Biz Beat 11-21-2012

MECCA, the Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts, is expanding its store hours at 449 Willamette St., next to the Amtrak station. MECCA will now be open afternoons and early evenings, and will be celebrating its new hours with a public ceremony at 11 am Saturday, Dec. 1. Officiating will be MECCA Executive Director Jija Adrade and Slug Queen Sadie Slimy Stitches. The nonprofit store acts as a clearing house for scraps and discards that can be used creatively and sold at low prices to artists, teachers and others.

The Noli Italian Café closed its 5th Street Public Market location at the end of September and reopened Oct. 16 at 769 Monroe, next to Sweet Life Patisserie, under a new name, Noli Ristorante Italiano. Both names are used in websites and Facebook pages. Owners are Davide Mulone & Maggie McDonald. “The new location gives us an opportunity to set our own hours, hang local artists, have music or wine tastings and just generally represent ourselves in an amazing, vibrant neighborhood we now call home,” says McDonald. The new phone number is 844-1663. 

Eugene-based Bloom Paper Goods has launched a direct-to-customer, photo greeting card website and card generator at bloompapergoods.com The business offers both printed and digital products designed for “tech-savvy, fashion-oriented women,” according to Bloom Creative Director Brianna Bulski. The company hopes to expand in the near future.

A new legal assistance program for low-income households facing foreclosure is now available thanks to a collaboration between the Oregon Housing and Community Services and Legal Aid Services of Oregon. A Eugene office is being set up, but for now, get information at oregonhomeownersupport.gov or call (503) 227-0198.

HIV Alliance in Eugene is seeking donations to help repair unanticipated leaking siding and structural damage at its building at 1966 Garden Way. The damage is estimated to cost about $7,500 to repair. The nonprofit has set aside $1,500 and is expecting a donation of $3,000 to come in soon. “We need an additional $3,000 to finish the job,” says Executive Director Diane Lang. Call 342-5088 or email nryan@hivalliance.org to help. 

The Oregon Country Fair is now accepting endowment fund grant applications for 2013. Deadline is Jan. 18, grant information can be found at oregoncountryfair.org and grant winners will be announced March 11.

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