ORLA Proposed Relief Efforts

The concepts below represent priority items for Oregon’s hospitality sector. Our goals as an industry are focused on (1) retaining as many staff as possible in the current environment, (2) creating and preparing operational recovery plans, and (3) bringing as many Oregonians back on payrolls across the state as soon as financially possible. 

Over 375 industry members signed on to our hospitality relief efforts (see list of names below), joining us as a collective voice letting legislators know how many of our industry members are impacted by the Governor’s restrictions.

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Commercial Rent Relief & Flexibility for Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS)
Assist Oregon Hospitality businesses with retaining cash wherever possible to save jobs still on payrolls around the state.

• Temporary suspension of ORS 91.090 (this statute provides that a commercial lease automatically terminates 10 days after unpaid rent is due unless the lease states differently).
• Beyond the base ORS 91.090 default rights, temporary suspension of landlord's ability to default restaurant operating leases due to non-payment of rent during the closure order.
• Temporary suspense of landlord's ability to cure technical default to 'reenter' the premises and lockout tenants during the closure order (many commercial tenants are panicking, knowing that they won’t be able to make April rent, and wondering if they need to pull property out before the Landlord seizes it due to non-payment).
• Hundreds of millions of dollars in hotel loans are funded through Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBS) in Oregon alone. The industry must work in partnership with the Oregon Bankers Association, other state associations, and the Oregon State Legislature to access flexibility in mortgage payments with CMBS loan servicers.  

>>ACTION TAKEN: On April 1, 2020, Gov. Kate Brown issues 90-day moratorium on commercial evictions​ with Executive Order 20-13.

In the June 2020 Special Session, the legislature passed House Bill 4213. The bill prohibits residential and commercial evictions for nonpayment of rent during a defined ‘emergency period’ and ‘grace period’. The emergency period is defined as beginning on April 1, 2020 and ending on September 30, 2020. Following the emergency period is a 6 month ‘grace period’ for tenants to pay any outstanding nonpayment balances from the emergency period. The grace period ends on March 31, 2021. For more information on this and other advocacy issues, visit our Special Session page.

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Oregon Hospitality Recovery & Grant Program
Launch a multi-faceted recovery initiative with expanded emergency grants to broaden access for time-sensitive grants originally made available through Oregon’s Rapid Response Team in the Office of Workforce Investments.

• Expand access to grants for thousands of hospitality businesses across Oregon 
  • Utilize leadership and administration available through Business Oregon
  • Identify $50 million in additional grant funds beyond Rapid Response Team efforts to assist as many as 5,000 hospitality business locations at an average grant award of $10,000 per location.
• Hold Oregon hospitality employers harmless for increases in Unemployment Insurance (UI) rates as a result of COVID-19.
  • Pursue employer UI rates comparable to rates assessed before COVID-19
  • Utilize federal CARES Act funding to cover increased increments associated with employer UI rate increases to stabilize system for operators and their employees.
• Solve the problem with gaps in Business Interruption Insurance Coverage for COVID-19
  • The loss of business income due to COVID-19 and associated emergency declarations is not necessarily covered in ‘loss of business income’ insurance policies for many Oregon hospitality businesses.
  • Virus exclusions were added to policies as a result of the SARS coronavirus which was first identified by the World Health Organization in 2003.
  • Some policies provide coverage when civil emergency declarations are triggered but language relating to many policies references ‘direct physical loss of or damage to” within insured policies.
  • ORLA is working with Oregon Legislators, national partners, and colleagues in the insurance industry to determine what can be done to assist hospitality businesses in accessing ‘loss of business income’ COVID-19 insurance as part of a Phase 4 CARES Act package.
• Implement a Work Share Recovery Plan
  • Currently, Work Share offers replacement of 20-40% of a worker’s pay.  Consider expanding that amount to a flat 50% where employers are covering half a worker’s pay and Work Share is covering the other half through the remainder of calendar year 2020 for qualifying applicants. 
  • Due to additional flexibility granted by the United States Department of Labor and new funds available through the federal CARES Act, Oregon can expand access and capacity to small businesses bringing employees back onto payrolls through additional resources available at the Oregon Employment Department.
• One-time Startup Food Purchasing Grants in Conjunction with CARES Act Funds
  • As restaurants and lodging properties recover from the shutdown of their locations, they will need capital to purchase food from suppliers and vendors to restock their shelves and prepare for diners and visitors to return to their establishments.  
  • Providing grants for food purchases will ensure money is available for such purchases. Assisting the food supply chain with recovery will be critical in retaining jobs and hiring back Oregonians employed with major food suppliers and distributors in the Northwest.
• Increase the United States General Services Administration (GSA) Per Diem Rates by 20 percent for Oregon public sector travel for four years ending June 30, 2024.
  • GSA’s lodging per diem rate methodology for FY 2020 was the same as previous years. The standard lodging rate for FY 2020 applies to approximately 2,600 counties and will increase from $94 to $96. The standard meal & incidental expenses (M&IE) rate remains $55.
  • Since Average Daily Rate (ADR) figures for 2020 will be skewed because of the COVID-19 crisis, the GSA Per Diem rate should be based on 2019 ADR in each location. Not knowing when this crisis will be over, estimates are it will take the lodging industry at least 18-24 months to recover once travel and lodging stays return to “normal”.  Increasing the GSA rate for four years will allow lodging properties to continue working through recovery plans while keeping Oregonians employed.

