Within five years from the first claim here, the Shastas and Takelmas were gone, decimated by our diseases or removed to remote reservations .. Ashlands retail stores and restaurants are still trying to recover from the festivals closure and stop-start jolts of the pandemic. . Diners throng the outdoor seating along Calle Guanajuato, the pedestrian way along Ashland Creek. Tourists stroll down Main Street, most of them maskless. 
In fact, it is likely that worker pay is understated in Ashlands AE&R industry for several reasons. Ashlands economy is grounded in tourism. A free "Green Show" performance outside of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Allen Elizabethan Theater. They didnt care what was playing at OSF; theyd be there.. Ashlands exceptional early powder and OSFs first ever holiday production, Its Christmas, Carol! On May 10, Standing Stone Brewing Company, a fixture in downtown Ashland for 26 years, announced it would close permanently at the end of the month. Different vintage years of estimates are not comparable. Music, food, farm tours and kids activities are all on tap Sunday, July 24, at The Crest Fest, a fundraiser at Willow Witt Ranch east of Ashland. Read more. 2022 Southern Oregon Business Journal. Swap Services and Luxury Items like Cars, Real Estate, Rentals, Ashland Oregon Chamber of Commerce HOME, Business Referral Marketing Every Tuesday 8:00 9:30 am Ashla, Victoria Markham A Conversation About Grief. As of 2019, has 272 employees at the hospital and another 100 employees with the Asante Physician Partners clinics. The free, open-to-the-public Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) open house Friday in Stevenson Union at Southern Oregon University will not only showcase more than 100 fall course offerings and offer a chance to mingle with instructors, there will be dozens of exhibits of SOU programs and presentations by community nonprofit partners plus the chance to enter free drawings and win a variety of door prizes. The city of Ashland has put out the welcome mat for psilocybin treatment within city limits, following the lead of 80% of Ashland voters who voted in favor of Measure 109 on the 2020 ballot. However, casual observation indicates our local economy has actually been relatively stable over the past two years, in spite of the shuttered theaters. Be a part of it! The mass exodus from the restaurant biz is a national trend, and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that quit rates remain higher in foodservice than in any other industry. . Moving here on retirement, attracted by the quality of life of our city and region, this group benefits our economy in two ways. Email Ashland resident, economic consultant and Ashland.news board member and columnist Gary G. Anderson at garyandersonmm@gmail.com. In Ashland, average home prices and rents were already significantly higher than most of Jackson County before the Almeda Fire devastated the valley. Nearly one-quarter of the population of our zip code is over 65 years old, compared with only 18 percent of Oregons population and 16 percent of the population in the United States. The outdoor recreation industry has expanded in recent years and is a draw for those operating businesses as well as those choosing our area to visit for these world-class opportunities. The recent U.S. Census identifies a second unusual feature of our city. I believe that smoky wildfire seasons are here to stay, says Lewis. Two shows close at the end of July and two new shows open in mid and late August. For example, our local economy certainly suffered from the loss of OSF performances during the past two years. 
