Michele Chirgwin, Michele's Chocolate Truffles

Business & Economic Development

“Since I started making candy in my kitchen, Clackamas County is 'home sweet home' to my business”

- Michele Chirgwin, Michele's Chocolate Truffles

"When people ask how I grew my company into the size it is today from out of my home, I say that part of the recipe is to set up shop where local government tries to help you overcome problems, and not put more obstacles in your path.

“From the beginning, Clackamas County inspectors gave me valuable advice, and their guidelines made real sense. Instead of just looking for things to penalize me for, they worked with me like business partners. Later, when I was ready to move out of my house and into our first factory, they were there again at the planning stage - before the contractors got involved - to help me avoid costly mistakes.

“We're now in an even larger factory, and have two retail outlets as well. But it all started in my kitchen, and my advice to others with a vision for building a home-grown business is this: don't think you need to "bootleg" your operation; get a license and take advantage of the support your local government is ready to offer...as long as it it's the kind of support you get in Clackamas County.”

Begun as a home business in 1986, Michele’s Chocolates today operates a 4,000 sq. ft. factory in Clackamas County, and retails and wholesales gourmet candy to customers around the country.

“Our products are strong, reliable and work well under pressure...a lot like our employees from Clackamas County”

- Tom Scranton, Columbia Body Manufacturing

“We’re a progressive company with an old-fashioned work ethic that goes with doing what we do. We start with Class A chassis from all the major truck makers, then we build onto them—or to be pulled by them—heavy-duty container bodies, trailers and carriage systems: equipment that can handle huge loads and do the jobs our customers demand... for construction, materials-moving, whatever.

“We’ve partnered with companies like Freightliner—here and overseas—to earn a share in very sophisticated, large-scale military projects. Winning those subcontracts requires being able to diversify our capabilities and practice cooperation and teamwork... not only with other companies and industries, but within our own operation.

“In many ways, employees we hire and train reflect the way we design and build our products. We start with individuals who have talent, initiative and can function as part of a team. But we also look for a strong work ethic. People we recruit from Clackamas County tend to possess those qualities. Maybe it has to do with a rural upbringing and the values they learned as kids. Whatever it is, when we find it, we can build on it.”

Columbia Body Manufacturing employs more than 70 people, and has grown its product line from just one main container model to diverse types of products for multiple industries.

“Our products have always promoted a healthier lifestyle... and so has keeping our company based in Clackamas County”

- Lisa & Mark Wright, Co-founders and Owners Health Wright Products

“I was raised around here and my wife Lisa and I started the company together in 1996. When we were ready to move into a larger factory, we didn’t want to leave the area because we loved the semi-rural lifestyle. The large property in the Clackamas Industrial Area that we wanted presented us with a few challenges.

“We’d almost resigned ourselves to a more modest expansion within our existing plant when the County said ’how can we help?’ Talk about business friendly – they went out of their way to remove some barriers on the new property allowing us to realize our plans. We were able to grow our business and focus on the quality of our products and the service we provide to our customers.

“Meanwhile, the County has helped us tie in with local colleges and other resources to recruit top-notch employees. With less red tape to contend with, we’ve been freer to run the company, create new jobs and enjoy life. You might say that being based in Clackamas County ‘encapsulates’ all of that.”

Health Wright Products manufactures vitamins, dietary and sports supplements and other ‘nutriceuticals’ for wholesale clients throughout the U.S. and around the world.

“We’re now the largest law firm in Clackamas County, and given the opportunities here, that’s where we plan to stay”

- Jeff Bennett and Andy Jordan
Jordan Schrader, Attorneys at Law

"Our practice is region-wide, but the best opportunities are here. Study the neighboring counties and you see they had their shot in the late 80s-early 90s, and are starting to wind down. Now it’s Clackamas County’s turn. That’s one reason we’re so active in the county’s economic and cultural activities. It puts us in an ideal position to help our clients… plus this is where we make our homes.

“As we were preparing to move our offices in 1996, we polled our clients about where they’d like us to relocate. Clackamas County was the overwhelming choice, and we weren’t surprised. For one thing, when you’re in business, you know that if people can’t get to and from work, they can’t be productive employees; and building a transportation infrastructure is another area where this county is out in front.

“We work on numerous land use, agri-business, and environmental issues for our clients, and we always find Clackamas County officials to be very accessible and pro-active. Oh, and two more things that make the county really shine: there’s no push for an income tax, and there’s free parking everywhere you go. We rest our case.”

Located in Clackamas County’s dynamic Kruse Corridor, Jordan Schrader represents businesses of all sizes on real estate, land use, local government, construction, employment, succession planning, creditors’ rights, and general business matters.

“When our growth required a move, Clackamas County had the right prescription”

- Phil Fogg, President
Marquis Companies

“After 10 years in a congested urban locale, moving to a space large enough for our administrative offices and pharmaceutical services had become a ‘must’. But we didn’t foresee all the other advantages that would come with headquartering here.

“I hadn’t been in my office a week when I got lunch invitations from several City Council members and County Commissioners. Where we’d been before, they didn’t seem aware of a new business...until it was time to collect fees and taxes. Here, there’s a real sense of welcome and collaboration. It isn’t a question of being ‘pro’ or ‘anti’ business; it’s a culture of ‘customer service’ that reflects a recognition that promoting business also promotes better communities.