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Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) Delay
Assist Oregon Hospitality businesses in avoiding tax payments which will directly impact available cash on hand for fixed costs and employee paychecks. 

The most immediate, pressing issue restaurants and lodging properties have today is cash flow. One of the most important actions the Legislature can take is to help businesses keep people employed by passing immediate relief from the new Corporate Activities Tax.

Requiring CAT tax payments in April will be the absolute worst timing possible for struggling businesses during this crisis. Companies will be forced to pay this tax instead of paying employees, meaning more layoffs for the hospitality industry.

We urge you to:

1. Delay the implementation of the Corporate Activity Tax for the first two quarters of 2020. Allow time for your employers to rebound and rebuild.
   OR
2. Continue partial assessment of the CAT that builds on the priorities of the tax, while acknowledging the unprecedented time we are in. Provide employers with a temporary option of filing under a reduced rate of .285% (half the current rate) for the first two quarters of 2020 or allow them to double their current deduction of 35% to 70% for the first two quarters of 2020.

>>ACTION TAKEN: On April 22, 2020, Gov. Kate Brown committed to waiving all penalties related to first quarter CAT payments. The Oregon Department of Revenue will be issuing additional guidance on this in the coming days. We and our fellow associations will continue to push for delay of the CAT for the first two quarters of the year.

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Predictive Scheduling Relief
Provide immediate relief from penalties associated with Oregon’s statewide scheduling law. It is extremely difficult for businesses to predict workforce needs in this uncertain time. To effectively continue and rebuild operations, flexibility in scheduling employees will prove to be crucial.

Allow waiver of ORS 653.428 and ORS 653.450: 

• Waive “Good faith estimates of work schedules” and “Right to Input to work schedule” during times of emergency related to COVID-19.
• New 653.455(3): The requirements for additional compensation in this section do not apply when: 
  • (i) An employee is not able to report to a work shift or on-call shift due to the recommendation of a public official including a declaration of emergency by the Governor for public health purposes for the duration of the emergency
• New 653.455(3)(j): 
  • (j) An employer requests that an employee work additional hours to address unanticipated customer needs due to a declaration of emergency by the Governor that impacts business operations during the duration of the emergency. 

>>ACTION TAKEN: BOLI Commissioner Val Hoyle has stated that the Governor declaring a state of emergency triggers the exemption for predictive scheduling and will act accordingly. Employers need to show a good faith effort in communicating with employees as soon as possible the scheduling challenges they are facing. Read BOLI's statement.