New colors teal, blue, and a sunny gold infuse Travel Ashlands revamped website and the latest visitors guide. The 1970s saw some of the highest rates of inflation, Middle Market optimism surges +24 points over pre-pandemic levels: more than 70% of companies embrace continued adaptation with significant changes to strategy and operations anticipated Umpqua Bank, a subsidiary ofUmpqua Holdings Corporation(NASDAQ:UMPQ), released its annual 2021 Business Barometer, an in-depth study into the mood, mindset, and strategic priorities of nearly 1,200 leaders at small and, Why is a kicker in the news? Drawing on technical skills and resources, and attracted here by the quality of life and amenities, this category can be expected to continue to grow even faster in the future given strategic support and assistance. Many of Ashlands most successful firms began as home-based businesses, and when they outgrew their homes, moved to larger facilities. Something went wrong. 864 Neil Creek RoadAshland, OR. Theres some momentum afoot.. The local ski resort had some of their most successful seasons during the pandemic. People were seeing that in the news, and that was driving them to go to places where there is still capacity, says Towle, adding that Mt. Ashland Business Resource Portal - 2022 - All Rights Reserved | Handcrafted in Ashland, Oregon by, (NAICcode categories 5411, 5412, 5414, 5416, 5418, 5419), (includingNAICcodes 3254, 3345, 5112, 5171, 5179, 5182, 51913, 5413, 5415, 5417), Southern Oregon Small Business Development Center. The Oregon travel industry continued to exhibit strong growth in 2018 as all measures of travel activity were up over 2017. When Gibbs talked to his customers, he learned they were there to go mountain biking or on wine tours, or were simply passing through on their way to somewhere else. Standing Stone Brewing Company (SSBC) will be closing permanently. The festival claims its state economic impact was over $120 million in 2019, the year before the pandemic. A community of neighbors exchanging freely hOurworld is an international network of Hour Exchange organizations (time banks). In Ashland, thousands of tourism jobs generate millions of dollars a year in lodging and food and beverage taxes not to mention the support of hundreds of businesses. Information from an economic development strategy study conducted for Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Incorporated (SOREDI) in the fall of 2019, and data from the 2020 U.S. Census, as well as observation and interviews, suggests that other industries may, in fact, already be sharing in support of our economy. Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Napa is like the Disneyland of the wine world, says Gibbs. Talent lost 1/3 of our housing in the Almeda fire, including much of our more affordable housing. Gibbs was having trouble filling shifts at his two restaurants, so he cut service from five nights a week down to four. In 2022, the first full season under Artistic Director Nataki Garrett, OSF is offering eight live shows and three virtual productions. Uncrowded trails and cultural attractions are also draws. For some, the aid was not enough. Ashland Ski Area who also serves on the Travel Ashland Advisory Committee, the study confirmed what he already knew. TOT revenues remained depressed throughout 2020 and into 2021, but toward the end of the year, they rebounded. KCEDA and, By Rachel EliotAccountant at Peoples Bank of Commerce In the early years of the 1970s the easy-money policies of the American central bank designed to generate full employment resulted in high inflation. Garrett and Executive Director David Schmitz instituted these changes to increase accessibility and inclusion and to lead the American theater at large in that direction, says Zidell. About three-fourths of leisure and hospitality workers worked in food services and drinking places. Deborah Davis Womens Qigong & Medical Intuitive Readings, Sheila Burns & Karen Chapman Bloomsbury Books, Dr. John Hyatt Retina and Vitreous Center of Southern Oregon, Monique Manning: Celebrated Bellydancer, Yoga Instructor, and Mother, Essential Wellness, Featuring Cafe Aroma & AromaDome, Anne Stine, MA, MFT Wilderness Rites, LLC, Ashlands Own Mederi Center Affecting Change In Healthcare Here and Around the World, Nightingales Inn Pam Dehnke & Darrell James, Dr. Mark Force Treating the Root Not the Symptom, SavinaCirelli LUnica Skin Care & Sugaring. A champion steward of the land, Mt. Source: Oregon Employment Department, 2017. Those who remained on staff during COVID saw fewer shifts, fewer customers, and a drastic cut in wages. The company has done away with its dynamic pricing model, where ticket prices fluctuated with demand; instead, ticket prices are fixed and have been slashed across the board. OSF reopened with a limited season in 2021, but in August, most of the performances of the festivals only running show were canceled because of smoke. Blue Toba Authentic Indonesian Food The Secret is Out. Taken together, these employment clusters high-tech home-based employment, senior living and elder care, performing arts tourism, outdoor and culinary tourism, and high-tech product development constitute a very diverse and balanced economy, with each sector effectively supported by the resources of our region. Some were lured by Mt. Small innovative technology companies and film makers benefit from a high fiber network with AFN (Ashland Fiber Network) allowing them to do business globally. Employees of the City manage and maintain key electric, fiber, water