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 & Safety11 hours ago

Man threw his girIfriend’s chiId out the door like a bag after the 5-year-old refused to do chores or waIk back and forth outside in the severe heat, causing him to Iose consciousness and later die at the hospitaI: DA

Nebraska – According to Nebraska authorities, a newIy fiIed search warrants have revealed detaiIs about the aIIeged abuse suffered by...

Crime & Safety11 hours ago

Mon told poIice his girIfriend’s former spouse was foIIowing him and attempted to confront him on two separate occasions before he fataIIy stabed the man foIIowing a physicaI aItercation he cIaims the victim initiated; charged

Texas – A Texas man, 31-year-old J. Dogget, 31, was arrested earlier this week and charged with murder following the...

Eugene4 days ago

Eugene opens 56 new permanent supportive housing units downtown at Bridges on Broadway to serve residents experiencing chronic homelessness

Eugene, OR – Eugene has added 56 new units of permanent supportive housing to help residents experiencing chronic homelessness. Homes...

Eugene4 days ago

License plate reader alert leads Eugene Police to arrests after early-morning attempted vehicle break-ins

Eugene, OR – On August 22 at 3:01 a.m., a license plate reader camera alerted Eugene Police officers to a...

Eugene4 days ago

Eugene Springfield Fire deployed resources to Flat Fire near Sisters, supporting Lane County task forces

Eugene, OR – Eugene Springfield Fire (ESF) deployed two brush engines to the Flat Fire near Sisters as part of...

Crime & Safety6 days ago

SchooI counseIor who encouraged the minor student she was indcently assauIting for years to hide the lnappropriate reIationship by telling the girl, “If she tells anyone, she will take her own life,” was charged

Colorado – A Colorado schooI counseIor was taken into custody last week and is now facing multiple felony charges related to...

Crime & Safety6 days ago

Man who kiIIed his girIfriend carrying their unborn baby several days after the victim told her sister that he threw her on the floor, strangIed her, and if anything happened to her, it was because of him, was charged

Massachusetts – A Massachusetts man has been arrested and charged with the murder of his girIfriend, K. Montero. The young...

Eugene1 week ago

Red Flag Warning issued for Southern Willamette Valley Thursday afternoon

Eugene, OR – A Red Flag Warning has been issued from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, August 21, for...

Eugene1 week ago

Eugene Police SWAT assists federal firearms trafficking investigation

Eugene, OR – Just after 6 a.m. on August 19, 2025, Eugene Police SWAT provided assistance to the Bureau of...

Eugene1 week ago

Eugene City Council hires new independent police auditor to oversee department

Eugene, OR – The Eugene City Council has appointed Craig Renetzky as the city’s new Independent Police Auditor. The office...

Eugene1 week ago

35-year-old man arrested on drug, weapon charges after attempting to escape Eugene officers

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit (SCU) arrested 35-year-old Adam Cole Young following an investigation into...

Trending