Columbia Business Alliance

09/02/2026

For today's resource spotlight, we'd like to highlight our friends at the St. Helens Main Street Alliance!

From uptown Houlton, along Columbia Boulevard, and down to the riverfront, St. Helens Main Street Alliance works to support the local economy, preserve St. Helens' history, and revitalize the main street corridor.

For local business owners, Main Street can help connect you with:
✅ Local leaders, commercial properties, and business resources
✅ Promotion and community-building opportunities and events
✅ Oregon Main Street Grants (when available)
✅ Hands-on support for businesses throughout the district
and more!

If your business is located along the Main Street corridor, or would like to be, this is a great local resource to have in your network!

Learn more and get connected at sthelensmainstreet.org
📞 971-842-6000
📧 [email protected]

08/31/2026

What is the best entrepreneurial advice you’ve received?
“To not ever take advice! Listen to others’ experiences, but create your own path forward.”
- Kim Malek’s
Founder of Salt & Straw

Kim Malek is the co-founder of Salt & Straw Ice Cream, the Portland-born ice cream company known for imaginative flavors and community-focused shops. For today's "Monday Pep Talk" post featuring Oregon-based businesses, her advice is a reminder that other people’s experiences can help guide us, but no one else knows our business, customers, or goals quite like you do. Learn from those around you, trust what you know, and be willing to build a path that is uniquely yours.

Quote source: oen.org/2014/03/07/salt-straw-founder-kim-maleks-advice-dont-take-advice/

08/27/2026

Want to learn more about how to use Canva? Join us for our next free Munch-N-Learn class covering the topic of "Canva 101!"

Our very own, Sierra Trass (Economic Development Specialist of CBA + liver and breather of Canva), will guide participants through how to use Canva — covering common tools, AI & branding features, tips for quick designing, and general best practices. This is a hands-on class, so bring your laptop! There will also be time reserved for Q&A.

Please RSVP ahead here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/2026-munch-n-learn-series-4838079

📆 Thursday September 17th | 3 Class Options 👇
➤ 9-10:30am: Rainier City Hall
➤ 12-1:30pm: PCC OMIC Scappoose/Hybrid
➤ 3:30-5pm: Vernonia City Hall

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.

08/26/2026

Thinking about raising capital for your business? The Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN) has three industry-specific, five-week programs coming up this fall designed to help early-stage founders strengthen their businesses, understand the funding process, and prepare for conversations with investors!

💻 Angel Oregon Technology | Sept. 15–Oct. 20
For technology founders looking to raise capital and scale. Participants will learn about funding options, valuations, due diligence, go-to-market strategy, and pitching to investors.

📦 Angel Oregon Consumer Packaged Goods | Sept. 16–Oct. 21
For founders of food, beverage, personal care, wellness, lifestyle, pet, and other consumer products. The program covers fundraising fundamentals along with CPG-specific topics like retail readiness, pricing, margins, and distribution.

🧬 Angel Oregon Life & Bioscience | Sept. 17–Oct. 22
For life science and bioscience founders preparing to commercialize and raise capital. Participants will explore funding, valuations, due diligence, commercialization, and investor readiness.

💰Cost:** $150 for OEN members | $200 for non-members

Each cohort combines expert-led education, hands-on work, feedback from investors and industry leaders, pitch practice, and a final Angel Oregon Pitch Day.

If raising capital is part of your business’s next chapter, these programs are a great opportunity to strengthen your strategy and better understand what investors are looking for.

Learn more and register at oen.org.

08/25/2026

Interested in securing contracts with the state? Here's a great resource for that!

In 2025, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2337, directing the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to create a small business procurement preference program and authorizing the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) to develop a new Oregon Small Business Enterprise (OSBE) certification.

Since OSBE became active in April 2026, COBID has certified nearly 300 firms, who will receive preferences in state contracting in an effort to support local small businesses and keep more state agency procurement dollars circulating within Oregon.

