City News: Hwy 217 Improvements | Startup Challenge | One Book (Building a Better Beaverton)

#CityNews

Let’s Talk Transportation!

The city is investing in capital projects and working with our partners across the region to support improvements that will benefit major roadways and transportation infrastructure. A number of these projects are expected to begin and continue work over the next four years. Considerations for travel to and from the city is important as delays are anticipated once construction begins along area roadways, including Southwest Scholls Ferry Road, OR 217, Southwest Western Avenue, Southwest Allen Boulevard, Southwest Cascade Avenue and others.

For more project information, check out the Capital Improvement Program Projects at a Glance on page 12.

Transportation Tips

1. Check Your Trip! Visit www.tripcheck.com for updates from the Oregon Department of Transportation. You also can sign up to receive Traffic Alerts and transportation news from the city at www.BeavertonOregon.gov/notifyme.
2. Be Active! Think outside the box during peak travel times by biking or walking for short trips, using transit and carpooling with friends and family.
3. Be Safe! Drive with care and watch for construction vehicles and crews.

Update from ODOT:

Construction is starting on OR 217 in Beaverton and Tigard as part of the OR 217 Auxiliary Lanes Project. The project will improve safety and reduce long-standing traffic bottlenecks between Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and OR 99W. We will add auxiliary lanes, or ramp-to-ramp connections, to help give drivers more space and time to merge safely. The project will also work to improve bicycle and pedestrian routes, in part due to funding contributions from the City of Beaverton and Washington County. Major work will begin in January and continue for four years.

Know before you go! People should expect construction and traffic delays on and around OR 217. Sign up for email updates to receive regular traffic impact information and learn more about the project at www.hwy217.org.

One Book, One Beaverton

One Book, One Beaverton is Beaverton City Library’s annual community-wide reading program. This year, we would like to invite all of Beaverton to read The Cold Millions by Jess Walter and then attend related events throughout the month of January. We believe that sharing in the experience of a work of literature can spark meaningful discussion that brings us together as a community. Please join us!

One Book, One Beaverton Events

• Workers of the World A History of the International Workers of the World (Wobblies) in the Pacific Northwest – Wednesday, Jan. 5 | 6:30-7:30 PM
• Vaudeville An Evening of Vaudeville with Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein – Saturday, Jan. 8 | 6:30-7:30 PM
• History of the Spokane Tribe of Indians (virtual) Monday, Jan. 10 | 6:30-7:30PM – Warren Seyler, former Chairman of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, will join us virtually to share the tribe’s history, with a special focus on the time period depicted in The Cold Millions.
• Against the Odds: True Stories of Underdogs, Longshots & Unlikely Heroes – Saturday, Jan. 15 | 7-8:30 PM (Doors at 6:30) Join us for a night of true stories told live on stage by veteran storytellers.
• Historical Fiction Writing Workshop (virtual) – Tuesday, Jan. 18 | 6:30-8 PM
• Housing & Belonging: An Oregon Humanities Conversation Project – Wednesday, Jan. 19 | 6-7:30PM
• Song Circle: Work Songs (virtual) – Monday, Jan. 24 | 6-7 PM. Celebrate One Book, One Beaverton and The Cold Millions with work-themed songs at this special edition of Song Circle. We will sing and play 9-10 songs together virtually.
• Women & Activism in the 21st Century: A Panel Discussion with Local Activists – Thursday, Jan. 27 | 6:30-7:30PM
• BOOK DISCUSSIONS FOR ADULTS – Join us for one of three book discussions of The Cold Millions facilitated by library staff. All book discussions require registration. To register, call 503-644-2197, option 2.
• Murray Scholls Book Group (virtual) – Thursday, Jan. 6 | 10-11:15 AM
• Book Discussion – Tuesday, Jan. 11 | 6-7 PM
• Recommended Reads Book Group (virtual) – Tuesday, Jan. 25 | 6:30-7:45PM

2022 Startup Challenge Winners Announced

Five businesses have been selected from a pool of 50 applicants as winners of the seventh annual Beaverton Startup Challenge sponsored by the Oregon Technology Business Center (OTBC), West Side Startup Fund angel investors and the city. The challenge seeks for-profit, early-stage growth businesses with the ambition and potential to scale in a national or international market.

The winners of the 2022 Beaverton Startup Challenge:

• CampsEZ – Makes it easy for parents to find and register for activities, camps, and sports for their kids (http://campsez.com)
• DIY Bar – Craft workshop meets bar concept that has pivoted to also selling kits to individuals and businesses for team-building (www.diybar.co)
• Howl at the Spoon – Wildly convenient artisan sauces made by hand in small batches for home, backpacking or travel (www.howlatthespoon.com)
• Khalsa Salsa – Combines bold Indian spices with classic fresh ingredients of Mexican salsa for a first-of-its-kind fusion (www.khalsasalsa.net)
• Sport Source – Connects coaches, athletes, trainers and families with spaces to play, move, train, or exercise (www.sport-source.com)

The goal is to help startups in Beaverton kick-start their business with each winner receiving at least $25,000 in a cash convertible-note investment, mentoring, office space, and other services for one year at OTBC. Each year since 2016, the challenge has been seeded by the city with a $50,000 grant. This year, investments by 18 local angel investors brought the total to more than $150,000 for the 2022 challenge.

OTBC is a nonprofit incubator that helps entrepreneurs start and succeed in Beaverton. Find out more at otbc.org/Beaverton-challenge.