The U.S. Post Office location in Gates was destroyed in the wildfires. (Amanda Loman/Salem Reporter)
There’s a lot going on business. To help keep you up to speed, the Salem Reporter has launched a semi-regular roundup of business-related items that includes new business openings, locations, grant opportunities and others.
To suggest an item, reach out to reporter Jake Thomas at [email protected]
ECONOMIST SPEAKS. State economist Joshua Lehner will share insights on Oregon’s economy and its future on Monday, Dec. 14 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce’s speaker series. While crunching numbers for the state, Lehner has also published a blog on the state’s economy that’s covered consumer spending during the pandemic, which groups have been most affected by the downturn and other economic topics.
Registration for the talk, which is part of the chamber’s The Forum Speaker Series, can be found here.
NEW MARKET. Lively Station, a new specialty market, will open Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 3635 River Rd. S. The new market is located in the former South Salem train depot and was founded by Salem locals Jessica and Anton Cobb. It’ll feature a coffee shop? with grab-and-go items, a bar, a beer garden and event space.
The new market will feature savory and sweet “specialty hand pies” made from scratch by chef Jared Norris.
The owners of Lively Station said it’ll be following strict Covid guidelines. For a menu and takeout options, visit www.livelystation.com.
FACEBOOK SUED. Facebook is operating an illegal monopoly, according to a lawsuit brought by 48 state attorneys general, including Oregon’s Ellen Rosenblum.
The complaint alleges that the internet behemoth illegally acquired competitors and blocked the growth of others. According to the complaint, Facebook also rolled back privacy protections for its users and limiting their ability to control their own data. But the actions of the company left consumers with no other options but to stay on Facebook’s platform, according to the complaint.
Filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the complaint invokes federal antitrust laws and asks the court to block Facebook from making acquisitions valued at $10 million or more without further review. It also asks the court to consider ordering Facebook to divest from or restructure companies it’s acquired.
EXTENDED REBUILDING DEADLINE. Some property owners affected by September’s historic wildfires will have more time to rebuild after the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation reached an agreement with nine insurance companies. Under the agreement, the insurance companies will allow property owners at least two years from the date of their loss to rebuild.
According to the division, many insurance policies restrict the amount of time a policyholder has to rebuild their homes and replace its contents after a loss. These policies sometimes require rebuilding to occur within a year at the address listed on their policy. The agreement also allows affected property owners to rebuild their homes at a different location.
The list of companies that have signed on includes Allstate, American Family Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual, Safeco and others.
For more information, call 888-877-4894 (toll-free), email [email protected] or visit dfr.oregon.gov/help.
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Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