and transportation infrastructure essential to the success of the local economy as well as public safety and parks and recreation services that maintain an outstanding quality of life. They are also a response to the declining audience numbers Garrett and Schmitz inherited when they joined OSF, he adds. For Hiram Towle, general manager at Mt. Even our tourist attractions are more diverse and complicated than policy makers often presume. For similar reasons, the Rogue Valleys uncrowded tasting rooms have an advantage over better known wine regions, says Gibbs. KS Wild Side: Rogue Riverkeeper works with volunteers and partner organizations to collect water samples weekly from more than 15 recreation sites and other locations where people commonly enjoy streams, rivers, and lakes, and posts results on the Swim Guide webpage and on the Swim Guide app. An established tourism base with over 350,000 visitors annually underscore the quality of life and exceptional cultural amenities grounded by the presence of the of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival since 1935. 97520, USA. The 2022 schedule is also staggered so that fewer shows are running in late summer, when its often smoky. Over the past 10 years, there has been significant private sector investment and improvements in the many millions of dollars into buildings and businesses that were expanded and with new or newly purchased and relocated businesses creating economic growth. Wages and benefits total over $25 million annually for the hospital. Of course, some aspects of our industry clusters were hit hard were hit hard by the Almeda Fire, exacerbating an already serious housing shortage. They create jobs for other people who can provide senior services and elder care, and they bring money to the city in the same way that seasonal tourists do, but live here year-round. In the years from 2006 to 2015, attendance percentages ranged in the high 80s to low 90s; in the period from 2016 to 2019, they had dipped to the low to mid 80s. Blake Zidell, OSFs press representative, told JPR that OSF is responsible for a full 20% of overall economic activity in the Rogue Valley. OSF has received $14.71 million in pandemic relief funds, including $10 million through the federal Shuttered Venue Operators grant program. General merchandise stores (-20) and local government excluding education and tribal (-20) also shed a few jobs over the month. Ashland. At 16.7 percent, Ashland has a high percentage of self-employed workers (2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year estimates). Travel Ashland is responsible for promoting Ashland as a tourist destination and ultimately, helping fuel the towns economy. [It did not] put OSF ahead of where the organization was, financially, before the pandemic. The festival is still struggling with staffing shortages. Of those, roughly one out of nine were employed in accommodations, about the same as in arts, entertainment, and recreation. 
Trade for a car, swap a timeshare or apartment, exchange for design services, massage,, Ashland Business Connections is a business networking organization that helps members increase their business through a structured, positive, and professional, Introduction to Cryptography Protect Your Privacy, Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide & Checklist, My Minimalist Office Set-Up For Working Remotely, How To Work From Home Successfully (Habits, Handling Distraction. The Business Journal for Southern Oregon. Weve heard anecdotally from our partners that the end of 2021 was one of the strongest (third quarters) theyve ever experienced, says Cato, adding that lodging owners were able to keep their room rates up through this period. Read more . Giving Small Business a Voice in Oregon since 2015. We have the arts and culture; were not stepping away from that, says Cato. Here, she argues, Ashland has advantages, even if people havent discovered them yet. Inflation, high gas prices, and another drought-fueled fire season may yet dampen enthusiasm for travel. The Shakespearian tagline Ashland: As you like it has been updated with the more active Ashland: Live your daydreams. Proudly Serving Benton, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln & Linn Counties. As managers, we were left with a much smaller workforce to recruit from, says Lewis. In addition, our hotels and restaurants benefit from tourists drawn to the recreational opportunities of the Rogue Valley and the culinary attractions that derive from the regions vineyards, wineries and other specialty agriculture. They note a need for better signage and more camping options in or close to town, including places where people can safely sleep in their vans or campers. A healthy OSF is vital to Ashlands economy. In 2018, OSF canceled or moved 26 performances and lost nearly $2 million because of wildfire smoke. The October through December quarter brought in $533,830 nearly $100,000 more than that same period in 2020, and not far below 2019 or 2018 levels. The challenges are not going away. Valley have seen growth and development with
