Fort George Brewery Returns Astoria to Its Canning Roots – But This Time It Is Beer

Fort George Brewery’s Plans for a Bigger Brewery and Canning Line Creates 12 New Jobs

Astoria, OR, July 20, 2010:

With the help of a $150,000 forgivable loan from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund, the Fort George Brewery will be able to install a bigger brewhouse and a new canning line for its fast-growing microbrewery and create 12 new jobs in Astoria.  This project provides an excellent example of public and private interests working together to contribute to the economic growth and vitality of Clatsop County.

The company purchased the Ft. George Block in downtown Astoria in October 2009 with the help of a Small Business Administration loan. But they needed some more financial partners to make improvements and install the new equipment to increase their brewing capacity and produce their first cans of microbrew. The SBA and ShoreBank Enterprise Cascadia came through with additional loans and local Urban Renewal funds also helped.

Fort George Brewery worked closely with Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) and their Small Business Development Center through the SRF application process.  The $150,000 SRF was the final piece in the financing puzzle that should allow the company to start canning its beer by the end of 2010.  These improvements to the Fort George block come at the same time as other urban renewal investments are being made to adjacent blocks in the downtown area, many of which will be completed by the City of Astoria’s bicentennial celebration in 2011.

Currently Fort George Brewery produces all of its products in kegs.  The ability to produce its products in 16-ounce cans will allow the company to significantly expand its market by gaining access to retail outlet shelf space outside the region and the state and will increase the capacity of the brewery from four- to six-fold, or approximately 6,000 barrels a year.  The canning operation will also allow for full utilization of the 30-barrel brewing system currently being installed.

In addition to the direct benefits the company and local economy will realize from the canning operation, the use of cans is evolving as a preferred package for the distribution of craft beer.  Not only are cans better for product quality and less expensive to ship and store, the expansive market for recycled aluminum, as opposed to the limited market for recycled glass, results in cans being more ecologically friendly than bottles.

CONTACT:    Rick Gardner, 503.738.3346 or via e-mail, rgardner@clatsopcc.edu

CLATSOP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
ELECTS BOARD AND OFFICERS AT ANNUAL MEETING

Seaside, OR – Clatsop Economic Development Resources (CEDR) announced election of new directors and officers following its annual board of directors meeting October 26, 2009. Skip Hauke, executive director of the Astoria/Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, will serve the board as its president; Larry Popkin, managing member of Campbell Popkin, LLC will serve as vice-president; Steve Ferber, CEO and president of Clatsop Community Bank will serve as treasurer; and Cindy Howe, executive director of Sunset Empire Transportation District will serve as secretary. New directors elected to the board include: Rosemary Baker-Monaghan, executive director of the Liberty Theater; June Pearson, marketing manager of TLC Credit Union; Erik Thorsen, COO of Columbia Memorial Hospital; Robert Stang, president of the Columbia River Business Alliance; Kristi Ward, public affairs manager of Georgia-Pacific Wauna Mill; Jeff Jewel, executive director of the Cannon Beach Chamber of Commerce; and Patti Atkins, public relations manager at Providence Hospital. Twelve previously elected directors will continue their service.

“Our October board of directors meeting marked the one-year anniversary of CEDR, and it has been a busy year,” said newly elected board president Skip Hauke. “CEDR has responded to the economic recession by providing critical resources to Clatsop County businesses, and we are meeting or exceeding all of the commitments we made to our stakeholders when we formed the organization.”

In year two, CEDR will continue service as a one-stop organization for Clatsop County businesses and entrepreneurs seeking economic development services. In addition, CEDR plans to offer membership in the organization as a way for small businesses to participate in guiding economic development efforts countywide.

CEDR is a private, non-profit organization providing Clatsop County businesses with comprehensive economic development services, including business counseling, assistance in accessing capital, workforce services, and access to specialized regional support. Businesses seeking services may contact CEDR at Clatsop Community College’s South County Campus or by calling 503.738.5490. For more information, visit clatsoped.com.

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Are you a business owner concerned about competing with the “big-box” retailers?

Plan on joining Cynthia McBurney, retail consultant and Walmart specialist on Tuesday, November 10th from 6:30pm-9:30 at the Holiday Express Inn Astoria.

