Area businesses to benefit from a new resource nook at the St. Helens Library, courtesy of SBDC

It’s going to be a lot more convenient for small businesses in Columbia County to get a helping hand.

That’s because a Small Business Resource Corner is now open at the St. Helens Public Library.

The center has been set up in partnership with the Columbia County Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Growing Rural Oregon Greater St. Helens, South County Chamber of Commerce and the library.

The business corner will offer small business resources, including business books and informational handouts that can help these businesses with such issues as how to start and grow a business.

“We have been out in the community, advising clients and small business owners," SBDC Director Jason Moon said. "We came up with the idea of deploying these small business resource corners into each of the libraries throughout the county.”

Moon added, “St. Helens is our first one. They have been great partners … We are now going to take that model and be able to replicate it across the county.”

The center, according to Moon, will offer several resources, including one-on-one business advising.

“They will have access to books and resources that are geared toward small business and entrepreneurs,” he said. “There’s not only access to SBDC, but there’s a space back there where they can have one-on-one business advising with one of our advisors. It’s a great little nook.”

The resource corner at the St. Helens Library will be open during regular library hours. A QR code will enable small businesses to connect with SBDC advisors.

“We can schedule a time where somebody from the SBDC could meet them there at their corner, or at their place of business, or wherever they feel comfortable,” Moon said.

The SBDC has its sights on providing these Small Business Resource Corners throughout the county. Moon said accessibility is the key factor in setting up these business corners.

“We have already had business owners reach out to the center, asking for advice,” Moon said. “I just feel like that’s a real testament of the need for having these resources out there.”

“Our next location will open up at the Clatskanie Library,” he continued. “The hope is by spring of next year, we will have a Small Business Resource Corner in each of the libraries.”

The plan is to set up these business corners in Rainier, Columbia City, Vernonia and Scappoose. The hope is to get the Clatskanie resource center up and running within the next month. Others would follow.

“We’re working on a youth program as well, so we’ll have resource corners at each of the high schools,” he said.

The Columbia County Small Business Development Center started operations in April 2022 .

The center currently does not have a physical location, but that will change when the John Gumm Building is complete . SBDC would join the Columbia County Commission, the Columbia Economic Team and the Columbia County Museum at the former school, located by the waterfront.

Mark Pacheco, public information officer for Columbia County, said substantial completion of the Gumm building improvements will be in late August or early September, with occupancy expected this fall.