New to Corvallis, Tarweed Folk School is an all ages hub for classes ranging from bike repair to basketry, and more. The instructors are locals with a variety of backgrounds, ranging from the arts to science.
This startup’s list of partners include the Greenbelt Land Trust, Coyle Outside, Highland Woodshop, and Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development.
This will be the school’s inaugural summer season of classes, and they’re kicking off by hosting three summer weekends of half day, full day, and multi-day classes taught by local educators, craftspeople, scientists, tradespeople, small business owners, and members of our Willamette Valley communities.
The school starts with 22 teachers and 30 classes. Participants can register for classes in woodworking, blacksmithing, fiber arts, natural building, basketry, bike repair, nature, and more.
Classes begin July 19 and run through August 27, and will take place at multiple locations across Corvallis. Class costs range from $40 to $200, and full and partial tuition scholarships are available to all.
Honestly, we at The Advocate are impressed with Tarweed Folk School’s first summer of offerings , click here to learn more about them.
Benton Unemployment Unseasonably Low: Benton County’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.9% in May, down from its revised rate of 3.1% in April. Oregon’s statewide unemployment rate in May was 3.7%, down from its revised April rate of 4.0%. Our local employment gains in May were more than normal.
For instance, total nonfarm employment increased by 150 jobs, when an employment increase of 30 jobs would be expected. As a result, seasonally adjusted employment increased 120 jobs between April and May. Seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is now up 2.6% from the level in February 2020, 1,130 jobs above its pre-pandemic level.
Over the past year Benton County’s seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment is up 1,990 jobs or 4.7%. The private sector overall added 210 jobs over the month. The gains were widespread in a number of sectors.
Private education and health services was the only private industry with declines in May, shedding 10 jobs. The public sector overall dropped 60 jobs in May. Local government employment shed 60 jobs. Federal government employment gained 10 in May. State government employment was down 10 in May.
New Rent Control Law Tightens Cap: Many Oregon tenants will see rent hikes capped at 10% in high-inflation years under a bill headed for Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.
Senate Bill 611, which cleared the House on Saturday on a 32-18 vote with every Republican opposed, aims to prevent a repeat of the nearly 15% rent increases landlords were allowed to charge this year. A 2019 state law capped rent at 7% plus inflation, but high inflation last year resulted in tenants around the state seeing up to 14.7% increases.
Rep. Andrea Valderrama, D-Portland, said the bill was necessary to help Oregon families stay in their homes. It would help renters immediately while the Legislature continues to work on long-term solutions to the housing crisis, she said.
“This cannot be an either-or approach,” she said. “We can protect Oregonians from unreasonable rent increases and fix our housing supply crisis.”
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, said he struggled over how to vote, but ultimately voted for the measure. It addresses a symptom of the housing crisis and a shrinking middle class, but not the cause, he said.
“While I don’t believe this bill is actually going to help a whole lot, it might help a few,” he said.
The debate highlighted the high rate of rental ownership in the state Capitol, where passive income from owning property makes it possible for lawmakers to afford to be in Salem for months each year on their $35,000 legislative salary. Portland Rep. Thuy Tran, one landlord, was one of only two Democrats who voted against the measure.
“Let the market work itself out,” Tran said.
But Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Clackamas, described how she’s helping her college-aged children pay rent in Eugene and Atlanta at an unaffordable $1,400 and $1,700 per month. Bynum also owns four McDonald’s restaurants in the Portland area, and she has homeless people sleeping on her restaurant property.
“I believe to some extent in the free market, but I believe our market is broken,” Bynum said.
The 2019 rent control law caused many landlords to choose to increase rent by the maximum allowed each year, said Rep. Kim Wallan, R-Medford. Wallan said she has only increased rent at the property she owns by $100 monthly during the past five years, she said.
“I understand the impulse to do the simple thing,” Wallan said. “I understand the impulse just to get ourselves out of this emergency. But we got ourselves in this emergency.”
