Connect with us

Eugene

Area Businesses Hope To Rebound In The Waning Months Of Calamitous 2020

Published

on

With the pandemic and natural disasters taking an economic toll, it’d be an understatement to say 2020 wasn’t a boom time for most business owners.  As the holiday retail season gets underway, hopes still run high in Lane County for the rest of the year.

At the recent annual economic summit presented by the Eugene Chamber of Commerce and Oregon Community Credit Union, managers spoke of layoffs, depressed profits, and postponing expansions.

Destroyed store sign and gas station, Blue River, Oregon.
CREDIT BRIAN BULL / KLCC

Lane County Workforce Analyst Henry Fields explained how many events in 2020 hurt businesses, including Oregon’s summer wildfires.

“When you look at the height of the fires, there were nearly a quarter million workers in Evacuation Zones 1-3. That’s 21,000 businesses,” Fields told the audience via Zoom.

“That’s a tremendous impact and it doesn’t include things like disruption of work through smoke.”

Fields added that while 2020’s economic blowout is comparable to the 2008 Recession, jobs recovery has happened far quicker.  The continued fortunes for area businesses will rely heavily on people buying and supporting local.

You may also like…

Crime & Safety2 days ago

Woman routinely beat her child with belt, made the boy stay trapped in a cIoset and left him lying on the floor restrained because she would catch the maInourished child ‘stealing food’; charged

Missouri – A Missouri woman was taken into custody and later charged with multiple offenses, including abuse or neglect of...

Oregon3 days ago

Governor Tina Kotek directs Oregon Department of Forestry to pause appeals process for Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map until after legislative session

Eugene, OR – Governor Tina Kotek has directed the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to continue accepting appeals of the Oregon...

Oregon3 days ago

Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Produce Safety Program to offer free remote PSA Grower Training courses this spring

Oregon – The Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Produce Safety Program will host several remote Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training courses this...

Eugene6 days ago

Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee to hold virtual meeting on Feb. 21 to discuss staffing, planning, and habitat conservation

Eugene, OR – The Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee (FTLAC) will meet virtually on Friday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m. The...

Oregon6 days ago

Oregon Department of Agriculture and WSDA warn pet owners after avian influenza found in raw pet food

Oregon – The Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Agriculture are warning pet owners about the risks...

Oregon6 days ago

Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopts changes to sea urchin regulations, maintains limits on commercial permits

Oregon – The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted changes to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations for sea...

News1 week ago

OEM activates State Emergency Coordination Center in response to winter storm impacting Western Oregon

Oregon – The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has activated the State Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) to Level 3...

News1 week ago

Eugene Police Department earns re-accreditation with Northwest Accreditation Alliance

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department earned re-accreditation with the Northwest Accreditation Alliance on January 8, 2025, following a thorough...

Crime & Safety1 week ago

Community Safety Payroll Tax funds Eugene Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit to address high-impact criminal activity

Eugene, OR – According to the police officials, Eugene Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit plays a vital role in maintaining...

Crime & Safety1 week ago

Woman claims her partner began to yell at her and pushed her against a wall because their special needs child soiIed his pants before putting the boy to sleep, grabbing a gun and killing the man; sentenced

Florida – A Florida woman, later identified as 39-year-old Lauri, was ordered to serve twenty five years behind bards after...

Eugene1 week ago

Multi-state burglary ring arrests made following extensive investigation by Eugene Police and surrounding agencies

Eugene, OR – Eugene Police have dedicated significant resources to investigating a multi-state burglary ring since the arrests of three individuals...

Trending