“For instance, we employ nearly 500 people, most of whose jobs require certification. The County helps us work with local learning institutions to train future job-seekers to be better qualified to apply for those jobs...looking not just at today’s needs, but five years ahead.”

Now headquartered in Milwaukie, Oregon, the Marquis Companies provide assisted living, skilled nursing, contract rehabilitation and pharmacy services for their own and other Senior Health Care facilities in six western states.

“When our growth required a move, Clackamas County had the right prescription”

Les de Asis, Founder & Owner
Benchmade Knife Company

“Benchmade started in Southern California, but the county and city business rules varied so much between districts that we kept having to run around in circles dealing with redundant bureaucracies and conflicting restrictions. Government here is much easier to interact with, and the lifestyle is a better fit with what we do. Nearly all of our employees hunt, fish, ski, climb or participate some other way in the area’s outdoor recreation. Believe me, we’ve never looked back.

“We make products for sports, military and law enforcement. You’d likely never guess we were based in a picturesque Oregon county. Last year we won out over companies many times our size for the Vendor Excellence Award from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), which is the purveyor for all US fighting forces.

“For the modern soldier, getting out alive may mean cutting a shredded steel-belted tire off a humvee under fire; that’s what happened to one combat veteran who wrote us that his Benchmade Army-issue knife saved his life. And you just cannot place a greater value on what this company is accomplishing here in Oregon.”

“You can get a great view of Clackamas County’s business environment from our seat in this sub”

Lowell Miles, Owner
Lori Luchak, President
Miles Fiberglass & Composites

“From the time I started in my dad’s garage, we’ve been a tight-knit, family-run company. But we didn’t grow to where we’re producing seats and superstructures for a fleet of Class A1 submarines, and major parts for advanced transportation and storage systems, without help from a county government that understands what a business needs to succeed.

“With the County Economic Development Team’s support, our business coalition has networked companies that can build components for complex systems—such as the Atlantis Submarine—and we’re now mounting a joint campaign to bring Defense contracts into the state.

“I have two daughters and two sons-in-law working in our company’s management, and living in Clackamas County. So I can attest to the value of basing your business somewhere that’s also a great place to call home.”

“We ship our stone-ground natural foods across the U.S. and Canada; and Clackamas County provides a perfect hub.”

Bob Moore, Founder, CEO
Bob’s Red Mill

“With so many suppliers, retailers and pet owners right in our own back yard, Clackamas County has been our Best friend.”

Shelley Gunton and Brian Connolly, Co-Owners, Castor & Pollux Pet Works

“It all started in Hong Kong, where we both worked for an international bank, and needed to find a source of quality food for our dog. Naturally, we welcomed the chance to relocate the venture closer to home; but it wasn’t until we moved from Southeast Portland to Clackamas County that everything fell into place.

“To us, the pet is our ultimate consumer, and Clackamas County’s family-friendly residential lifestyle attracts a large base of dog-owners who care about their animals’ health. That in turn has nurtured a strong infrastructure of pet stores and gourmet grocers that sell quality dog foods, and a solid constituency for those retailers. So, when we first launched our operation, we could literally test-market our products, and find loyal consumers, in our own backyard.

“Here, we have easy access to rail, sea and road transportation for shipping our products. Plus, we draw from a terrific labor pool, and some of our biggest distributors, as well as the people who make and imprint some of our packaging, are right down the street.”

“It took awhile to decide to move our company to Clackamas County, but we finally saw the light.”

Eric Meslow, CEO
Timbercon

“Don’t get me wrong, for lifestyle reasons alone, regardless of the county, I wouldn’t want to live, run a business or raise my kids anywhere but in Oregon. But I will say that when we made the in-state move to our present location, we found Clackamas County friendlier toward business – in terms of taxes, building permits, and so forth – than the county we’d just come from.

“To begin with, we saved between ten and fifteen thousand dollars in licensing fees alone, and there was no comparison between the attitudes of the two county governments from a standpoint of receptivity and support. And the proximity of so many complementary high-tech operations in this area means we’re closer to our vendors, and the kind of labor force we need.

“We’re an optical company, basically...we carry light through glass...and many of the systems we build are designed to function in what are called ‘harsh environments’. But the economic environment here is just the opposite: we’ve found it to be warm and hospitable in every way.”

“We're into everything from aerospace to bridge building; and Clackamas County comes across with whatever we need.”

Terry Aarnio,
CEO Oregon Iron Works

“In many places, the common perception is ‘business versus the bureaucracy’, but we’ve always found Clackamas County willing to listen, and supportive of our operations in every way. And our location is ideal, with great access to the I-5 and I-205 corridors and the Portland core.

“Ironworks has become a pretty outdated way to describe all that we do, both for commercial and Defense Department customers: everything from bridges to space launch platforms, all-weather marine vessels and other highly sophisticated projects made on a large and heavy scale. We’ve just been given the go ahead by Congress through funding to become the only U.S. manufacturer of streetcars. That deal was initiated by the Clackamas County Economic Development Team.

“The skills we require run the gamut...machinists, electricians, mechanical engineers, you name it, and the work has to meet the highest code. We’ve found the labor force here to be exceptionally competent, with an incredible work ethic. And that helps us compete for contracts on a national scale.”