Today's News and Links 

  • SURVEY: Tell us how you’re doing and what you need
  • Governor Kate Brown to Hold Press Availability on Phase II of Reopening
  • More: Updated information on overnight camps
  • Today at 5 p.m.: Wednesday protest march planned through St. Helens
Take this survey,
tell us how your business is doing and what we can do to help

We want to hear from you! This is the third week of Columbia County's re-opening and we want to know where you stand, how you are doing and what we can do to assist you. – CCET
Governor Kate Brown to Hold Press
Availability on Phase II of Reopening

The Governor will address Phase II Re-opening, which may be of interest since Columbia County is successfully moving through Phase I. If you’re unable to watch, we’ll post the recording here . -- CCET
(Salem, OR) — Governor Kate Brown will hold a press availability today to discuss Phase II of reopening under her framework for building a safe and strong Oregon. She will be joined by Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen and Dr. Dean Sidelinger.
The press availability will be held by teleconference today, Wednesday, June 3, at 11:00 AM PST.
Members of the media must RSVP for call-in information by emailing  Nikki Fisher . A live stream will be available for the public  here .
Teleconference information will be provided to all reporters who RSVP to participate remotely. We will have an operator-assisted teleconference line available for this press conference. Thank you for working with us to ensure the health and safety of all participants.
Updates to sector-specific guidance will be made available at  coronavirus.oregon.gov . The Governor’s Office continues to work with the Oregon Health Authority to update health and safety guidance for the reopening process. Members of the public with questions about the reopening process are encouraged to visit  coronavirus.oregon.gov .
More from the State of Oregon:
Updated information on overnight camps.

The following announcement was released Tuesday from the Northwest regional representative for the Governor’s office. It applies restrictions to organizational camps, not to individual camping. Find full guidance here. -- CCET
 
“After much consideration, and in consultation with the Oregon Health Authority and local public health officials, our office will not be allowing overnight camps to operate this summer. We are seeing increased cases in migrant housing and other settings involving overnight programming and, when it comes to Oregon’s children, we can’t take the risk of opening overnight summer camps. Our office will continue to work with the Oregon Health Authority to determine whether overnight camps and outdoor schools can operate under modified guidance in the fall.”

“Organizations that typically rent their facilities to adults or families may continue to do so, as long as meals and other programming are not provided. Organizations should refer to the  Outdoor Recreation Guidance  for this level of operation. We apologize for this disruption in services and recognize the financial impact this has on your organizations, as well as the loss it may present to children and families. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work to determine what is best for Oregonians while living with COVID-19.”
 
“I recognize this decision directly impacts a number of organizations in our region. Several have been engaged in the planning and decision-making along the way. We are working to get this information disseminated. Please feel free to share and let me know if you have questions or concerns.”
 
“For clarification, this direction is relating to organizational camps offering overnight summer camps, such as Camp Meriwether, Twin Rocks Friends Camp, Camp Magruder, Camp Kiwanilong, 4-H, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, YMCA, etc. This does not apply to campgrounds and camping.”
Today at 5 p.m.:
Wednesday protest march planned through St. Helens

For businesses and the public to be aware, today at 5 p.m. a planned peaceful protest will occur in downtown St. Helens. You’re encouraged to plan and act accordingly, observing guidance from the city and COVID physical distancing and public health guidance from the state. The following is a statement released by St. Helens Police concerning the planned march and rally in St. Helens on Wednesday. – CCET

“To the St. Helens Community,
We hear you. We are upset and saddened by acts of racism and racial injustice. Most of our officers live in this community. Our friends and families are here. This is where our children attend school and where we shop and dine. We support your concerns regarding the need for systematic change across the nation in police response. The people who make our laws need to hear your voice so that this change can become a reality.
Our Department has been in contact with the organizers of the protest being planned for Wednesday, June 3 at 5 p.m. in St. Helens. For community safety, the protest will now be using the Lewis and Clark Elementary School parking lot to park their vehicles and assemble. The protest will then proceed down Columbia Boulevard to South 1st Street and into the Plaza Square and Columbia View Park area.
Although this event is not permitted by the City due to the Governor’s orders restricting gatherings over 25 people, we understand that right now people need a platform in which to voice their sadness and anger and hear their call for these issues to be addressed.
At this point, we have no reason to believe that this will be anything other than a peaceful protest, and we are working with the group organizers and other community members who have contacted us to ensure that it remains so.
Our police officers will be at the protest with the safety of everyone as our number one priority. We encourage all attendees to obey all laws. Respect our community residents, business owners, and their property. By respectful of each other and protest in a peaceful fashion so that your voice can be heard.
We will be there to facilitate a peaceful protest. We will protect those who wish to exercise their First Amendment rights and ensure the safety of our community members.”
Thank you,
Chief Brian Greenway
Columbia County Economic Team (CCET) and Keep It Local are working to assist businesses navigate through the Coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic disruption….and plan for recovery. Business survival and retention is a top priority. We all want to emerge from the other side of this able to restore our businesses, livelihoods and economy. Reaching out countywide, Columbia County Economic Team will be communicating with you regularly.
 
If you have received this email as a forward from a friend and wish to receive future COVID business retention, resiliency and recovery updates from CCET, please contact us at:  wnegelspach@columbiacountyoregon.com  or click here  to be added to our list. to be added to our list. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn by clicking the buttons below.

Paul Vogel
Interim Executive Director
Columbia County Economic Team