CEDR 2025 Highlights
It is with great pleasure that I share our annual update with our public and private sector members and the business community. We deeply appreciate your continued support and partnership as we work together to drive economic growth and workforce development in Clatsop County.
A Look Back at CEDR 2025: Year in Review
Fostering a Thriving Local Economy & Strengthening Partnerships with Government Agencies, Business Entities, and Clatsop Community College
(1) working with our Federal & State Elected officials and field staff on the devastating consequences for our region if the FEMA BioP changes were allowed to take place.
(2) Initiating a coordinated response to the potential closure of the Tongue Point Job Corps Response, and the economic impact if it closed.
(3) Gave testimony to the Legislative Ways & Means committee at the Liberty Theater on March 28 to support SBDC funding and the CMH $8M construction project request.
(4) Was honored to be asked to be the only non-employee to speak at the ribbon-cutting of the $158M Georgia-Pacific Wauna Mill #1 paper machine replacement project! Second largest employer here!
The Enterprise Zone re-designation for 2025-35 was approved. I continue as the EZone manager.
Coming up! March 3, 2026, the Clatsop County Job & Career Exploration Fair will be held at the Seaside Civic & Convention Center! Besides the traditional employer tables, we have expanded the format to include eight breakout sessions for students and job seekers including: Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, Education, Natural Resources, Clatsop Community College Maritime Program, Resume Review and Practice Interviews.
Clatsop Community College SBDC.
Our team of Lead Business Advisor Meyer Freeman, SBDC Advisor/Education Program & Community Ed Coordinator Josh Allison, SBDC Advisors Eric Stromquist and Hermes Ochoa, Small Business Program Facilitator Grant Lehman, Marketing Specialist Ross Deardorff, and Administrative Specialist Jeanette Sampson worked tirelessly to provide world class confidential and no cost advising, workshop, boot camp and cohort instruction and program support, detailed in the SBDC section, below. We have an amazing team! I was honored in 2025 to be given the America’s Small Business Development Center State Star award for Oregon, and traveled to the national training event in Orlando, Florida to accept this along with all the other states and territories of the United States. So excited to bring this award back to our team, CCC, Clatsop County and the State of Oregon!
Clatsop Community College
I continue to oversee the Clatsop Center for Business, Community and Professional Development at CCC, which includes the SBDC, Community Education, Professional Development and the Plumbers Apprenticeship program, and as a member of the college’s leadership Cabinet, have been assigned by President Jarrod Hogue to be the “staff champion” for supporting business and industry in the community, a natural fit with the role CEDR has within the community!
Clatsop Community College SBDC
HELPING SMALL BUSINESS START AND THRIVE – 2025
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
- Small Business 1:1 Advising: 212; Female~61%; Hispanic~26%
- Business Starts: 17
- New Jobs Created: 31
- Jobs Retained: 82
- Trainings Held: 72
- Training Attendees: 590
- Increased Sales: $1,317,350
2026: CONTINUED EXPANSION & EXPERTISE GROWTH
- Capital Formation
- Exit Planning & Business Transition
- AI Business Tools
Education:
- Small Business Management Program: Level I & II
- Bootcamps: Startup, Restaurant, Food & Beverage Products,
Contractors
- Online Learning Portal Expansion: Local Experts & Partners.
Successes In 2025:
- 123 Students Applied
- 31 Host Employer Sites
- 46 Interns Hired
- 9 Interns Continued Employment
- 24 Career Fields
- 7 Career Exploration Events
Looking forward to 2026:
- 44 Host Employer Sites
- 57 Internships
- 27 Career Fields
- 8 Career Exploration Events
We are excited to continue serving you in 2026 and beyond. While we recognize that there are significant economic challenges ahead, we also see many promising opportunities to foster growth and strengthen the economy of Clatsop County.
Should you have any questions, concerns, or opportunities to discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out Thank you for your support of our entire team!!
Kevin Leahy
Executive Director, CEDR & Associate Vice-President Clatsop Center for Business, Community & Workforce Development
kleahy@clatsopcc.edu
Direct Line: 503-338-2342