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SBA No Interest Loans through Business Oregon
No interest loans in addition to available grants will be key to assisting hospitality businesses on their path to recovery. Loans (even with no interest designations) will be difficult to manage for many small businesses. Deferring debt to a later date may help some if long term repayment plans can be established as a glide path to recovery.
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​Small Business Immediate Loans for Paid Family Medical Leave Act (PFML) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave (PSL)

• Establish emergency funding made available to small businesses subject to the new PFML and PSL requirements (for-profit and non-profit) under 500 employees through no-interest loans with Business Oregon. Employers with under 500 employees will be required to front load new PFML and PSL effective April 2nd. 
• Immediate cash is needed to allow employers to satisfy this requirement without wiping out cash reserves.
• Loan repayment makes sense when federal tax credits/underpayment credits are disbursed to the employer. Structuring loan repayments on this timeline will assist employers in retaining employees and staying open during recovery.

 

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The following companies have signed on to support the proposed relief efforts:

206 1/2 Historic Hotel, Albany
215 Tattoo, Grants Pass
3rd Street Pizza Company, McMinnville
A-1 Hospitality Group, Hood River
A-1 Hospitality Group, Pendleton
Abigail's Bed and Breakfast Inn, Ashland
Acosta Sales & Marketing, Portland
Adam’s Rib Smokehouse, Salem
Albany Visitors Association, Albany
ALKO Hotels, Eugene
Anchorage Motel, Pacific City
Anthony’s at the Old Mill, Bend
Art de Cuisine Catering, Portland
Artemis Foods, Portland
Astoria Brewing Company, Astoria
ATAULA, Portland
Back Porch Bar & Grill, Jacksonville
Balch Hotel, Dufur
Beach Break Vacation Rentals LLC, Manzanita
Beach Break Vacation Rentals LLC, Nehalem
Beach Break Vacation Rentals LLC, Rockaway Beach
Beach Break Vacation Rentals LLC, Tillamook
Beach Dr Suites, Seaside
Beachcomber Vacation Homes, Cannon Beach
Beachcombers Haven, Gleneden Beach
Beachside Inn, Seaside
Beam Consulting & Ventures, Ashland
Bella Collina Bed & Breakfast, Amity
Bend Mongolian BBQ, Bend
Best Little Roadhouse, Salem
Big Sky Hospitality Inc., Springfield
Blackheart, Portland 
Blockhouse, Portland
Bluehawk Holding Company, Sisters
Bohemian Bar & Bistro, Grants Pass
Bounty Hunter Saloon, Tigard
BRB Inc, Albany
Brick & Mortar Cafe, Albany
Bridgewater Bistro, Astoria
Bronze Antler LLC, Joseph
Brown's Towne Lounge, Salem
Bullseye Pub, Portland