Capital investment in Klamath County continues to rise, and we believe this growing momentum is just the beginning. Elisha Lewis, manager at Standing Stone, cites a combination of blows that made recovering impossible, starting with smoky summers that reduced tourist traffic. The research, conducted byFuturiomResearch, shows that Douglas County, Oregon, served by ISPDouglas Fast Net(DFN), has successfully leveraged fiber broadband to create jobs, improve quality, MEDFORD, Ore.,April 20, 2022/PRNewswire/ Lithia & Driveway (NYSE: LAD) today reported the highest first quarter revenue and earnings per share in company history. Oregons Leisure and Hospitality Industry, Paving the way to Talents Long-Term Recovery, Douglas County, Oregon Creates $28M Economic Impact with Fiber Each Year, LITHIA & DRIVEWAY (LAD) INCREASES REVENUE 54%, EPS 99%, AND ADJUSTED EPS 103%, RECORD FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE, Long-Time Ashland Brewery to Close Its Doors After 26 Years, KCEDA launches Klamath County, Oregon is Leading the Way in Economic Opportunity Video on YouTube, Umpqua Banks 2021 Business Barometer: Surging Optimism and Transformational Shifts Position Middle Market Companies for Growth Amid Continued Disruption, Churchill Mortgage Continues Expansion in Pacific Northwest with Acquisition of Salem Based Team Canales, Medford, OregonPlant Wins Airgas National Cylinder Fill Plant of the Year Award, Hazelnut Growers of Oregon Awarded SQF Level 3 Fourth Year in a Row at Its State-of-the-art Processing Facility, EVCS Raises $68.8 Million to Accelerate Expansion of West Coast EV Fast Charging Network. Some estimates presented here come from sample data, and thus have sampling errors that may render some apparent differences between geographies statistically indistinguishable. We continued to offer higher, competitive wages, but we werent seeing quality candidates apply.. Now, Travel Ashland is trying to change that perception. The social media page is just one aspect of a rebranding campaign Travel Ashland launched in response to the visitor study. Cultural and culinary amenities abound with primarily independently-owned businesses. Tags:Ashland, Southern Oregon, Tourism, Business. Bends booming tourism industry hits labor shortage snag, Oregon Shakespeare Festival seeks accessibility focus as it emerges from the COVID pandemic. Believing that the economy of Ashland is too dependent on the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), many recent candidates for City Council have argued that we need to diversify our economy away from tourism. Businesses who have the choice to operate anywhere choose Ashland and a high percentage of home-based businesses underscore the appeal. Food trucks, wine, beer, and soft drinks will be available, or people are welcome to bring their own food. Travel spending, employment and earnings continue to expand. Meanwhile, warming temperatures and a prolonged drought are helping fuel wildfires across the West, all but guaranteeing weeks of compromised air quality at the peak of summer. Ashland saw record visitorship last year, despite the less than stellar snow. While festival patrons, many of them older, wealthy retirees, stayed away, others came, once the first wave of the pandemic receded. Specialty manufacturing, food and beverage producers and artisans thrive in a creatively supportive environment. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is in full swing. For more information, please visit the 2020 5-year ACS Comparison Guidance page. On May 8, 2020, amid statewide pandemic restrictions, OSF canceled the rest of its 2020 season. However, retail business losses seem to have been concentrated in those stores that had been designed to take advantage of tourist traffic in the downtown area. Subscribe for free access to the online journal and we will followup with a short survey to find out learn more about you and your business. In November 2020, nearly a year into the pandemic, Travel Ashland hired Destination Analysts, a firm based in San Francisco, to conduct a visitor research and analyses study to better understand the new tourists coming to Ashland. Prices range from $35 to $75, whereas top tickets used to go for $132. Were just constantly building upon it.. Ashlands higher percentage is attributed, in part, to strong residential bandwidth provided by AFN. With a highly-educated visitor base, Ashland is growing in notoriety of being a rafting, cycling, trail running and hiking destination. Ashland isnt set up to accommodate campers, though people do spend the night there, says Towle. Youve got [restaurants] like Rubys and Growler Guys and Skout that really do appeal to the outdoor traveler, says Towle. Recently, they purchased the Ashland Orthopedic practice employing those surgeons. All Rights Reserved. The number of bed and breakfast inns has plummeted from over 30 to just 10. On the other hand, the attention that has been focused on economic issues over the past two years has identified a number of opportunities for improvement. Many of the chefs receiving state and national awards and recognition, Retail expansion and growth of local business with one local owner expanding into four unique locations downtown (Paddington Family of Stores) along with other specialty retail expansions in the downtown and future growth plans outside the downtown core, The Ashland Railroad District has grown and expanded its business offerings catering to not only a local but visitor clientele, Significant expansion of manufacturing with the growth of Darex Inc. and BioSkin, Sustainable businesses expanded with True South Solar and the relocation of Wholesale Solar to Ashland just to name a few, Technology firms increased their expansion and world-wide reach, Craft brewing industry expansion with the growth of Caldera Brewing Company, Wine industry has expanded dramatically in the last ten years with more vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms but also with world-class award-winning wines.