Biz Beat 2-11-2016

• Another report on Oregon’s fast-growing economy has come out of the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP) and the numbers look great, except for the disparity. Sound familiar? Oregon’s economy is a reflection of the national economy, and the unequal sharing of prosperity is a hot topic in the presidential primary debates. Oregon’s steady economic growth since 1997 has outpaced the national economy significantly. Only North Dakota with its oil boom has exceeded Oregon between 2001 and 2014. But “Too many Oregonians, including working Oregonians, continue to struggle just to get by,” says the Feb. 8 OCPP fact sheet. The group calls for increasing Oregon’s minimum wage, more protections against wage theft by unscrupulous employers and “enacting a Basic Health Program that will provide affordable, quality health care to low-income Oregonians who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.” Find the full report at ocpp.org.

• The Eugene nonprofit Civil Liberties Defense Center has moved to new, larger offices at 783 Grant Street after 12 years at its former location upstairs at 259 E. 5th Avenue. The CLDC had an office-warming party Feb. 5. Attorney Lauren Regan is the director and her staff has expanded recently. Currently, Charles Denson is associate director and other staff attorneys include Amanda Schemkes and Cooper Brimson. Lynette Williams is the administrative associate. See cldc.org.

• KLCC’s annual Microbrew Festival fundraiser will be from 5 to 11 pm Friday, Feb. 12, and from 1 to 11 pm Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Fairgrounds. Admission is $12 in advance through klcc.org and $15 at the door. Designated driver tickets are $10. Some 83 breweries will be featuring their specialty and seasonal brews, two bands will be playing, brewing competitions will be held and thousands of used CDs and records will be for sale.

• “Love, Money & Chocolate” is a workshop on family finances and estate planning for couples from 9 am to noon Saturday, Feb. 13, at 212 Main Street in Springfield. Sponsored by the NEDCO, the nonprofit Neighborhood Economic Development Corporation. Chocolate provided by Euphoria. See nedcoced.org for registration information and other NEDCO workshops and services. 

• Free one-on-one job-hunting help will be offered from 4 to 6 pm Thursdays, Feb. 11 and Feb. 25, at the Eugene Public Library. Call 682-5450 to schedule a 30-minute session with an employment expert.