Join our free speaking engagement on June 22^nd. Be Bold - Be Brave - Be You, promises to be an uplifting informative experience about employment possibilities for people with disabilities as well as highlighting the benefits of inclusive workforces for people of all abilities, businesses, and our communities.

 

Date: June 22nd

Time: 9am-12pm

Location: Portland Hilton Hotel

Buffet Brunch Provided

 

Speakers: John and Mark, co-founders of John's Crazy Socks

Performance by: Phame

Sponsored by: ALSO and GiGi’s Playhouse of Portland

All January long is Portland Music Month in Oregon. Pick your genre! Pick your venue! Come watch over 100 live performances, and help support the local music scene in Portland! 

Click here for tickets: https://www.portlandmusicmonth.org/tickets

Every day during the month of January, local bands are playing all across the city in multiple locations (31 days, 21 venues). 

Click here for venues: https://www.portlandmusicmonth.org/the-venues

You are invited to come watch your favorite bands and discover new musicians too.  A portion of all ticket sales will go toward the Echo Fund, which helps local musicians vitalize their businesses.

Keep Portland vibing!

Oh, and if you are in the music industry, be sure to fill out the online census before January 15.

Cluck here to complete survey: https://www.oregonmusiccensus.org

Music Portland is a 501(c)(6) that focuses on making the Portland area a place where a music career is economically viable through music-supportive public policy, strategic partnerships with local businesses, economic assessments, and a galvanized professional music community. If you are part of the music ecology in the Portland area, feel free to join.

Join the Movement.

https://musicportland.org/join

Rivermark has landed in Hollywood!

Rivermark Community Credit Union is celebrating the opening of its new Hollywood branch at 4730 NE Sandy Boulevard. Join us for a ribbon cutting event on Friday, June 24^th at 9 am.

The new full-service branch, features Video Teller technology and Saturday hours. The branch also has a drive-up ATM/Video Teller Kiosk with extended hours and a member parking garage.

“We are excited to be part of the thriving Hollywood community in Northeast Portland”, said Seth Schaefer, President/CEO of Rivermark Community Credit Union. “We’re committed to providing affordable financial solutions to members, with an emphasis on being local, personal, and accessible”, continued Schaefer.

As part of the grand opening celebration will be giving away housing payments for a year to one lucky new member, along with other new member incentives and a prize wheel to spin.

Learn more about what Rivermark has to offer at https://www.rivermarkcu.org/hollywood.

Mae Lin Plummer Takes the Helm

at Leach Botanical Garden: Former Executive Director

David Porter retires

as head of the iconic Portland Parks & Recreation attraction

Leach Garden Friends, the non-profit organization caring for Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s Leach Botanical Garden, is pleased to announce Mae Lin Plummer as the popular garden’s new Executive Director. Plummer spent nearly 20 years in the corporate financial industry until discovering her passion for horticulture and public gardens. She served as Garden Director at the Duke Mansion and filled several roles at the UNC-Charlotte Botanical Gardens, both in North Carolina.

She recently completed the esteemed Longwood Fellows Program at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania. Plummer will step into the position in mid-January and succeed outgoing Executive Director David Porter, who is retiring after more than 10 years of unwavering commitment to the beloved public attraction.

“Mae Lin will take over a world-class destination,” says Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “And the future is bright. I wish David Porter the very best in his retirement. The City thanks him for his enthusiastic stewardship as he led Leach Botanical Garden’s efforts in caretaking the magnificent site. East Portland, Leach Botanical Garden, and the parks system are better off thanks to David’s efforts. We wish him the best and are delighted to welcome such a worthy replacement. Mae Lin Plummer joins Leach with impressive credentials, experience, and commitment to stewardship of botanical gardens.”

“This is an extraordinary time of transformation and growth for Leach Botanical Garden,” says the incoming Executive Director, Plummer. “I could not be more excited to join such a passionate and dedicated team as we strive to expand access to the inspiring beauty of this unique and special place and continue to educate and steward our essential relationship with the natural world so that its benefits are available to everyone.” “I’m excited to work with Mae Lin Plummer as she takes the helm of the beloved sanctuary that is Leach,” says PP&R Director Adena Long. “Nature is a place of healing and reflection, and Leach is a place for nature at its best. Great things lie ahead for Leach Botanical Garden, and we’ll get there together.”

As we come into the Fall season, the Board is looking to what programs to offer in the coming year. The series of educational programs with Fran Tarkington is no longer available so we appreciate your input on what you would like to hear in an educational program. Please advise Gary Russell at gary@defendmylife.com, Mary Ann Gray at maryann@westsidesec.com or Kim Kelly at kimk@westsidesec.com with your thoughts and ideas.

Thank you for your input!  Your EPCC Board

The Oregon Department of Revenue wants to remind business taxpayers and tax preparers that it has on-line resources to help businesses that still need to register for Oregon's new Corporate Activity Tax (CAT).

