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Feature Member Highlight - by Kayse Dahl  

Edwards Enterprises -  serves the Beaverton community and outlaying areas in more ways than one; providing local businesses with quality and affordable packaging, shipping, and assembly services, while employing 150 disabled Oregonians in a safe and nurturing environment. Read the full article

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Your chamber continues to create strong service partnerships on behalf of the small business community in Beaverton. The chamber is privileged to partner with the Small Business Development Center- Portland Community College (SBDC-PCC), a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration. TheChamber hosts SBDC advisor, Jon-Michael Kowertz every first Wednesday of the month from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and third Wednesday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM for free and confidential, one-on-one business advising.

As additional resource for small businesses in Beaverton, owners and entrepreneurs can schedule an appointment for SBDC advising and conveniently meet at the Beaverton Chamber of Commerce. Candidates for advising may need help in business start-up, marketing, planning, financing, loan package development and more. Business advising is at no charge and does not require chamber membership. To learn more about how the SBDC can help your business or to arrange an appointment contact the chamber at 503-350-2007 or email Michelle. 

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On-the-Job Training Reimbursements Available for Local Businesses 

WorkSource Centers are currently offering reimbursements to support local businesses for providing On-the-Job Training (OJT) to their newly-hired employees.  Through state and federal grants (via WorkSystems, Inc.), WorkSource is able to reimburse companies up to 50% of the wages for their new hires during the training period.

Hundreds of small and medium-sized companies throughout Washington and Multnomah Counties have utilized the OJT Program over the past few years to train and keep skilled, productive workers.  This program has proven to be a very cost-effective way to develop talent for businesses that require unique or niche skill sets.  It also benefits the economy by helping job seekers who may be otherwise highly-qualified for a job but for the lack of a couple of missing skills.  Examples of successful OJT's in Washington County this past year have included a wide range of skilled occupations, such as warehouse workers, bookkeepers, field service technicians, electronics technicians, and software developers.

For more information about the OJT Program or to see if your business is eligible, contact your local WorkSource Center.   Businesses located in Washington County, call 503-526-2712 (Alicia) or 503-612-4214 (Bryan).  Businesses in Multnomah County, call 503-280-6633 (Rhonda) or 503-669-7112, ext. 250 (Miriam).

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This Week: February 7, 2014 -  CANCELLED due to snow forcast.

Ribbon Cutting: 

February 21, 2014, 9:30am at The UPS Store, 4931 SW 76th Ave, Portland

March 12, 204, 4:30pm at Hearing Rehab Center, 5440 SW Westgate Drive, Suite 350, Portland  

Beaverton Chamber Board Member and Regional Account Executive with G/O Digital will update us on trends in website development, search engine optimization (SEO), Google and Facebook Advertising, Targeted email marketing and other online marketing tools. Matt will teach us how small and medium size businesses can use online marketing and and advertising to increase sales. He will teach us how to use these digital tools to market to specific demographics and track its effectiveness.

G/O Digital is a division of Gannet which owns USA Today plus 80 newspapers and 40 TV stations including KGW channel 8. Maximum of 25 attendees.

Member Registration - $10 

Non-member Registration - $15