Page 3 - Copyright 2013 - Pamplin Media Group

Chehalem Business Connection Page 3 October 2013
In 46 days, Brenda Burg
and Bruce Bishop raised
$30,722 — enough to
open Newberg Bakery —
through Kickstarter and
community support.
“When we began to think
about the idea of using Kick-
starter for fundraising we
wanted the goal to be an
amount that was attainable,”
Burg said. “With all of the ver-
bal support and encouragement
coming our way, we knew that
we had a very good chance of
making our goal.”
Although Burg said near the
end of fundraising they were
nervous they wouldn’t reach
their goal, which would mean
they wouldn’t receive any of
the funds as a part of Kick-
starter policy.
“Before we got started we
had heard that the first and
final weeks would be the
biggest for fundraising, and
that held true in our case as
well,” she said.
Now, they are hoping for a
November opening at 621 E.
First St.
“The current tenant, Allure
Hair Design, is actively seek-
ing a place to relocate. Sandra
Stone, Allure’s owner, has
been very understanding of our
timeline and has been pursuing
another location for the past
several weeks,” Burg said.
“Once we’re able to move into
the space, we plan to spend the
next five to six weeks putting
in the kitchen and eating area.”
These installations will in-
clude equipment as well as re-
modeling the kitchen.
“Not only are we purchas-
ing heavy equipment like a
four-level stone deck oven that
sprays water during the first
few minutes to create steam
for a crackly bread crust, but
w e a r e
b u y i n g
individu-
a l l y -
c r a f t e d
p o t t e r y
mugs for
our cus-
tomers to
use and a
beautiful
d i s p l a y
case for
our pas-
tries, salads and cakes,” Bish-
op said.
Those are purchases that
Bishop said couldn’t have hap-
pened without the support of
the community.
“Brenda and I have both
lived in Newberg for several
decades and have built exten-
sive networks of friends and
community. It was some of
Community support funds new bakery in town
Cash raised through Kickstarter allows Newberg Bakery to prep for opening on First Street in Newberg
After raising more than $30,000, Newberg Bakery will open at 621 E. First St., where Allure Hair Design currently resides.
Bakery owners Brenda Burg and Bruce Bishop hope to open early November.
“When we began to
think about the idea of
using Kickstarter for
fundraising we wanted
the goal to be an
amount that was
attainable. With all of
the verbal support and
encouragement
coming our way, we
knew that we had a
very good chance of
making our goal.”
Please read more about Newberg
Bakery on page eleven
To try and improve the experi-
ence for those seeking unem-
ployment insurance, the Ore-
gon Employment Department has
instituted some changes in its call cen-
ters. This was sparked by lengthy wait
times reported recently by claimants.
“We recognize that many Oregon-
ians calling our unemployment insur-
ance center are experiencing long wait
times,” said David Gerstenfeld, assis-
tant director for unemployment insur-
ance programs. “This is totally un-
acceptable to us. So, we took a long
look at why this was occurring and
what could be done to improve.”
Gerstenfeld said Oregon is not
alone in this challenge. Due to declin-
ing revenues from the U.S. Depart-
ment of Labor, many states have had
to rethink how services can be provid-
ed.
“Some states have drastically re-
duced the number of hours their call
centers are available to the public, and
some states are eliminating their call
centers altogether, opting for providing
all services online,” Gerstenfeld said.
The number of claimants has de-
creased 10 percent in the last year. The
unemployment center staff has also de-
creased by 17 percent as well. These
facts, compounded with the claimant
experience, led to several changes.
These changes include staffing
more employees during peak call times
and bringing in staff from other sec-
tions of the department as needed to
assist in the call center. There will also
be changes to the online services that
include providing more self-service
options.
Gerstenfeld said the department is
also asking claimants to report their
claims each week and use the online
and automated phone systems to help
reduce the call center wait times.
“Making these two changes will
free up the phone lines for those who
have an issue that requires they speak
to a claims agent,” he said.
Claimants can use the online system
at workinginoregon.org/ocs or call 1-
800-982-8920 to file claims, check
their claim status, sign up for electron-
ic deposit and other self-serve options.
State officials vow citizens will have to wait no more
Oregon unemployment call centers undergo changes to lower wait time, improve claimant experience