£ A big THANK YOU to the following businesses who have RENEWED THEIR CIBA MEMBERSHIP: Cedar & Fir Studio; Maiah Creations, LLC; and Richard Gretz Goldsmiths. Your support through membership dues helps CIBA work for YOU!


£ Our January Membership Meeting focused on SHARING TIPS TO SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATE A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY. What great conversation and sharing we had! Here are just a couple of the ideas member business owners shared with each other:

> Signing up for the LBCC Small Business Education classes. It was one of the smartest things I’ve done.

> Greet customers within 10 seconds or so of when they walk into your business.

> My newsletter goes out monthly and has turned out to be the best marketing tool I’ve used. People who receive it pass it on to others, who then ask to be added.

> Constant Contact is a good template email marketing tool. It saves you time, provides you with reports and is very inexpensive.

If you would like the complete list of Tips shared at the January Membership Meeting, contact Colleen at 752-0047; info@corvallisiba.org.


£ The MARCH MEMBERSHIP MEETING is rapidly approaching. Mark your calendar now for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25. On the agenda is an update from Lamonte Florence, Oregon Action, regarding the national small business survey on health insurance that was recently completed. We’ve asked Lamonte to review the survey, talk about next steps, and answer your questions.


£ The Corvallis Public Works Department has sent out a notice regarding their annual SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES (SDC) UPDATE. There will be public hearing on Thursday, March 5, at 4 pm in the Madison Ave Meeting Room (500 SW Madison Ave, across from City Hall). If you have questions, contact Greg Gescher, Engineering Supervisor, at 766-6731, ext 5081.


£ SUSTAINABILITY TIP O’ THE MONTH. Save money and support environmental practices by reducing your paper use and buying stationery products which are kinder on the environment (ie: paper that is non-bleached or from sustainable forests). Specify “greener” printing options when ordering your letterhead and business cards and think carefully about print quantities. Purchase from locally owned businesses, which saves on transportation costs (and supports your fellow local businesses!). From “Six Easy Steps Towards Sustainability,” Sustainable Business Network of Portland.