Another lawmaker who owned rentals, Republican Rep. Virgle Osborne of Roseburg, said he sold his rental properties in March because of Oregon’s rental laws. He evicted his tenants to sell, and new owners listed the properties at 40% higher rents than Osborne charged, he said.
Sen. Wlnsvey Campos, D-Aloha, introduced the measure to cap rent increases at no more than 8% or 3% plus inflation, whichever was lower. But strong objections from landlords resulted in a series of compromises, ending with an agreement that kept the status quo except for a 10% cap.
The state’s rent control law only applies to buildings once they’re 15 years old, and it doesn’t apply to subsidized housing. Landlords can raise rent between tenants as high as they want.
Almost 40% of Oregonians rent their homes, according to U.S. census data.
Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, said it sends a message to homebuilders and real estate investors that they’re going to have a hard time. Oregon already has land use laws that make getting permits for new homes or apartments expensive and time-consuming, he said, and builders have to pay high system development charges to cover infrastructure costs.
“We’re going to tell the potential property owner ‘We’re going to put the screws to you, and make it harder for you to provide housing,’” Mannix said.
And now, your local business events calendar…
Chamber of Commerce Greeters: First American Title, 405 NW 5th St., Corvallis. 8:30 to 9:30 am, Tuesday, June 27.
Corvallis Young Pros: Hosted this time around at Linn-Benton Furniture Share, 4450 Marion St. SE in Albany. 5 to 7 pm, Tuesday, June 27.
Real Estate Pre-License Class: Have you been thinking about a career as a real estate agent? This class is the first step. An accelerated pre-license weekly class, self-study, and a 9-5 pre-test cram session on Saturday, September 9th will get you ready for the Oregon Real Estate Broker’s License Exam. You must attend all class sessions through Zoom OR in person and have online access to complete the self-study portion of this course.
This seminar is offered through Zoom video conferencing and in person at Coldwell Banker’s North Albany Branch.
Starts Wednesday, July 5, from 6 to 9 pm. Offered through the Linn-Benton Community College Small Business Development Center. $695. Click here to learn more and register.
Chamber Success Event, Accountability and Culture: Are you a leader who has been asked to hold others accountable? Is it a challenge? Are you concerned, frustrated, and worn out when teams are not doing what they said they were going to do when they said they were going to do it?
The key is to engage and regain and establish trust.
After attending, you will leave with an insight into how the culture of the business affects accountability. And we will inspire you to leave with a minimum of one way to improve your accountability and an idea capable of engaging others that help them be accountable, You’ll be inspired to share what you’ve discovered with others.
$70, with a $5 discount to Corvallis Chamber of Commerce members. 7 to 10 am, Tuesday, July 11 at the Chamber office, 420 NW 2nd St. Click here to learn more and register.
Property Manager Pre-License Class: If you love problem solving, working with people and multitasking, then this in-demand property management class is for you. This course prepares you for the State of Oregon Property Manager License Exam and covers the role of property managers, tenant relations, fair housing, lease agreements, and more. You must attend all class sessions through Zoom and have online access to complete the self-study portion of this course.
Offered through Zoom video conferencing by the Linn-Benton Community College Small Business Development Center. Starts Tuesday, July 11, from 6 to 8 pm, this class runs for seven sessions ending Aug. 22. $600. Click here for more information and to register.
Free Going Into Business Class: Offered by the LBCC Small Business Development Center – in just one session, you’ll get all the basic information you will need to begin planning a successful business. Rules, regulations, financing, customers, markets, and feasibility will all be discussed in this FREE seminar! This seminar is offered through Zoom video conferencing.
6:30 to 7:20 pm, Tuesday, July 11. Click here for more information and to register.
40th Annual Chamber Golf Scramble: 9 am to 2 pm, Tuesday, July 13 at Trysting Tree Golf Course
34028 NE Electric Rd., Corvallis. Click here to register.
By Advocate Staff with Reporting on Rent Control from Ben Botkin of Oregon Capital Chronicle
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