfast, coffee, & drinks
➤ Columbia Business Alliance Ribbon Cutting - Learn more about CBA, its programs (Keep it Local, GRO, BRE), upcoming events, and hear business updates from around the community.
➤ Keynote: "Finding Success in Columbia County" local business owner panel.
➤ & Networking - Connect with fellow business owners and community leaders
(Ps. If you can't make the whole 3 hours, no worries! The main event/presentations are from 10-11am. 9-10am and 11-12 are more informal, for networking, free headshots, and resource hall hours).
Thank you for all that you do! We're excited to celebrate you.

Happy Small Business Month! Let's celebrate Columbia County's business community.

04/30/2026

Dear Columbia County business owners, entrepreneurs, partners, and community members,

I am excited to share with you some very good news! As you may have heard, the City of Scappoose is now the home to many of the Columbia Economic Team’s former programs (Keep it Local, GRO, the SBRC, and BRE), and me! With that, we have formed a new countywide economic organization called... drumroll please 🥁... the Columbia Business Alliance (CBA)!

CBA will be both familiar and new. Specifically, our mission is to strengthen Columbia County’s existing business ecosystem. This means we're here to help retain, expand, and support the businesses and entrepreneurs that call Columbia County home. We plan to do this by:

➤ Offering affordable and accessible business education opportunities (by bringing back the Munch-N-Learn series and hosting start-up bootcamps)
➤ Serving as a countywide hub for business resources and referrals
➤ Leading buy-local efforts that keep dollars local (by bringing Keep it Local back!)
➤ Organizing collaborative, community-led strategies to tackle top business needs

Perfectly timed with Small Business Month, we plan to launch our services this May! Here's what there is to look forward to:

➤ May 12th, 9-10am, St. Helens: FREE Business Appreciation Breakfast, Mini Resource Fair, & CBA Ribbon Cutting. RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1987101550228?aff=oddtdtcreator
➤ May 21st: FREE Canva 101 Class (Rainier & Scappoose, RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2026-munch-n-learn-series-4838079)
➤ May 29th & May 30th, St. Helens: FREE 2-Day Co.Starters Bootcamp (Perfect for start-ups and newly formed businesses) RSVP here: https://hub.catalyzerapp.com/public/events/co-starters-bootcamp-1826-1
➤ 1-on-1 Navigation Support: Looking for some business assistance or a resource in the community, but don't know where to start? I'm happy to meet with you to help you find what you need! Reach out to me at [email protected]
➤ Keep It Local Columbia County’s social media page, directory, and the Columbia County mobile app will be active again

Overall, I am very grateful to the City of Scappoose, City of St. Helens (for transferring the GRO grant), Business Oregon (for transferring the ROI grant), to many of our local economic partners, and to the business community for their support during this transition. It's inspiring to see how resilient and passionate our county is about seeing local businesses thrive.

Cheers to a new beginning!

Sierra Trass
CBA Economic Development Specialist

Ps. We have repurposed CET's SBRC Facebook & Instagram pages for the CBA. Previous SBRC/SBRC posts have been saved for historical reference in our feed.

12/06/2025

Opporunity Alert! Our Friends at the Foundry Collective is hosting a free "Kiva U.S. Introduction: How to Secure a 0% Interest Loan for Your Business" online class on Dec 9th, 09:00 AM US / Pacific.

As they explain, "In this one-hour class, learn how Kiva Oregon a nonprofit crowdfunding platform, can help you access 0% interest, no-fee loans to support your business. We’ll cover what Kiva is, how it works, and the step-by-step process to apply, including eligibility requirements, the private fundraising period, and public crowdfunding. You’ll also learn how Kiva U.S. matches can boost your fundraising efforts and increase your chances of success. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clear roadmap to launching your Kiva campaign and securing funding for your business!"

It's a great program we've been a proud partner of. If you're interested, sign up today at: https://startupspace.app/detail-normal-events/67664

12/02/2025

Dear friends and clients of the Columbia County SBRC, it's that time of the year again to put on your ugly sweater and raise a glass to Columbia County's small business community!!!

Join us in St. Helens on Wednesday, December 10th, at Crooked Creek Brewery for an evening of connection and fun. Each attendee will receive a FREE drink ticket and access to light snacks! (Full meals can be ordered up front). Plus, there will be short presentations from us, Wauna CU, Keep it Local Columbia County, GRO Greater, and the Columbia Economic Team -- covering topics like year-end updates and resources available for business owners.