Topics include:

• Overview of Walmart business practices
• Strategies to help your business survive the big box retailers
• How to conduct an evaluation of your business’s readiness to compete

Cost is $25 and seating it limited, call Clatsop Community College at (503) 738-3346 to pre-register (CRN#4094).

Wednesday, November 11th Ms. McBurney will be available for 30-45 minute one-on-one consultations at your business to address your specific concerns. Cost is $50.

http://clatsoped.com/

Smart Marketing:
The Marketing Seminar Your
Competitors Hope You Will Miss.

http://clatsoped.com/TotalValue.pdf

CEDR Website

Sherk is the retired president and part owner of the seventh largest privately held company in Oregon.  He currently owns a successful private consulting business and has worked with several hundred small business owners over the past nine years. An award winning instructor at the Mt. Hood Community College Small Business Development Center, he is also a featured speaker at marketing seminars in the Northwest.

Attendees will be taken through the process of developing a great Value Proposition, learn the proven strategies and ideas to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the marketplace and tips on promoting their business on a limited budget.

Rick Gardner, Executive Director of CEDR noted, “This is an opportunity for local business people to learn from an expert and to become smarter marketers. Part of the mission of CEDR and our area Chambers is to educated business to the constantly changing marketing environment. We’re pleased to be able to bring Bob Sherk here to help do that.”

There is no charge for the seminar and reservations are not required. A fourth “Business 101” seminar “Weathering Wal-Mart” with some strategies for surviving and thriving with the big box stores will be held November 10 at the Astoria Holiday Inn from 6:30-9:30 pm.

-End-

Date: September 10, 2009

From:  Economic Development Alliance of Lincoln County

Contact: Caroline Bauman – ecdev@orcoast.com

Re:  Selling to NOAA and other Federal Agencies

Two FREE training sessions have been set-up to help small business owners learn what it takes to be able to sell to NOAA and other federal governmental agencies.  Many small business owners don’t consider selling their products or services to government agencies, yet those that do often get paid well as a result.

Rick Evan and Dee Edwards with the Government Contract Assistance Program (GCAP) will be in our county during September and October to lead two training seminars and conduct one-to-one advising sessions with business owners.  During the 3½ hour seminars participants will learn:

*  GCAP – Who we are and how we can help.

*  Federal Contracting – The First Steps

Codes

Registrations

Funding Leads and Solicitations

Federal Acquisition Regulations – FAR

The first seminar will be held Tuesday, September 29, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Community Room at the Oregon Coast Community College campus in South Beach.  The address is 400 SE College Way, Newport, Oregon 97366.

The second seminar will be held Tuesday, October 13, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon in the Conference Room at the Toledo Library.  The address is  171 NW 7th Street Toledo, Oregon 97391.

Following the training sessions individual advising sessions will take place during the afternoon (1:00 to 5:00) and the following day (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).  A limited number of advising sessions are available.  Participants interested in reserving an advising session need to contact ecdev@orcoast.com to reserve a time.  Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis.  Participants need to indicate the date and time they would like to reserve in their email request.

More training and advising sessions will be scheduled this fall if need be.

Executive Director, J. Rick Evans – Mr. Evans has been associated with GCAP since December of 1986.  Mr. Evans is currently the Executive Director of The Organization for Economic Initiatives, Inc/OEI, GCAP is one of the programs managed by OEI. Mr. Evans is a Certified Contracting Assistance Specialist (CCAS), and has attended extensive government contracting training conferences. Mr. Evans has taught courses on selling to the government, proposal preparation, how to bid on contracts, and marketing to the government. He has appeared on several panels on a variety of contracting subjects. Prior to his GCAP experience, Mr. Evans worked for a major aerospace firm in marketing as a proposal development specialist and holds B.A. and M.A. degrees.

Program Manager, Dee Edwards – Ms. Edwards has been with GCAP since 1988.  With over 20 years of experience with GCAP, Ms. Edwards has counseled thousands of Oregon businesses.  In October of 2006, Ms. Edwards was promoted to Program Manager of GCAP.  Ms Edwards is an Associate Contracting Assistance Specialist (ACAS) and has attended numerous government contracting trainings as well as teaching numerous courses.