By Oregon Small Business Association

The global spike in coronavirus cases is paying off for a manufacturing company in Gresham, which has switched from creating recycled containers to making N96 masks and face shields. Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association

One of the biggest businesses taxes is before METRO-area voters this week. It is Ballot Measure 26-218, and it is a wage tax that will hit larger employers, which represent nearly 70% of all workers in the Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas County.

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By Oregon Small Business Association

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge bite out of Blue Star Doughnuts, forcing the Portland bakery into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Blue Star owners announced the company is restructuring after permanently closing four of its eight Portland outlets this year because of COVID-19, according to the Portland Business Journal. After shutting down in March, the company laid off most of its employees. The company permanently closed stores on 23rd Avenue, downtown, at Multnomah Village and at Progress Ridge. Only stores on South Gaines, North Mississippi Avenue, Southeast Division Street and at the Portland Airport remain open. Blue Star also owns three Los Angeles area stores.

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Photo: Left: Bar West, Portland, Right: Ruddick Wood, Newberg

By Oregon Small Business Association

As wildfires rage across Oregon, restaurants—already struggling after shutdowns from the coronavirus pandemic—have stepped forward to feed firefighters, evacuees and others in need.

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By Oregon Small Business Association,

– In Molalla a man was arrested for breaking into a towing company and then stealing a utility terrain vehicle from a local school.

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By Oregon Small Business Association

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek wants the state to extend its ban on evictions of tenants who can’t pay their rents because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the ban, scheduled to end Sept. 30, also prevents foreclosures of property when owners fall behind on payments. Kotek, a Portland lawmaker, seeks a six-month extension of the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, which would require either a third special legislative session this year or an executive order by Gov. Kate Brown.

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By Oregon Small Business Association

The Willamette Week obtained an email from Greg Goodman, who is one of Portland’s most recognizable business leaders and largest property owners within the city.

Goodman called out the “lawlessness” in the City, and decried people “ransacking” local businesses.

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By Oregon Small Business Association

Small businesses should be alarmed at the $240 million business and income tax by the METRO regional government (Measure 26-201) on the May ballot.

COVID-19 caused the worst economic shock since the Great Depression.

It will take months or years to recover family wage jobs lost during what Gov. Kate Brown appropriately declared a State of Emergency.

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By Oregon Small Business Association

The Oregon Small Business Association urges Legislature to stop the destructive CAT tax immediately.

The first quarterly estimated payments for Oregon’s new “Corporate Activities Tax” on sales (not profits) are due April 30, even as many businesses’ cash flows collapse under Gov. Kate Brown’s orders for some businesses to close and other businesses’ customers follow her order to “stay at home.” Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association,

California, Washington, Ohio, Illinois and Massachusetts take measures to close (or encourage closing of) restaurants and bars.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in his statement that “hours count and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the disease.” Read more »