PLEASE RSVP ON EVENTBRITE to guarantee your entry: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2025-munch-n-learn-series-3898863

➤ Date & Time: Weds. December 10th, 6-9pm (presentations ~6:30-7:30pm)
➤ Location: Crooked Creek Brewery, St. Helens
➤ Cost & Attendance: Free to attend
➤ Food: Each attendee will receive a free drink ticket. Light snacks will also be provided. Full meals can be ordered up front.
➤ Only business owners, entrepreneurs, or business leaders in Columbia County can RSVP for this event
➤ Attire: Holiday casual. Ugly sweaters are HIGHLY suggested!

Cheers to Columbia County's talented business community!

Dear clients and friends of the CET and the Columbia County SBRC, let's get together for news, beer, and holiday cheer!

11/17/2025

Don't miss this week's FREE Munch-N-Learn class, covering the topic of business taxes and how you can prepare! RSVP on Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2025-munch-n-learn-series-3898863

ABOUT: Join us on Thursday, November 20th, for a class designed to help small business owners get organized and ready for filing. Our speaker, Brenda Dye (owner of Brenda Dye Tax Prep and Bookkeeping), will share her insights on what documents to gather, which tax tools and platforms can help, and the most common deductions you don’t want to miss. You’ll leave feeling confident, prepared, and ready to save time (and money!) this tax season.

Class Options:
• 9–10am – Rainier City Hall
• 12–1pm – PCC OMIC Training Center, Room 114, Scappoose or Zoom
Complimentary food will be provided by the generous support of Wauna Credit Union.

Enjoy FREE business classes and FREE food in this monthly class series! Proudly sponsored by Wauna Credit Union. Classes are open to all Columbia County OR based business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and employees. Locations rotate monthly.

11/05/2025

What began at a kitchen table is now blossoming into something powerful. Salon Specialties by CoCo LLC is a local, wellness-driven beauty space rooted in healing, self-love, and transformation. After rebuilding her life as a single mom, CoCo turned her passion for holistic beauty into a business that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit — offering everything from mindful nail care to permanent jewelry with intention.

Now, she’s raising funds through Kiva to expand into a permanent location right here in Columbia County. Kiva is a global lending platform where you can support small business owners like CoCo through 0% interest, community-backed microloans. Supporting her next step will help her reach more clients, invest in non-toxic tools and supplies, and continue building a legacy of strength and service for her son and her community.

Learn more about her journey and consider contributing here: www.kiva.org/lend/3073100

10/30/2025

Happy Halloween from the Columbia County SBRC! Today, we’re celebrating the creativity, resilience, and bold spirit of our local business community.

Whether you’re handing out candy, running spooky promos, or just taking a well-earned break — we hope your day is full of treats, not tricks.

🧡 Thank you for letting us be part of your business journey. We’re proud to support the dreamers, doers, and magic-makers of Columbia County.

—Your friends at the SBRC

10/29/2025

In honor of our nine-lived feline friends, here’s a corny, cat-themed reminder! Even if your business has taken a tumble or changed direction … it’s not out of lives yet.

At the Columbia County SBRC, we help small businesses land on their feet with:
➤ Free, confidential 1-on-1 advising
➤ Practical business classes & bootcamps
➤ Local resource connections

Whether you're starting fresh or clawing your way back from a setback, we’re here to support your next leap.

10/28/2025

Local farmers, have you signed up yet?! Join the Clatskanie Farmer Collective's free "Business Plans & Basic Farm Financials" class in Clatskanie, November 5th!

This class will discuss how different farm business analysis tools -- such as business plans, cash flow budgets, and financial statements -- can help with decision-making and achieving your farm’s goals.

RSVP today at: tinyurl.com/2025-clatskanie-workshop

Wednesday, Nov 5th, 12:30-3pm
Clatskanie Farmer Collective

Free food provided by the Columbia County SBRC

10/27/2025

You started your business to do what you love — not to spend most your time chasing receipts, updating spreadsheets, or drowning in inbox clutter.

But let’s be honest: the administrative side of running a business can feel soul-sucking. And when you’re wearing every hat, it’s easy to burn out, zone out, or put off important tasks until they start haunting you.

Here are ways to bring your energy (and your brain 🧠) back to life:

➤ Pick one day a week for admin only. Block 1–2 hours to tackle finances, invoicing, scheduling, or follow-ups.
➤ Automate where you can. Tools like QuickBooks, Square, Calendly, or even Gmail filters can save hours.
➤ Use a task tracker — no memory required. Whether it’s Trello, Asana, or a good old notebook, writing it down frees up mental space.
➤ Know when to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone.

Starting and growing a business doesn't have to be scary. Feel free to chat with us anytime by booking a free advising session here: https://columbiaeconomicteam.com/grow/sbrc/