By Denise Ruttan, The Stayton Mail
When U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, a Democrat from Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, toured Stayton businesses last week, one thing stood out to the congressman, who has traveled to communities all over the country during his political career.
“When I’ve been walking around town, no one has asked me for anything,” Schrader said while convening with Stayton business leaders at the Covered Bridge Cafe after his downtown walking tour. “I’m watching out for this. It tells me that my communities (that I represent) are very self-reliant.”
Schrader visited Santiam Canyon towns June 12 on a “listening tour” to gather first-hand information from constituents about the economy and the needs of small-business owners.
Schrader began his tour at Mastercraft Furniture Inc., where a buzz of activity filled the once-vacant factory in Stayton’s industrial park.
The firm signed an agreement with Scandinavian furniture retailer IKEA in Sept., 2011, owner Marty Olson said. It has been producing and shipping IKEA products since February of last year and started production in Stayton in April.
It employed 40 people just a year and a half ago. Now, it boasts 140 employees, with plans to hire more next year.
“We’re very excited about the future. We truly believe that through efficiencies, if we attain those, we have the potential for growth beyond imagination,” Olson said.
When it had no U.S.-based factories, IKEA once spent $22 million per year on freight costs.
By securing four regional factories in the U.S., IKEA has reduced that shipping cost to $8 million, Olson said.
CEO Ron Bray said the firm competes with factories in Europe and Asia in an industry that has changed dramatically over the years.
“Everybody just needs to wake up. We’re in competition globally. It’s no more the guy with the corner store. We’ve got to figure out how to compete globally,” Bray said.
Schrader next took a walking tour of downtown Stayton businesses.
Kelly Goodlove, proprietor of Bird and Hat Inn, said she has seen an increase in European visitors.
“They’re coming because it’s a small town. They come to see the Pacific Northwest and want to see a small town. They want to walk downtown and go to the movies,” Goodlove said. “My concern is to keep downtown alive.”
At Curves, a group of women moved to the Latin beat of a Zumba dance class while the congressman chatted with owner Linda Enloe.
Downtown revitalization dominated the conversation. “We love it here downtown, but it needs to get cleaned up. There’s been a little bit but I’ve got lots of great ideas,” Enloe said.
Glenn Hilton, owner of North Santiam Funeral Service, has had his business downtown for seven years.
“I like the idea of (downtown). It brings back memories,” Hilton said. “I remember going to Santiam Hardware as a kid and everyone knew who the lady there was. The place across the street used to be meat lockers. We would get large packages of meat and take them back to a small freezer.”
On the topic of downtown revitalization, Hilton said he would like to see high school art students paint murals to beautify the area.
Don Lawrence, president and CEO of Stayton Cooperative Telephone Co., talked of the challenges of increased reporting requirements from the Federal Communications Commission and the evolving nature of the telecommunications industry.
“The FCC has marching orders and it needs to accomplish what it needs to accomplish, but it sure has stifled investment in smaller companies,” Lawrence said.
During the last five years, SCTC has spent $25 million installing a fiber-optic network and increasing broadband speed within its 106-square-mile service area to satisfy stiffer federal requirements, Lawrence said.
“It’s reality and it’s what the public wants. They want only cell phones and they’re willing to pay more for it,” SCTC Marketing Manager Mike Reding said. “We have to adapt. We can’t make them come to us because we’ve been here for a long time. We have to offer more services and adapt quickly.”
Schrader’s day in the Santiam Canyon wrapped up with visits to the Korner Post Restaurant in Detroit to chat with the Detroit Lakes Recreation Area Business Association and to Idanha, to visit Postmaster Teresa Madsen at the Idanha Post Office.
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