MERIT is cosponsoring a Cesar Chavez Community Action Day with Chemeketa’s Juntos Club at Chemeketa’s MultiCultural Center (Building 2) on March 31st from 1-5pm. All are invited to learn about volunteer opportunities, hear great speakers and celebrate Cesar Chavez’s legacy. There will be food, music, prizes and more! The event is free but we encourage you to bring donations to Marion Polk Food Share! Click here to see a flyer.

The event also includes an art contest open to artists of all ages and abilities. Click here or contact Kate at 503-399-5088 for more information on how to register. Register by March 15th. Haga clic aqui para informacion en espanol.

Local organizations are invited to host informational tables at the event. Space is limited. Contact Kate for more information:503-399-5088 or kgibso17@chemeketa.edu.

Crush Wine Bar in Monmouth, owned by  MERIT client Joanna Brandt has been getting a lot of press lately! The wine bar, which opened in January, has been featured in the Statesman Journal and in Western Oregon University’s Western Oregon Journal. The bar offers local wines and microbrews accompanied by local artisan bread and cheese.

1/13/10: Wine bar features Oregon products

1/20/10: Sipping Satisfaction: Crush Wine Bar and Tasting Room caters to students, community

facebook: Crush Wine Bar & Tasting Room

My Mom’s Basement, owned by MERIT client Michael Haynes was featured in the Itemizer Observer last week. The store, in downtown Monmouth, sells role-playing board games, as well as accessories, minatures and books related to the games.

2/3/10:  Role playing game lovers have found a new home in Monmouth

Shelly’s Kids Preschool and Childcare was named best child care business in Keizer by the Best of Keizer competition! The contest was sponsored by the Keizer Chamber and winners were selected by online vote and were featured in the January 1st Keizer Times.

See all the winners: http://www.keizertimes.com/downloads/Best_of_Keizer_2009.pdf

MERIT director Forrest Peck comments on the Greater Independence Business Incubator in the Statesman Journal on Sunday

11/30/09: ‘Incubator’ helps new business owners get started

MERIT client Jeff Rogers is offering free introductory self defense classes on December 5th.
See the article in the Statesman Journal: Self-defense school offering classes

Former MERIT client Cindy Culpovich interviewed for front page article of Statesman Journal.
10/29/09:  Sprague High School students design websites for small businesses in technology class. Check out Cindy’s website here. They did a great job!

See full article here: Sprague class provides valuable link to business

Current MERIT client Mike Braibish in the Statesman Journal!
10/28/09: Mike is  one of six finalists in a contest to win his own cleaning service franchise.

Read more here: Military man aims to join a new brigade

 MERIT client Amy Barr was featured in several publications during her first 6 months in business!

Amy’s Itsy Bitsy Bakeshop was spotlighted on the leading cupcake blog, Cupcakes Take the Cake.
She also had a story in the Statesman Journal in August and was in the Salem Monthly in July. Way to go Amy!

     The MERIT program is a part of the Chemeketa Small Business Development Center.