COVID-19 Business Resources

Bri Matthews

March 27, 2020 3:12am

Dear Oregon Tourism Studio leaders,

We know this is a difficult time. Travel Oregon is working through this ever changing situation to ensure we are giving you the resources you need. This message contains tools, resources and updates for businesses, community members and industry staff.

We know the landscape of Oregon’s tourism industry has been altered and we want to be here for you as you are working through this challenging period. Travel Oregon is diligently developing resources and opportunities to support businesses and communities as we face this COVID-19 crisis.

How you can act now:

1. Stay Home, Save Lives: In the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Brown released an Executive Order “Stay Home, Save Lives.” This new policy orders Oregonians to stay in their homes whenever possible and includes stronger language around approved activities and business operations. Share the communication materials that help inform the public around “Stay Home, Save Lives” to slow the spread of COVID-19. Social times are available here. Additional social content is available on the Oregon Health Authority page here.

2. Industry Toolkit: Please visit Travel Oregon’s industry toolkit to access the material and learn where to get translated messages from the Oregon Health Authority. Every morning new messages and social content will be uploaded; check back daily to find these new messages and material to share with your community.

3. Help us share your story: As Oregonians unite to slow the spread of COVID-19, it's important to increase our lines of communication. Travel Oregon has created an online form to capture recent impacts on destinations and businesses. Please share your immediate needs, as well as any special promotions or inspirational stories happening during this challenging time. Complete the form and submit by March 27 to be included in upcoming content pieces and marketing and communication recovery efforts.

4. Support local businesses: Continue to support your local tourism businesses by buying gift certificates, planning a future trip, rescheduling events rather than cancelling, maintain local subscriptions, ordering takeout at restaurants, shipping wine to your doorstep or curbside pickup, leave reviews & social media mentions, shopping from local businesses online and donating money to relief efforts and organizations. Encourage potential visitors to Oregon to do the same. Here are ways visitors can support Oregon businesses right now.

Here are multiple resources to support Oregon businesses:

STATEWIDE RESOURCES

Travel Oregon COVID-19 toolkit- Consumer messaging and business resources
Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association- COVID-19 information and business resources
Business Oregon– Survival tips, Cash flow management, staffing, counseling and general resources
Nonprofit Association of Oregon – COVID-19 response, nonprofit employee support, funding, and management resources
Oregon Employment page COVID-19 Related Business Layoffs, Closures, and Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Oregon Office of Workforce Investments Guidance on Uses of Layoff Aversion Funding during COVID-19
Oregon Small Business Development Center – remote advising, classes and resources
Oregon Economic Development Association – a list of industry-specific resources for businesses in Oregon
Main Street America COVID-19 Resources - webinars, funding and resources for small businesses
USDA Rural Development has taken a number of immediate actions to help rural residents, businesses and communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Rural Development will keep its customers, partners, and stakeholders continually updated as more actions are taken to better serve rural America.

REGIONAL RESOURCES

RDMO COVID-19 Pages:

Additional Regional Resources:

CCD Business Development Corp—microlending program focused on COVID-19 needs for Coos, Curry and Douglas Counties
Community Emergency Loan Fund for entities in Coos Bay, Eugene, Florence, Medford, and Roseburg.
United Way of the Columbia Gorge - Community Response Fund or make a donation
Community Lending Works - Emergency loan fund for Lane County businesses
Lane County SHINE - Publicly funded free strategic consulting to help businesses avoid downsizing or layoffs
Eastern Oregon Workforce Board – layoff aversion funds available
Prosper Portland Small Business Relief Fund – grant and loans available for small businesses
United Way of Jackson County – financial support to nonprofits of Jackson County

FUNDING

SBA's Disaster Loan Assistance - Small business guidance & loan resources
Women’s Foundation of Oregon COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund - 501c3 or fiscally sponsored direct service organizations who have shown their commitment to serving women, girls, and their families & communities, and/or are working on issues of gender oppression
Oregon Community Foundation- Quick response grants to non-profits particularly affected including the Oregon Community Recovery Fund and Oregon Small Business Stabilization Fund
Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) Program - supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas
Facebook Small Business Grants Program - $100M in cash grants available for small businesses
Opportunity Fund’s Small Business Relief Fund - for small businesses impacted by COVID-19
MusiCares Fund - The Recording Academy® COVID-19 Relief Fund - to help our peers in the music community affected by the Coronavirus
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund - immediate assistance, with a limited amount of funds available to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus
Cerf+ - emergency assistance available to established artists working in a craft discipline that meet eligibility requirements