Bunk and Brew Partners, LLC, Bend
Buoy Beer Company, Astoria
C & S Pour House, St. Helens
Cafeteria Group LLC, Portland
Camp Dakota, Scotts Mills
Canby-Denn, Inc, Canby
Candy, Portland
Cannon Beach Bakery, Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach Makers, Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach Soap, Cannon Beach
Capers Cafe and Catering Company, Portland
Caro Amico Italian Cafe, Portland
Casa El Mirador, The Dalles
Cascara Vacation Rentals, Sunriver
Casey's Restaurant, Roseburg
Castaway Portland, Portland
Cedarwood Saloon, Grants Pass
Chick-fil-A, Hillsboro
Chick-fil-A, Tanasbourne
Chris Jaworski, Portland
Choice of India Restaurant & Lounge, Portland
Clarion Inn and Suites Clackamas, Clackamas
Clockwork Rose Tea Emporium, Beaverton
Coast Cabins, Manzanita
Columbia Cliff Villas Hotel, Hood River
Columbia Gorge Hotel, Hood River
Comfort Suites Redmond Airport, Redmond
Concept Entertainment Four, Portland
Concierge of Tours & Spirits, Portland
Convergence Networks, Portland
Coos Bay-North Bend Visitor & Convention Bureau, Coos Bay
Copper River Restaurant & Bar, Hillsboro
Corner Saloon, Tualatin
Corvallis-Denn LLC, Corvallis
Courtyard by Marriott Medford Airport, Medford
CraftPDX, Portland
Crave Catering, Portland
Creekside Gas and Grill, Sutherlin
Cricket Cafe, Portland
Crisp, Portland
Crumbl Cookies Progress Ridge, Beaverton
Crystal Investment Property, LLC, Portland
Cultured Palate, Grants Pass
Curtis Restaurant Equipment, Springfield
Cuzz’in Douggie’s Bar-B-Que Emporium, Brookings
D. Michael Mills, Silverton
Dahl Concepts LLC, Lake Oswego
Dakota Street Pizza, Sutherlin
Danica II LLC, Albany
Days Inn, Eugene
Delfino Vineyards B&B, Roseburg
Denny’s of Hermiston, Hermiston
Denny's, Eugene
Denny's, Grants Pass
Denny's, Klamath Falls 
Denny's, Medford 
Denny's, Roseburg
Destination Willamette, Newberg
Dilligaf's Bar & Grill, Medford
Dion Vineyard, Cornelius
Dixie Tavern, Portland
Double S Foods, Springfield
Duck House Chinese Restaurant, Portland 
Dundee Bistro, Dundee
EBM Foods, Salem
Ecola Seafoods, Inc, Cannon Beach
Edgewaters Restaurant, Bandon
El Charro Mexican Restaurant, Springfield
El Primo Mexican Restaurant and Bar, McMinnville 
Elan Guest Suites & Gallery, Jacksonville
Escape Lodging Co, Cannon Beach
Falafel Republic, Ashland
Fernwood Circle Guest Houses, Corvallis
FFH Inc, Oakland
Firenza Pizza Portland, Tigard
Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria, Bend
Forks and Corks Catering, LLC, Corvallis
Forrest Ridge INC dba McShanes Bar and Grill, Eugene
Fresh Grill LLC, Beaverton
Fultanos Pizza, Cannon Beach
Fulton House Bed & Breakfast, Portland
Gamberetti's, Albany
Gamberetti's, Salem
Gaufre Gourmet, Inc., Portland

