July 2016 – Business Memos

Local businesses provide employment for area residents and products and services close to home. Mid-county Memo Business Memos celebrate news, advancements, promotions, retirements, expansions and other noteworthy events at these cornerstones of our community. To share news of your business with our readers, Business Memo submissions for the August issue are due by Friday, July 15. For best results, e-mail Darlene Vinson at editor@midcountymemo.com. You may also mail submissions to 3510 N.E. 134th Ave., Portland, OR 97230. To leave a phone message, dial 503-287-8904. The Mid-county Memo fax number is 503-249-7672.

Matching grants, design assistance available in Parkrose
Historic Parkrose opens its third cycle of matching Storefront Improvement Grants for qualifying business and property owners in the Parkrose business district.

Approximately $70,000 is available for this grant cycle. Grant awards range from $500 to $4,000 and require a minimum dollar-for-dollar match. Examples of projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to: storefront lighting, planters, exterior paint, unique bike racks or door/window replacement. Project sites must be located in the Historic Parkrose targeted investment area of Northeast Sandy Boulevard between 99th and 121st avenues and side streets.

Historic Parkrose will accept Storefront Improvement Grant applications on an ongoing basis until all of the grant funding this cycle has been disbursed. Priority is given to projects that reflect the creativity of the district, improve pedestrian safety and experience, increase the visibility of the business, increase green space, include a plan for ongoing maintenance, integrate sustainability and utilize local vendors. Grant applications are evaluated by the Historic Parkrose board of directors.

The goal of Historic Parkrose’s Storefront Improvement Grant program is to strengthen the Parkrose business district by encouraging neighborhood businesses to cultivate a unique and attractive image. Grants awarded to Parkrose businesses in the past year include a grant to Nordic Inn to install stone siding outside their front office and a grant to Moto Guzzi for new signs and design consulting as its new location in the former German Bakery is renovated.

For more information about applying for a Storefront Improvement Grant, please contact Historic Parkrose District Manager Mingus Mapps at mingus@historicparkrose.com.

Food drive held at local chiropractic office
Chiropractor Kathleen Vargovich has a plan to support the Oregon Food Bank this summer, but she needs your help.

Schedule an appointment for an hour of massage therapy or chiropractic care, bring a donation of non-perishable food and she will knock $10 off your bill.

In addition to chiropractic manipulation and massage therapy, Vargovich offers physiotherapy treatments during ultrasound, muscle stimulation and gua sha, a facial skin treatment.

Her office is located at 4707B N.E. 102nd Ave. Call 503-255-4376 to schedule an appointment.

Collaborative effort produces “affordable-affordable housing”
The new Fern Grove Apartments located at 143rd Avenue and East Burnside Street are all three-bedroom units, designed for three–seven people. Larger affordable units like these are difficult to find in Portland, so PHC Northwest committed to meet the need. “We work hard to remove as many barriers as possible for the at-risk people we serve so they can live an independent life. We create stable jobs and housing, which are critical to their success,” says Alysa Rose, PHC CEO. “It can be hard for larger families to find an appropriate place to live, so we make sure to include three-bedroom units in our housing mix to help them.”

Fern Grove Apartments are in the Reynolds School District. “Eleven percent of our student population is considered homeless, so access to new affordable housing options for families can make a big difference,” says Lisa McDonald, principal of Glenfair Elementary. Students who experience homelessness or hypermobility have been shown to perform below other low-income peers throughout elementary school. According to the Center for Housing Policy, these children are more likely than their peers to drop out of school, repeat grades, perform poorly in school, disengage in the classroom and suffer from learning disabilities and behavior problems.

The project is designed in partnership with Home First Development. “We start by understanding what an affordable rent would be. Then we back in to the expenses of the project,” says Rob Justus, co-owner of Home First Development. “Using this commonsense approach, we’re able to build what we call ‘affordable-affordable housing,’” says Rose.

“PHC and its developer have done something extraordinary. They’ve managed to significantly drive down the costs associated with developing affordable housing, without public subsidy, and deliver quality units at rents people can afford,” says Margaret Van Vliet, director of Oregon Housing and Community Services.

The units are built to last. They feature Energy Star appliances and granite counter tops. The complex includes a community center, sport court and playground.

PHC initially began investing in housing in 1999 to provide affordable housing for its employees. With this newest opening, PHC now owns and manages nearly 700 total units in the Portland area, Albany and The Dalles. Its diverse portfolio serves its equally diverse community, including single-family houses and apartments that range from studios to three-bedroom units.

Fueling station, restaurants part of new PDX Travel Center
Travelers at Portland International Airport will soon have a new convenient place to fuel up, where drivers can also have a meal or coffee while waiting to pick up a traveler.

The Port of Portland Commission approved a lease with MAJ Development Corporation to construct a gas station and travel center at PDX, combined with a new cell phone waiting area. The lease is for 20 years, with options for a total potential lease term of 40 years.

Located at the northwest corner of Northeast 82nd Avenue and Air Cargo Road, about a mile from the PDX terminal, the 3.44-acre, 18-fuel pump complex will include a convenience store, a national coffee retailer, a full-service pizza restaurant and another quick-service restaurant to be named. MAJ will invest over $4 million with $100,000 in sustainability measures to minimize energy and water consumption. The gas station will also offer electric vehicle charging and an environmentally friendly car wash.

