The board of directors of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has changed course on its plans for the 114th Rhododendron Festival and has suspended the event for the second year in a row. The event was scheduled for its traditional date, the third weekend of May, May 12 to 16, 2021. “People missed the point that we were moving forward with cautious optimism when we announced that our first step was the cancelation of Rhody Court since that’s the earliest aspect of the festival and demanded an early decision,” said Chamber president/CEO Bettina Hannigan. “As quickly and unpredictively as the State issues its edicts for where and what is safe for people to do, and then just as quickly rescinds them, it leaves us trying to hit a moving target while making plans for a huge event in as little time as possible.” “Vaccines, we’re now told, will roll […]
From Lane County – Our countywide vaccine registration is now live, https://lanecounty.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=3585881&pageId=17261881, with registration available in Spanish as well. For those with limited internet access, you can provide a phone number for follow-up. All individuals interested in being vaccinated should register. Before you preregister, please note: Vaccine availability remains limited even among those that are currently eligible. This is a preregistration form that will help us reach out and schedule you to receive the vaccine when you are eligible and when supply becomes available. Once you have completed the preregistration and received confirmation that it has been received, your job is done and you do not need to call to verify your preregistration. How will this work? Fill out the preregistration form to the best of your ability. You will receive a confirmation email verifying that we have received your information. If you receive this confirmation, you do not need […]
The Florence Area Chamber of Commerce has selected the winner of a $250 cash prize in its 2020 photo contest. The contest was conducted from mid-October through the end of November. A panel of Chamber members reviewed the entries during December. The Chamber was looking for the best photos of the fun, frolic, iconic buildings, and distinctive scenery from Oregon’s Coastal Playground—an area up to 20 miles in any direction of Florence. More than 100 photos were entered. Joyce Korbein-Rennie of Florence entered the winning photo, titled “Fun at Sunset,” taken on September 2, 2020, on the beach below Heceta Head Lighthouse. “I was out doing some sunset photography and saw these people at a distance playing, running around the beach and in the waves. It was a beautiful night. The beach at Heceta Head is one of my favorite places to shoot,” she said. Korbein-Rennie used her Canon 80-D […]
While we can’t currently “dine in”, we certainly can dine on the patio and the sidewalks. We have LOTS of restaurants offering Take-Away and you can download that list here.
The recently adopted Oregon OSHA Temporary COVID-19 rule includes a series of deadlines, including three inter-related requirements. Under the rule, employers must complete both the required Risk Assessment and the Infection Control Plan based on that Risk Assessment by December 7, 2020 and must complete the required Infection Control Training (based in part on the Infection Control Plan) by December 21, 2020. A 3-week implementation delay has been granted for certain employers – including restaurants, gyms and other businesses impacted the recent “freeze” and by the newly adopted risk levels. All other employers who have been working to comply but have not yet completed that work are granted a 1-week grace period. You can read more about this in OR-OSHA’s memo. Important timelines to remember: Base Rule: Effective November 16, 2020 Physical Distancing Masks Cleaning & Sanitation Poster posted Building Operator Rules: November 23, 2020 Exposure Risk Assessment: December 7, 2020* Infection Control Plan: December 7, 2020* Employee Training: December 21, 2020 Ventilation Requirements […]
Florence Area Chamber of Commerce member Apex Helicopter wants to elevate the Chamber by bringing up to 25 new members onboard. The pilot program is available exclusively for the first 25 new members on a first-come-first-served basis. To leverage this sponsorship, contact Bettina Hannigan at bettina@florencechamber.com. “This very generous contribution lowers the barrier for up to 100 new Business Partner level members to obtain a very valuable membership,” said Chamber president/CEO Bettina Hannigan. “It is a tremendous testimony to the value of membership if one member wants to essentially pay half the membership free for 100 new members so they can join and start benefitting and growing their businesses.” A Business Partner pays $225 per year and receives an estimated $800-plus per year in direct benefits. As membership levels increase, so does the value of the membership up to an estimated $18,000 in benefits. “This is a huge act of […]
Currently the State has required all restaurants to close to dine in. These amazing restaurants are offering the delicious food as take away! Please support our restaurants so they can stay in business. We’ll want to dine in again! Download the list here.
Florence, Oregon’s Coastal Playground, has made a number of adjustments to its annual holiday festivities to comply with COVID-19-related regulations while still offering some festivities to preserve commerce in the small town. Postponed to next year are Santa’s celebrated arrival, hayrides on Bay St., the mayor’s tree lighting, the cocoa and cookie trails, and live music. This year, in their place the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce is inviting those who shop to vote for the best decorated of the XX participating shops and galleries, then drop off their ballot to enter to win a “swag bag” full of goodies and certificates from Florence-area merchants. The free ballot is available beginning November 27 at FlorenceChamber.com under the events tab. Completed ballots are due December 26 at the Chamber’s Visitor Center, 290 Highway 101 in Florence, to be entered for the drawing. “Everyone needs to just stop shopping online for generic […]
The chamber will be marketing “Shop Where You Play” to our regional market and “Shop Where You Live” to our local market to drive customers to both retail and businesses looking to expand their sales and connections this holiday season. This is FREE and will be a safe and warm traditional holiday activity. Shoppers and potential customers will be able to download or pick up a FREE passport to check out each DECOR location and vote on their favorite. The winner will receive a trophy and then we’ll draw from the ballots and pick a shopper winner to receive the “Swag Bag”. If your organization would like to participate please fill out this form and return it to Mitzi at events@florencechamber.com, or to the Visitors Center at 290 Hwy. 101.