Beginning in 2016, the Corvallis Planning Commission began speaking to local businesses about Commercial Multi-Use Zoning (CMUs). Scuttlebutt is there may be plans to allow a new project up to 10 stories, but we’ll see.
Anyhow, the goal is to build with the idea of business on the street-level and residences above. This would add to the community aspects of the downtown corridor through a change in zoning.
The Planning Commission completed CMU Phase 1 in March, and they are working their way into Phase 2, which will include applying the new mixed-use rules.
Kate Porsche of the Economic Development Office said, “I think these changes in the code are critical to fostering mixed use development in our downtown… If you want your downtown to be economically viable, the key to that is to having people living in the downtown so that there’s a built in [core consumer group] … Fix that code language to better align with the wants of the community.”
Some Justice Facilities Could Stay Downtown: Conversations are still buzzing after Benton County Justice System Improvement Program survey results came in. Those favoring were less than 50%, so county officials are now considering some new tactics.
For instance, general funds could be used for some of the project, leaving the crisis center and new courthouse downtown. With funds secured outside the upcoming levy vote for the crisis center portion of the project, and other funding coming from the state for the courthouse, commissioners could still ask voters to approve a new jail and district attorney offices at the North site by Hewlett-Packard.
Privately, some area leaders have wondered if this has been a question missing in the equation – what would the impact be of moving all the justice facilities from downtown. Supporting services such as law offices would likely have followed their customer base out of downtown over the coming decades, probably taking many restaurants and other businesses with them. Business leaders have wondered if Benton County Commissioners considered the possible wasteland left at the core of the county seat, given they had already moved most county offices to a site on Research Way.
The question remains whether a lower price tag would sway voters – who have given the idea of new jail their no vote three times before. Also, there are concerns that many of the services that support inmates not reoffending are also located downtown.
SBDC & RAIN: Lottery dollars allotted to Benton County earmarked for economic development were approved for both the Linn-Benton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (RAIN) this week.
The Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Office made the case to the city that these two organizations were doing good work in the community and recommended they continue to get funded.
SBDC received $18,600 in funding to be dedicated to developing and running “new educational programs for the Spanish-speaking business community.” Services include access to capital funding, lessons in digital media, marketing, planning, and management, and accounting for small businesses. They also offer a variety of classes through Linn-Benton Community College. Contact SBDC at 541-917-4929 for more information.
In the past, the SBDC had received scholarship funding as well – last year that funding was $7,500, but the scholarships haven’t been used regularly, so this part of the funding was removed.
RAIN is self described as a team of Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Builders – meaning they “connect entrepreneurs and innovators to key resources.” They offer services such as matching you to the programs your business needs, as well as helping small businesses find office space, tools, and capital. Contact them at https://www.oregonrain.org/contact/ for more information.
This year, RAIN funding was increased by 3.02% for a total funding for this coming year of $26,700.
What’s Happening at the Chamber: The Corvallis Chamber of Commerce has several events on their calendar that will interest business owners this week.
On Tuesday, June 28, the Chamber is hosting Corvallis Young Pros at No Nations, located at 230 NW 1st St., Corvallis. This networking group is all about the young professionals living in the community, and it’s free to join. So come on over to No Nations from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., grab a bite, and get to know others as you work your way up the business ladder. Register for this event here.
Still looking for social networking opportunities? Also on Tuesday, the Chamber hosts Greeters, this one being held at Central Willamette Credit Union, located at 555 NE Circle Blvd, Corvallis. The event – which is known as a great way to build your relationships with other businesses – will be held from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Finally, on June 30 at noon, the Chamber hosts Women in Business. The speaker will be Missy Smith, CMAA, of Oregon Episcopal School. She is the Associate Director of Athletics, Boys & Girls Golf Coach, and Founder of the Oregon Girls Sports Leadership Summit. Smith played basketball and softball for Oregon State University, and later semi-pro basketball with the Portland Saint. You can hear Smith speak at the Courtyard Marriott, located at 400 SW 1st St., Corvallis. Register for this event here.
Benton County Unemployment in May: Same basic number as April, 2.9%. Notably, while there was some of the usual give and take between various employment sectors, the Oregon Employment Department said, “Leisure and hospitality added 70 jobs in May. The sector’s employment grew 720 or 20.1% over the past year.”
Statewide unemployment for May was 3.6%, down from 3.7% the month before.
A Cleaner Downtown: As all business owners know, the outside appearance of your establishment is as important as what you sell. So starting today, the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce is making use of funds from the Corvallis-Benton County Economic Development Office and the Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments (COG) to clean things up. They’re calling it the Great Downtown Cleanup.
You can sign up to volunteer here.
By Sally K Lehman
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