“The closest gas station is two miles from the airport,” said Michael Jenkins, president of MAJ. “This is an opportunity to bring a much-needed amenity to PDX travelers.”

Construction on the project is expected to begin early spring of 2017 and is slated to be completed by the summer of 2017. The new well-lit cell phone waiting area will accommodate 30 vehicles, with more parking throughout the center to match retail needs, and will replace the existing lot. PDX serves an estimated 43,000 air travelers daily.

“PDX Travel Center customers will have access to flight arrival information as they enjoy a cup of coffee, stop for a meal or fuel up,” said Keith Leavitt, Port chief commercial officer. “The facility will offer convenient options to our growing passenger base and to the many employees who work in the area.”

Grotting lauded as distinguished alumnus
Southwestern Oregon Community College has selected David Douglas School District Superintendent Don Grotting as its 2016 Distinguished Alumnus.

The Southwestern Oregon Community College Distinguished Alumni Award is given in recognition to individuals who have demonstrated significant contributions to their profession, community or academic field. Grotting has distinguished himself in the educational arena and all other aspects of his life. He continues to demonstrate strong leadership, commitment to community and service to others.

Upon learning of his selection, Grotting shared, “I would not be where I am today without the support, academic expertise and high expectations of the Southwestern Oregon Community College teaching faculty, support staff and administration.”

Grotting’s story begins like many others on the South Coast. Having grown up in Coquille, Grotting served in the U.S. Army after high school. After the service, he returned to work at the local Georgia-Pacific sawmill. During the downturn in the timber industry as local lumber mills closed, he went back to school and received the Congressman Peter DeFazio Scholarship for displaced timber workers. After his transfer from Southwestern in the early ’90s, Grotting graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in elementary education at Linfield College. He then pursued a Master of Science in foundations and administration, educational policy and administrative certifications at Portland State University; he then obtained his superintendent licensures at Lewis & Clark College.

With more than 20 years of educational experience, Grotting has established himself as a leader in the state and national education arena as well as the communities he serves. Grotting’s dedication to education is evidenced through his work as a teacher and superintendent of schools in the Powers, Nyssa and David Douglas school districts. He has also earned many awards, including:
• 2015 Oregon Music Education Association’s Outstanding Administrator
• 2014 American Association of School Administrators’ Oregon Superintendent of the Year
• 2014 Early Childhood Education Award from the Children’s Institute
• 2014 Citizen of the Year Award from the Gateway Business Association
• 2006 Nyssa Educator of the Year

Grotting’s commitment to students is evidenced by his helping the Powers School District achieve New Century School District status and leading the Nyssa School District to be awarded the Oregon Department of Education’s first Closing the Achievement Gap Award. He has experience in building strong, collaborative leadership teams and inspiring trust; developing and implementing a comprehensive strategic plan focusing on short- and long-term measures; data-driven decision making; community engagement; and responsibility and management. His colleagues credit him with having strong communication skills and experience working with diverse groups of stakeholders on critical issues and creating transparency. Grotting also is known as a state and national leader in developing quality early childhood education and post-secondary opportunities for high school students.

Serving as the president of the Oregon Schools Athletic Association, Grotting has been a long-time member of its executive board. He serves as an advisor to the State Board of Education, All Hands Raised Partnership Council, Chalkboard Advisory Council and the Portland Metro Educational Partnership Leadership Council. Grotting is currently a member of Governor Kate Brown’s Advisory Council on Education.

New retail liquor locations open
Fourteen new retail liquor locations have been selected by the commissioners of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission to sell distilled spirits in the Portland tri-county area. This addition will bring the total to 262 liquor stores statewide.

The locations selected offer various business models, including adding a spirits section inside existing retail stores as well as stand-alone, full-service liquor stores.

The commissioners started the open recruitment process in August 2015 in an effort to improve customer convenience by expanding liquor sales with a measured but consistent amount of growth.

“Selecting these 14 retail locations is a step forward in our effort to increase store density while offering new and innovative market-driven business models where customers can purchase spirits in Oregon,” said OLCC Chair Rob Patridge. With the addition of these 14 retail liquor locations, the new ratio in the Portland metro area will be 1 liquor store for every 21,000 customers.

Following a 14-day public posting at each location, OLCC will make a last review before final approval to ensure that public safety and minor control plan requirements are met. During the 14-day public posting, the OLCC will accept written public comment on individual retail liquor locations under the Oregon public comment rule, 845-015-0135.

Comments submitted will be reviewed and final decisions will be made based on OLCC’s legal authority. Comments can be sent to olcc.retailservices@oregon.gov or OLCC Retail Services, P.O. Box 22297, Milwaukie, OR 97269-2297.

Retail liquor locations are operated by independent private contractors, not state employees. Among the new retail liquor locations are:
• 9721 N.E. Cascade Parkway, Portland; Malik Pirani
• 1173 N.E. Division St., Gresham; Tobacco Outlet, LLC
• 2705 N.E. 238th Drive, Suite G, Wood Village; Troutdale Mixer Shop
• 23500 N.E. Sandy Blvd, Wood Village; Walmart