Geiser Grand Hotel, Baker City 
Genesis Astoria LLC, Astoria
Genesis Seaside LLC, Seaside
Georgetown Brewing Co., Seattle
Golden Grill Concessions, Inc., Salem
Good Earth Foods LLC, Hood River
Greatroom, Beaverton 
Greek Village, Portland
Green Salmon Coffee Co., Yachats
Hal Enterprises Inc., dba Original Joe’s, Portland
Heart of the Pearl LLC, Portland
Hello India Restaurant, Portland
Hilltop House Restaurant North, North Bend
Hilton Garden Inn, Corvallis
Hilton Garden Inn, Medford
Historic Central Hotel, Burns
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites - Eugene Downtown/University
Holiday Inn Express, Corvallis
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Medford
Hotel Eastlund, Portland
Hotel Prairie, Prairie City
Huber's Restaurant, Portland
Inn at Diamond Woods, Monroe 
Inn at Nye Beach, Newport 
Ixtapa Family Mexican Restaurant, Scappoose
J DUB, Bend
Jackson’s Corner, Bend
Jacob Kainalu INC dba The Jackalope Lounge, Eugene
Jake’s Place, Portland
Jakes's Famous Crawfish, Portland
Jam on Hawthorne, Portland
Jasper's Tavern, Springfield
JB O'Briens Pub, Tigard
Jimmy's Classic Drive In, Grants Pass
Jo Rotisserie & Bar, Portland
Joshua, Inc., McMinnville
Joshua, Inc., Newberg
Joshua, Inc., Wilsonville
KaitenPDX LLC, Hillsboro
Keystone Vacation Rentals, Lincoln City
Kung Fu Bistro, Eugene
L Rice Inc., dba Midway Bar & Grill / Last Chance Tavern, Hermiston
La Perla Pizzeria, Eugene
Lamplighter, Oakland
Langer's, Sherwood
Larry's Restaurant, Milwaukie
Leisure Inn, Canyonville
Lemolo Lake KOA, Idleyld Park
Lifestyle Properties, Newberg
Luminant Digital Security, Portland
Luxe Event Productions, Portland 
Maggie's on the Prom, Seaside
Main Event Sports Bar / Freddie's Diner, Eagle Point 
Malone’s Ale House, Beaverton
Manzanita Clean, Manzanita
Manzanita Coffee Co, Manzanita
Marché Restaurant Group, Eugene
Markum Inn, Mt. Angel
Martin North Properties, Cannon Beach
Marzano’s Pizza, Manzanita
Matsukaze Japanese Cuisine, Grants Pass
McCormick & Schmick's, Tigard
McDonald Wholesale Co, Eugene
McKenzie Pub, Sherwood
McMenamins Inc, Portland
Miss Delta, Portland
MJ Acquisitions dba The Flying Squirrel, Eugene
Mo’s Restaurant, Florence
Mo’s Restaurant, Lincoln City
Mo’s Restaurant, Portland
Mo’s, Astoria
Mo’s, Cannon Beach
Mo’s, Seaside
Motel 6, Roseburg
Motel 6, Sutherlin
Mother's Bistro & Bar, Portland
Mountain Getaway Lodging, Inc., Enterprise
Mt Hood Vacation Rentals, Welches
Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort, Hood River
Nalyn’s Cafe LLC, Salem
Nearly Normals Gonzo Cuisine, Corvallis
Nepo42, Portland
Night Light Lounge, Portland
Noisette Pastry Kitchen, Eugene
North Coast Catering, West Linn
Northside Electric, Salem
Northwest Premier Meats, Tualatin
Northwest x Southern Hospitality, Corvallis
Novak’s Hungarian Restaurant, Albany
NW Portland International Hostel, Portland
NW Raw LLC, Ashland
Oak Tree Northwest Bar & Grill, Ashland
Oakland Tavern, Oakland
Ocean Inn, Manzanita, Oregon
Old Barn Tavern, Grants Pass
Old Parkdale Inn B&B, Parkdale
Old Town Bar And Grill, Newberg
Old Wheeler Hotel, Wheeler
Om Ganesh Corporation dba Quick Stop Motel, Myrtle Creek
One Fifteen Broiler LLC, Grants Pass
Oregon Beach Vacations, Lincoln City
Oregon Destination Association, Bend
Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association, Wilsonville
Oregon Restaurant Services Inc., Portland
Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland
OSF International Inc. - The Old Spaghetti Factory, Portland
Oswego Grill, Lake Oswego
Oswego Grill, Wilsonville
Paisano's Italian Kitchen, Rogue River 
Palms Motel, Portland
Palomar, Portland
Papa Haydn West, Portland
Papa Haydn, Portland
Park Lane Suites and Inn, Portland
Peaceful & Recreational Athletics Inc, Beaverton
Pelican Brewing , Pacific City
Pelican Brewing, Cannon Beach
Pelican Brewing, Tillamook
Pie + Vine, Ashland
Pig N Pancake, Cannon Beach
PinotCar, Newberg
Pizza a'fetta, Cannon Beach
Pizza Schmizza, Beaverton
Plaza Inn & Suites, Ashland
Porthole Cafe, Gold Beach