To learn more or see if a small business is eligible for OSBE, visit the COBID website here: oregon.gov/biz/programs/COBID

08/24/2026

“I don’t know any entrepreneur who at one time or another hasn’t been crippled with self-doubt. Fear is something you live with every day.”
— Emma McIlroy

Emma McIlroy is the co-founder of Wildfang, a Portland apparel company created to help women express themselves boldly and confidently. She has spoken openly about the self-doubt that often comes with entrepreneurship. For today's "Pep Talk Monday" post featuring Oregon-based business owners, her words remind business owners that courage does not require fear to disappear. It means continuing to make decisions, try new things and move forward even when uncertainty comes along for the ride.

Check out this article to learn more about Emma's entrepreneurial story: oen.org/emma/

08/21/2026

Here's something to celebrate: Clatskanie Scion LLC has secured a $30 Million dollar loan to build a family-owned sawmill in Clatskanie!

As shared in a recent The Spotlight newspaper article, "After years of planning, Clatskanie Scion LLC is moving forward with the construction of a sawmill. The mill will be ready to operate in about a year and a half, bringing at least 35 jobs to the area, Brian Myers, a partner in the business, said.

'It’s just a wonderful spot,” Myers said. “We hope to be good stewards there and good partners with the community'"

Congratulations to the Myers brothers!

To learn more, read the full article here:https://columbiacountyspotlight.com/2026/08/01/new-sawmill-will-be-built-in-clatskanie-thanks-to-30m-usda-loan/

08/19/2026

Looking to strengthen your business skills this Fall? The Clatsop Small Business Development Center and CEDR has four programs coming up designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners at different stages:

📘 Small Business Management: Level 1 | $899
Sept. 23–Dec. 16
A combination of classroom learning, peer networking, and 1-on-1 advising focused on helping established business owners improve management, set priorities, and create a plan for growth.

🚀 Start Up Boot Camp | $99
Oct. 20–Dec. 15 | Every other Tuesday, 3–5 PM
A five-session course for entrepreneurs working to refine a business idea, build a solid plan, and understand the steps needed to get started.

🔨 Contractor’s Boot Camp | $99
Sept. 30–Oct. 28 | Wednesdays, 6–8 PM
Designed for Oregon residential contractors in business three years or less who want to improve how they manage and operate their business.

🥕 Food & Beverage Entrepreneur’s Boot Camp | $99
Oct. 13–Nov. 10 | Tuesdays, 9–11 AM
A five-week program for food and beverage entrepreneurs looking to turn an idea into a business or strengthen an existing operation.

These programs are a great opportunity to gain practical knowledge, connect with other business owners, and get guidance from experienced advisers. Learn more and register here: oregonsbdc.org/center/clatsop-sbdc/

08/19/2026

Let's help support a local Scappoose startup! SkyCast Digital Community Marketing is a local business that helps other local businesses reach more customers by placing digital ads on TVs across the county. They are currently raising funds to purchase more equipment and digital displays through a cool crowdfunding loan platform called Kiva.

As the owner Heidi shared, "This loan will have a major impact on the growth of SkyCast. By allowing us to add more digital advertising screens in new locations, we can provide much more affordable and effective advertising options for local businesses. Currently, many small businesses in our area struggle to find affordable ways to advertise, and this network will give them a powerful new platform."

If you’d like to support Heidi's business venture, please consider contributing here: https://www.kiva.org/lend/3220070.

08/18/2026

Are you curious about what our area's predicted employment growth will be? Check out this graph!

The Northwest Oregon Workforce Area (Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties) is predicted to add nearly 6,000 jobs between 2024 and 2034. This represents a 5% increase in employment over 10 years. This growth stems from anticipated private-sector gains of roughly 5,000 jobs (6%), 600 jobs in government (2%), and an addition of 240 jobs in self-employment (3%). Beyond gains from economic growth, an additional 132,000 job openings will be created by 2034 as workers change occupations or leave employment for other reasons, such as retirement.

Learn more and find more stats here: qualityinfo.org/-/2024-2034-projections-show-broad-based-employment-growth-in-northwest-oregon