Columbia Business Alliance

10/16/2026

Here's something to celebrate: The Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center R&D (OMIC R&D) in Scappoose just celebrated its 10-year anniversary!

If you didn't know, OMIC R&D gives small and large-scale businesses direct access to cutting-edge machinery such as carbon fiber printing, CNC machining, metal 3D printing, laser metrology, and expert engineers. Learn more about OMIC R&D here: https://omic.us/

10/15/2026

Our Business Feedback Survey is DUE SUNDAY! If you would like to help shape CBA's programming and enter a drawing for a chance to win $100 gift card to a local business of your choice, please complete our survey here: https://forms.gle/n6oXDtfrvBkM7uP77

Thank you for your feedback, and please share the survey with others!

10/14/2026

This week's resource spotlight is on the Clatsop Small Business Development Center and CEDR upcoming Level 1 & 2 Small Business Management Cohorts!

The Clatsop SBDC’s Small Business Management program is now available for Columbia County businesses, with both Level 1 and Level 2 options offered online or in person! This program is designed for existing small business owners who want to strengthen their management skills, improve financial decision-making, grow their customer base, build stronger systems, and plan for long-term success. Participants receive classroom learning, one-on-one advising, and peer networking, with $500 scholarships available for admitted business owners.

Level 1 begins November 4th, at $399, and Level 2 begins December 9th. Learn more and get registered here: https://us.list-manage.com/PfDrCALzC5P?e=6aac698551&c2id=d6d8247c30bef2f20bbd4bccca029983

10/12/2026

"I always say our job is to keep getting better at the job we do, serving our customers and community, but nobody should notice that we are changing. You should never walk into our store and think you don’t recognize it and it doesn’t feel that it is your bookstore any longer, or that you can’t find your books."
— Emily Powell

Emily Powell is the third-generation owner and president of Powell’s Books, Portland’s iconic independent bookseller. For today's Pep Talk, featuring Oregon business owners, her advice is a reminder that innovation does not always mean abandoning what made a business special. Sometimes it means improving behind the scenes, adapting to new customer needs, and finding better ways to deliver the experience your community already values.

Quote source: oregonbusiness.com/19300-tactics-with-emily-powell

10/11/2026

Just a friendly reminder: please complete our survey by next Sunday! Your feedback will help shape the programs we offer in the coming year, ensuring we continue to meet the needs of Columbia County's business community.

Please take our survey here: https://forms.gle/n6oXDtfrvBkM7uP77

It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete, and completion enters you into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift card to a local business of choice!

Responses are due Sunday, October 18th. Thank you for your feedback, and please share the survey with others!

10/09/2026

Here's something to celebrate: Tourism is Back!

The Port of Columbia County has rehomed the Wander Columbia County program under it's umbrella after the closure of the Columbia Economic Team. With this exciting news, they have rehired Wela Negelspach, the program's previous Director. Now, the program is back to showcasing the places, businesses, outdoor recreation, and experiences that make Columbia County special.

As Wela shared in a recent Spotlight article, “It's a great place to wander. There are nice things here, and there are special nooks and crannies.”

On their page, the Port also shared, "Tourism is an important part of our region’s economy, and this work aligns directly with the Port’s mission to foster economic development and create opportunities for our local communities and businesses."

Cheers to this good news!

You can also read the Spotlight article here: https://columbiacountyspotlight.com/2026/10/06/columbia-county-tourism-promoter-returns-after-monthslong-hiatus/

10/08/2026

Our It Local Columbia County program is now signing up businesses to be part of Columbia County's Wonderland! This year’s campaign will include:

❄️ The Wonderland Cards
❄️ Bigfoot Trail
❄️ Year-Round Countywide E-Gift card program (optional)
❄️ And a chance to win $5000! (yes, we’ve upped the grand prize!)

Local businesses can sign up for just $125 and enjoy 8 weeks of bolstered sales, brand exposure, and good ol’ community fun. In fact, in just the past 5 years, we have captured over 2 million dollars in local spending with this campaign!

Please sign up here soon, no later than October 30th: https://www.xpressformsbuilder.com/viewer/18363680-1e03-475c-80eb-fa2857f09a10

Interested in sponsoring? We have Silver ($900) and Gold ($1750) options available (first come, first serve). Due 10/15. Contact Sierra to learn more at [email protected]

10/07/2026

Save the date for these upcoming candidate forums, hosted by the Rainier, South County, and Clatskanie Chambers of Commerce!

