According to various surveys over the years, Corvallisites want more shopping options for children’s apparel – and we have some good news on that front. A new clothier for the kiddos, Treefort Children’s Boutique, is slated for a Saturday, Aug. 5 grand opening. They will be located in Southwest Corvallis at the Sunset Shopping Center.
As to market segment, principal Brittney Bryant says shoppers can anticipate, “sustainable brands and affordable yet high quality slow fashion.” Checking out their stock, there’s a down-to-earth vibe, quality selection, and a bent towards sustainability – all of which bodes well.
BBQ Change-a-Roo: Northwest Corvallis eatery Cascade BBQ will be refocusing their efforts toward catering, and will convert their present restaurant location into a bookable venue for private events. The announcement came last week.
The program will still have a takeout component from Wednesdays to Fridays, 3 to 8 pm, under a limited menu. They anticipate reopening for takeout on Aug. 16.
Unemployment Drops to 2.8% in Benton County: Does it seem like Oregon is releasing Benton County’s employment numbers later than they used to each month – yes it does. Today is August 1, and finally we can report June’s numbers which are actually a bit surprising – seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8% in, down from its revised rate of 2.9% in May. But that’s not the surprising part.
Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate in June was 3.5%, down from its revised May rate of 3.7%. Nationally, the number was 3.6% in June. In any event, we didn’t think the May number would be sustained for long, and we sure didn’t it see it going down another 10 basis points – but maybe let’s just keep on with some more numbers.
Benton County’s employment gains in June were more than normal; total nonfarm employment increased by 420 jobs, when an employment increase of 290 jobs would be expected. As a result, seasonally adjusted employment increased 130 jobs between May and June.
Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is now up 2.9% from the level in February 2020, 1,260 jobs above its pre-pandemic level. Over the past year Benton County’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is up 1,870 jobs or 4.4%.
The private sector overall added 70 jobs over the month. The gains were widespread in a number of sectors. The public sector overall added 350 jobs in June. Local government employment added 310 jobs. State and federal government employment each added 20 in June.
Losses Mount at Oregon Hospitals: If you think Oregon’s hospitals are raking in the dough, we won’t argue, but we do need to tell you they’re actually forking over more than they’re taking in.
“Though hospitals’ median operating margin increased by one-half of a percentage point to -2.2%, the first quarter of 2023 marks the fifth consecutive quarter of negative overall operating margins. Oregon hospitals have lost a total of $414 million from operations since the first quarter of 2022,” said a release from the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
The association says operational expenses grew $255 million in the first quarter, which amounts to a 6% increase. Industry insiders believe rising wages and prices for supplies and services drove the increases. They further observe that patient volumes were down across the state.
The release goes on to say, “First quarter 2023 total hospital visits dropped by 2.3% when compared to the previous quarter and are down 7.2% when compared to the first quarter of 2022. Emergency Department visits saw a substantial drop from the fourth quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023 at -7.2%.”
The association sees fixed reimbursements for patients, and a broken care continuum as another strain on revenue and hospital margins. They point out the average length of stay, or ALOS, has been flat but high in recent quarters at 5.64 days.
When they say the ALOS is high, they’re comparing it to pre-pandemic numbers. The ALOS has risen 20 to 25% compared to levels of 4.5 to 4.7 days seen in the years prior to the pandemic.
The release state plainly, “High ALOS is another byproduct of the staffing shortage, as patients are unable to be discharged to a post-acute care facility to continue their recoveries.”
And now, here’s your local business events calendar…
Fragmented Governance: How Oregon balances land conservation and development in the coastal zone, presented as part of OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center research series. Speaker, Hui Rodomsky is the South Coast Regional Representative Oregon Coastal Management Program, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm, Thursday, August 3. Click here for info and Zoom access.
Post Grad Business School: This virtual session introduces the Graduate Business Programs at Oregon State University. In this online session they will cover graduate program options in the College of Business, including the MBA, Master’s, and Graduate Certificates programs. They will also introduce the curriculum, program tracks, admission and financial aid, and what sets Oregon State apart from other programs. Oregon State University offers graduate business programs in Portland, Corvallis, and online.
12 to 1 pm, Tuesday, August 8. Click here to learn more and register.
Going Into Business: In just one session, you’ll get all the basic information you will need to begin planning your successful business. Rules, regulations, financing, customers, markets, and feasibility will all be discussed in this free seminar. This seminar is offered through Zoom video conferencing.
This class is offered by the Small Business Development Center at Linn-Benton Community College.
Free. 6:30 to 7:20 pm, Tuesday, August 8. Click here to register.
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