Portland International Guesthouse, Portland
Powderhorn Cafe, Grants Pass
Provenance Hotels, Portland
Public Coast Brewing Co., Cannon Beach
QdobaOregon, Beaverton
QdobaOregon, Corvallis
QdobaOregon, Eugene
QdobaOregon, Hillsboro
QdobaOregon, Portland
QdobaOregon, Salem
QdobaOregon, Tigard
QdobaOregon, Wilsonville
Quality Inn and Suites - Eugene/Springfield, Springfield
Quick Stop Motel, Myrtle Creek
Quinncoop Ltd, Wilsonville
Ranch Restaurant, Oakland
Red Door Properties, Inc., Seaside
Red Rooster Grill and Pub, Klamath Falls
Redhawk Holding Company, Sisters
Restaurant Equity Group, LLC, Portland
Rhojo's, Burns
Ringside, Portland 
River Dreams LLC dba Steamboat Inn, Idleyld Park
River's Edge Restaurant, Grants Pass
Rocking Frog Cafe, Portland
Rodeo Steak House, Roseburg
Running Y Properties, Klamath Falls
Rye, Eugene
Sage LLC, Beaverton
Sage Resources Inc., Sisters
Sailor Jack Inn, Lincoln City
Salmonberry Saloon, Wheeler
Sanctuary, Portland
Sandy Cove Inn, Seaside
Santé Hospitality LLC/Le Puy A Wine Valley Inn
Sargents Cafe, Bend
Sasquatch Creamery Cheesecake, Brookings
Schooner Inn Cafe, Reedsport 
Sea Breeze Court, Cannon Beach
Seal Rocks RV Cove, Seal Rock
Seaside Hotel Partners LLC, Seaside
Seaside Oceanfront Inn, Seaside
Seaside Operating LLC, Seaside 
Seaside Vacation Homes, Seaside 
Senet Game Bar, Tigard
Service Creek Outfitters Inc, Fossil
Shark Bite's Restaurant, Coos Bay
Shenandoah Assoc. Inc, Salem
Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters, Cannon Beach
Sniff Dog Hotel, Portland
Sol Station LLC, Portland
Someday, Portland
South Downing St, LLC, Seaside
Southern Oregon Elmer’s, Grants Pass
Starfish Vacation Rentals, Manzanita
Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach
Studio 7even Nails and Hair, Grants Pass
Sunset Lodging, Bandon
Sunset Vacation Rentals, Manzanita
Surfsand Resort, Cannon Beach
Table 360 Bakery & Bistro, Astoria
Tastebud LLC, Portland
Taylor Street Ovens, Corvallis 
Teamnewman Enterprises, Cannon Beach
Terraluna Inn Bed and Breakfast, Roseburg
The 649 Taphouse, Beaverton
The Aerie at Eagle Landing, Happy Valley
The Bond LLC, Bend
The Brick House Inc., Springfield
The Cabins Creekside in Welches, Welches
The Chetco River Inn, Brookings
The Crazy Norwegian's Fish and Chips, Port Orford
The Diner, McMinnville
The Great American Smokehouse and Seafood Company, Brookings
The Hangout Sports Bar & Grill, Gresham
The Hi-Lo Hotel, Portland
The Hostel Cafe, Portland
The Original Pancake House, Salem
The Pit Stop Sports Bar & BBQ Grill, Beaverton
The Seashore Inn...on the Beach, Seaside
The Spare Room, Portland
The Twisted Cork LLC, Grants Pass
Three Creeks Brewing Co., Sisters
Tik Tok Restaurant and Bars, Portland 
Timbers Bar & Grill, Redmond
TNL Properties, LLC, Seaside 
Togo's, Beaverton
Tony’s on Lancaster, Salem
Trellis: Wine Bar & Kitchen, Dundee
Tualatin Hotel Partners LLC, Tualatin
Uki Uki LLC
Unique Angles Photography, Keizer
Vacation Villages of America / Tolovana Inn, Cannon Beach
Valley Pub, Salem
Vault 244 Bistro | Lounge, Albany
Venture Hospitality and Real Estate, Portland
Videni Concepts, LLC, The Dalles 
Vine-N-Tap LLC, Redmond
Visit Corvallis, Corvallis
Visit Newberg, Newberg
Vropco LLC, Seaside
Vue Events Venue, Corvallis
Walt's Pourhouse, Coos Bay
Warren Country Inn, St. Helens
Washington Street Steakhouse & Pub, Dallas
Wayfarer Restaurant, Cannon Beach
Weber Coastal Bells, LP, Eugene
Weber Coastal Bells, LP, Medford
Weber Coastal Bells, LP, Portland
West Union Sports Pub, Portland
Westfir Lodge and Mountain Market, Westfir 
Wheeler on the Bay Lodge, Wheeler
Where To Eat Guide and Associates, Inc., Portland
White Cap Catering, Seaside
Wild Grapes Bistro, Grants Pass
Wildflower Baking, Portland
Willamette Valley Visitors Association, Salem
Windjammer Inn Motel, Gearhart
Wisecracks Cafe, Corvallis
Woodburn-Denn LLC, Woodburn
Workers Tavern LLC, Astoria
Ye Olde Pancake House, Eugene
Yoga Pearl Portland LLC, Portland
Zigzag Mountain Farm, Rhododendron
Zoup!, Wilsonville

QUICK LINKS

- Announcements & Resources
​- Federal Action 
- ORLA Relief Efforts
​- Reducing Food Waste Resources
- Relief Available for Employers & Employees
​​​- Safety Checklists, Decals, Postings
- Sanitation Cards (pdf)