The CAT applies to all business entity types, such as C and S corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and other entities. Businesses are required to register for the CAT within 30 days of reaching $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity in the calendar year. More than 13,000 business entities have registered for the CAT since registration opened in December 2019.

Registration for the CAT is through Revenue Online. A short CAT registration training document is available on the CAT page of the Revenue website.

To register, individuals doing business in Oregon will need their name and their Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. Businesses will need their entity's legal name and federal employer identification number.

Businesses and individuals will need:

• Their mailing address;
• The date they exceeded or expect to exceed $750,000 in Oregon commercial activity;
• A valid email address or current Revenue Online login, and;
• Their Business Activity Code (Refer to the current list of North American Industry Classification System codes found with their federal income tax return instructions.)

Taxpayers don't need a Revenue Online account to register for the CAT. Those who have Revenue Online accounts can't be logged in to register for the CAT. Instead, they should go directly to the CAT webpage and click on the "Register for the CAT" link on the right-hand side of the page.

Rules hearing Tuesday

In accordance with social distancing measures necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, the public hearing for the second set of permanent rules for the Corporate Activity Tax will take place via conference call 9 to 11 a.m.Tuesday, June 23.

To participate in the hearing, interested parties should call 541-465-2805 and enter the conference PIN 234470 when prompted. Those wishing to testify at the hearing will need to register beginning at 8:45 a.m. on the conference call line. Those needing to make alternate arrangements for registration should contact the Department of Revenue (DOR) rules coordinator before 8:45 a.m. June 23.

The CAT rules being considered are:

• 150-317-1050 Sourcing of Commercial Activity for Financial Institutions.
• 150-317-1060 Farmer's Sales to Agricultural Cooperatives.
• 150-317-1140 Wholesale Sale of Groceries Exclusion.
• 150-317-1400 Determining Property Resold Out of State and Methods of Determining.

Additional information about the hearing can be found on the administrative rules page of the Revenue website.

 

On July 24th, the East Portland Chamber of Commerce performed a Ribbon Cutting for new chamber members, the GEICO Local Office at11606 NE 6th. The food was tasty and plentiful. Former Governer, Barbara Roberts attended and congratulated Steve on the Grand Opening. Iheartmedia welcomed everyone as they arrived and the D.J. kept the music flowing. Best of all, the Gecko was everywhere!

President. Gary Russell, presents the Chamber certificate to Geico agent, Steve Ching.   

On June 23rd Adventist Health will again host SunnyCity. 

Fun day for the whole family! 

Local businesses and community organizations come together to present SunnyCity, an afternoon festival featuring free activities, games, giveaways and educational entertainment for families on Sunday, June 23, at Portland Adventist Academy.

Time:

1-4 pm: Family Fair
3:45 pm: Fire juggling presentation
4 pm: Ben Roy: The Science Guy from Go Science Zone

Place:

Portland Adventist Academy

1500 SE 96th

Portland OR  97216

Follow link for the flyer: SunnyCity Fair Flyer2019

Last month we welcomed these new businesses to East Portland...

The East Portland Chamber of Commerce helped Smart Foodservice on SE 82 and Stark celebrate their Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting.

Vice President, David Gattman presented a certificate and welcomed store manager, Ryan Schneider, to the community.  Be sure to stop in, save some money, fill your pantry and buy some great foods!

  

More than a family affair, the Grand Opening and ribbon cutting was a community event for DB Dessert Company.  Vice President, David Gattman presented a certificate to business owner and chief creative, Damala Bandon.

With heartfelt thanks, Damala expressed her gratitude to family, friends, and the community for helping her fulfill a dream.  You can order your desserts online at www.dbdessertcompany.com. 

Recognized in the top 25 percent for quality, safety and expereince

By demonstrating excellence in quality patient care, Adventist Health Portland has earned the 2018 HealthInsight Hospital Quality Award. This recognition is given to the highest performing health care provider organizations in Oregon, and other states for which HealthInsight serves as the Medicare program’s Quality Innovation Network-Quality Improvement Organization (QIN-QIO) contractor.

Adventist Health Portland was measured against other Oregon hospitals on publicly reported patient experience scores, healthcare associated infection rates and readmission rates. The HealthInsight Hospital Quality award is only given to hospitals that rank in the top 25^th percentile for their composite score in these measures.

“This recognition validates the commitment our associates make to every patient,” says David Russell, president. “Fulfilling our mission in every interaction transforms the lives, experiences and outcomes of those we serve.” 

The HealthInsight Quality Award program promotes transparency in health care. Through the HealthInsight Quality Award Program, HealthInsight aims to assist providers, improve care and help consumers be more active and informed participants in that care.

Hospital eligibility is based on a composite ranking for performance on publicly reported data (Hospital Compare) with weighted contributions:

• Patient Experience of Care (HCAHPS) - 35%
• Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) - 45%
• Readmissions - 20%

Hospitals that rank in the top 25th percentile for the composite score are eligible for a 2018 Quality Award.