BUSINESS SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

Built Oregon is encouraging residents to purchase gift certificates. If your company offers gift certificates, please add your company to this list
The Timely Help—free service to sell eGift cards and get donations
Kabbage – businesses can sign up to sell gift certificates [$15-$500] online & send custom links to their customers (2.5% payment processing charge per certificate)
Portland Community SOS is encouraging the public to support Portland small businesses through the purchase of gift certificates and gifts. Get your business listed today.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership Webinars - a series of free webinars on a variety of topics designed to provide constructive information to manufacturers about successfully managing their businesses now and in the future
Why Knowing Your Customers is More Important Than Ever Webinar (3/30)
What You Need to Know About Economic Injury Disaster Loans Webinar (3/31)
COVID-19 & Main Street: Organizational Health Check-Up Webinar (3/31 at 11 AM)
Social Media 101: Maintaining Your Customers during COVID-19 Webinar (4/6)
Going Online: Digital Sales in the Era of COVID-19 Webinar (4/13)
Startup Sales & Marketing Tips Webinar (4/20)
Getting Kids Excited About Entrepreneurship Webinar (4/27)
Destination International’s Weekly COVID-19 Webinar
Stay Connected to Your Customers Recorded Webinar

CULINARY & AGRITOURISM

OSU Small Farms & Food Producers Guidance
Oregon Department of Agriculture – resources to support agriculture-based businesses to protect business operations, employees, and consumers
Oregon Wine Board COVID19 Toolkit - resources related to Oregon’s wine industry
Oregon Wineries that will ship to your door or offer curbside pickup – add your winery to this list or consider purchasing to support the Oregon Wine industry
Food Northwest Coronavirus Resources – Social Distancing in Food Manufacturing, Food Safety & Coronavirus Disease
MainVest, a crowdfunding platform, announced its new Main Street Initiative: a $2,000, zero-interest, 120-day loan for restaurants or other brick and mortars affected by the shutdown. Learn more.
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund
James Beard Foundation Food and Beverage Industry Relief Fund
Save Oregon Restaurants – a local social media campaign to support Oregon restaurants

OUTDOOR RECREATION

Oregon Outdoors - visitor recreation resources
Oregon Outdoors - industry recreation resources
America Outdoors – resource hub for outdoor recreation outfitters
Outdoor Industry Association – resource hub for outdoor recreation industry
Adventure Travel Trade Association – adventure travel and trade resources
Oregon State Parks Close March 23rd - announcement
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife closes wildlife areas to camping March 22. Wildlife areas that are currently open remain open to visitors for day-use activities including wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation.
The Oregon Department of Forestry campgrounds currently closed for the season will not reopen for individual or group use. Year-round campgrounds closed March 23. All day-use and campground restrooms are temporarily closed due to limited janitorial services. A reopening date for all restrooms and state forest campgrounds has not yet been determined. During this time, trails, forest roads and trailheads on state forestlands will remain open to the public.

Connect with your local visitor information center for more information about closures in recreation areas

EDUCATIONAL ARTICLES

COLLABORATIVE RESPONSES FROM THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Hood Gorge: The Columbia River Gorge Tourism Alliance developed the #GorgeLove campaign to build community during this challenging time. A new website has launched and efforts to spread love through social media are starting to unfold. Link to website.
Willamette Valley: Travel Lane County collected information about business open for take-out or delivery and sent out an email detailing how you can support local businesses. View that email here.Leaders in Benton County Business Guide curated a living guide highlighting current takeout options, alternative hours, online ordering and closures.
Portland Region: Travel Portland developed a #PortlandTogether campaign to support local businesses. The campaign focuses on encouraging visitors and residents to purchase gift cards to local businesses. Learn more about this campaign by visiting their website. Click here to download #PortlandTogether graphics.
Oregon Coast: Visit Tillamook Coast and the Tillamook Chamber of Commerce developed the campaign “Takeout Time,” a social giveaway of $2500 in local restaurant gift certificates. Visitors and residents are encouraged to use the hashtag #tillamooktakeout to enter the competition. Watch their inspirational video about the program here.
Central and Southern Oregon: Creating #southernoregonstrong & #centraloregonstrong movements that support small businesses & a sense of regional community and positivity
Eastern Oregon: Last week, Barley Browns shifted to takeout with free takeout to those who have lost their service industry jobs. La Grande Main Street has compiled a list of local restaurants and what food services they are providing. Pendleton's Downtown Association and Chamber are working closely together to keep their stakeholders informed and up to date on information & is actively using the #keeppendletoncooking.

We invite you to share this message widely with partners throughout the state. Our Travel Oregon industry eNewsletter will contain more resources, industry updates, and notices of rescheduled dates - be sure to sign up.

If there are more resources you’ve seen that would help others in your community – be sure to share them in this thread and on your local community’s Basecamp page.

We appreciate your partnership. We’re here for you. Let us know how we can be of assistance during this difficult time.

Stay healthy & safe,
The Destination Development Team
Travel Oregon