One of the Mt. Hood Area Chamber of Commerce’s most popular events, the
Bite of Mount Hood, will have an immediate impact despite not being held
since 2017. The organization will use proceeds in two ways to support
community businesses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic: the first is a
30-second advertisement that will air on KOIN, the northwest television
station affiliated with CBS, and the second is by paying dues for it’s 2020-21
year for its members.

“It’s needed,” said Coni Scott, Chamber Vice President and head of
membership. “It’s really important that the chamber does everything they can
to help everybody. Businesses are really having a hard time.”

Scott chaired the Bite and noted the philosophy behind it was to put all the
money back into the community, with the funds set aside from the Chamber’s
operational funds. She added that in the past the organization offered grants
as part of that support.

The KOIN advertisement is expected to start airing on Saturday, Aug. 15, and
will likely feature a variety of scenes from the Mountain community, including
recreational activities such as biking and hiking, a restaurant and more. Scott
said that is expected to run for three months and will cost $17,000.

She added that the area where the advertisement will be seen, as far as the
Oregon coast and down to Eugene, is where a large portion of recent visitors
come from, looking for a safe vacation option close to home.

Scott noted that the dues total approximately $12,000, which keep the
Chamber going throughout the year, including insurance and bookkeeping.

As for a possible return of the Bite, held in April for a number of years
featuring food from a large variety of area restaurants and offering auctions
and more, Scott didn’t rule it out for the future. But she added that somebody
would need to step up as the new chairperson.