Local elections help shape the communities where we live, work, and do business. Candidate forums are a great opportunity for business owners and community members to hear directly from those seeking public office, learn where they stand on local issues, and stay engaged in the future of our communities.

UPCOMING FORUMS:
📍 St. Helens Mayoral Candidate Forum
Oct. 6th | 5-7pm | Columbia Center, 375 S. 18th Street
Host: South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

📍 Oregon Senate District 16 Candidate Forum
Oct. 8 | 6–7:30 PM | Rainier High School
Hosted by the Rainier Chamber of Commerce

📍 Clatskanie Mayor Candidate Forum & Councilor Meet & Greets
Oct. 22nd | 6-7:30pm | Birkenfeld Theater
Host: Clatskanie Chamber of Commerce

Thank you to our local chambers for creating opportunities! Please follow their social media pages for updates.

10/07/2026

Good morning, Columbia County!

With crisp leaves under our feet and pumpkin spice in the air, Fall is here, which means the holidays are fast approaching. In the blink of an eye, our Keep it Local for the Holidays campaign will begin, so I’m excited to announce we’re accepting applications now (link below)! For just $125, enjoy 8 weeks of bolstered sales, brand exposure, and good ol’ community fun via our Wonderland Cards, Bigfoot Trail, and Countywide e-gift card program.

Additionally, we need your feedback! Right now, we’re planning for 2027, and we’d like to hear what you think of our program ideas, as well as your suggestions. Please take 5-10 minutes to complete our Business Feedback Survey (link below). When you do, you’ll also be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $100 gift card to a local business of choice!

On the education front, our next Munch-N-Learn class will be covering the topic of “Retail-or-Not? Knowing Your Best Sales Path” (Tues. October 20th in Clatskanie & St. Helens/Hybrid). Our speaker, Katharine Reinhold (Executive Director of Built Oregon) will talk through considerations of what it means to sell products on store shelves. Built Oregon has helped connect many Oregon-based companies to regional retailers like New Seasons and Market of Choice, so they know their stuff! If you know of someone with a product who’d like to sell on a shelf someday (whether locally, regionally, or nationally), this is a great class for them.

This Fall is also an election year, and there are a lot of opportunities to get engaged. Upcoming events include a St. Helens Mayoral Candidate Forum (10/6), an Oregon Senate District 16 Forum (10/8), Oregon Congressional District #1 Candidate Forum (10/15), and a Clatskanie Mayoral & Councilor Forum (10/22). Additionally, Columbia County is proposing a countywide Transient Lodging Tax to bolster tourism in the County. We encourage you to mark your calendars and share this news with others in your circles!

Again, please take a moment to complete our survey by October 18th, join Columbia County’s Wonderland by October 30th, and share the retail class with product-based businesses you know of. We hope you have a wonderful October, and thank you for all that you do!

Happy spooky season,

Sierra Trass
Economic Development Specialist

LINKS:
Read the full newsletter here:
https://mailchi.mp/columbiabizalliance/sep2026newsletter-13470118
Join the Wonderland here:
https://www.xpressformsbuilder.com/viewer/18363680-1e03-475c-80eb-fa2857f09a10
Retail Readiness Class:
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2026-munch-n-learn-series-4838079/

10/06/2026

Product-based businesses and entrepreneurs, our next free Munch-N-Learn class is for you!

On Tuesday October 20th, we are hosting a class designed to help product-based business owners better understand the retail landscape and decide whether product-to-shelf sales make sense for their business. Led by Katharine Reinhold, Executive Director of Built Oregon, this session will explore how to know if your product is a good fit for retail, how to pitch to local and chain stores, and what it takes to succeed once your goods are on the shelf. Built Oregon has helped many Oregon-based businesses sell to known regional retailers like Market of Choice and New Seasons — so they know their stuff!

Come learn more about retail marketing, labeling, and pitching in this free class!
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2026-munch-n-learn-series-4838079

Tuesday October 20th
➤ 9-10am at the Clatskanie Food Hub
➤ 12-1pm at the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce

Enjoy FREE business classes and FREE food in this monthly class series! Proudly hosted by the Columbia Business Alliance. Classes are open to all Columbia County OR based business owners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and employees. Locations rotate monthly.