Ready for a grilling?

The Small Business Development Center at Oregon Coast Community College has been in something of a drought. Certainly, the past 15 months have been the busiest in the SBDC’s history, in terms of the number of local businesses it has helped and provided with free advice.

However, since the dawn of the pandemic, the campus’ barbecue grills have sat empty. Cold. Forlorn.

Now that folks are interested in gathering together once again to network, catch up and learn the latest business news, those grills are being fueled and cleaned to be ready for a busy summer.

Business Over Burgers is a new series presented by the SBDC in concert with the Lincoln City and Greater Newport chambers of commerce. Together these organizations are inviting local businesses to come together at the Lincoln City and Newport campuses on the second and fourth Mondays of July and August, and the second Monday of September, for fresh-grilled hamburgers — and robust business discussions.

The first of these sessions is set for Monday, July 12, at the north campus.

“We’re excited to welcome the business community back to campus and our SBDC offices,” said Dave Price, OCCC’s vice president for engagement and entrepreneurship, a role that includes oversight of the Small Business Development Center. “The pandemic hit our county hard, and events like this will lay the foundation for recovery, as people get to meet in person once again, and have the opportunity to share best practices, to learn more about how the recovery is going in various parts of our county.”

The event will feature time for business owners and managers to meet and talk with each other, along with a special presentation from State Rep. David Gomberg and State Sen. Dick Anderson. These local legislators, both Lincoln County residents, will recap the legislative session that just ended, and summarize some of the key outcomes of the session for Lincoln County and local organizations.

Upcoming sessions of Business Over Burgers will feature presentations on cyber-security and an update on the many economic development projects currently underway in Toledo. On July 26, the topic will be “Pandemic Silver Linings,” during which guests will be asked to share what business practices they began to survive and thrive in the pandemic that they plan on continuing moving forward.

Lunch is free for any recent or current SBDC client, or for any member of any Lincoln County chamber of commerce. Otherwise, lunch is $5. Anyone not eating may attend free of charge.

Business Over Burgers will run from noon to 1 pm at OCCC’s North County Center is located at 3788 SE High School Drive in Lincoln City. 

For more information and to register, go to oregoncoast.edu/sbdc.

 Still hungry? Sign up for the full meal deal.

The SBDC is accepting applications from interested candidates for the Small Business Management Program for 2021-2022. The program features monthly classes, many of which feature guest speakers who are experts in their fields on a variety of different topics. The program also features monthly one-on-one advising sessions with Small Business Development Center Counselor Misty Lambrecht or another SBDC advisor. The program is only $200 per academic term and there are generous scholarships available, including a 100-percent tuition scholarship from the City of Lincoln City for any Lincoln City business, along with a similar program in Waldport.

To learn more, call 541-994-4166, or go to oregoncoast.edu/small-business-management/.