My story · Our community
I’m Austin Hall.
I believe in
this town.
I built Groovin’ in the Grove to help the people, businesses, and good things happening around Cottage Grove get the attention they deserve.
This is home. And I’m putting my time, skills, and heart into helping it thrive.
The person behind the posts
Local roots.
A working person’s perspective.
A reason to give back.
I was born and raised around Cottage Grove. I’ve seen how much work goes into keeping a small business going, and how much it means when the community shows up for someone.
My background brings together blue-collar work, technology, and business. I earned an associate degree in Computer Network Operations at Lane Community College and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Oregon. I’ve also worked in management, receiving, and pellet mill operations.
I build Groovin’ around a full-time job and long shifts. Behind the posts, polls, and website is me reaching out to business owners, gathering stories, organizing information, and finding time to keep it all moving.
I want those skills and that effort to mean something here. If I can help someone find a local business, recognize a neighbor who deserves it, or discover something worth showing up for, that work matters.
How it started
A simple idea.
A place for the good
to get noticed.
THE FACEBOOK GROUP BEGAN · FEBRUARY 22, 2025I wanted a more positive, useful place for our community online. There were hardworking business owners, good neighbors, and worthwhile things happening all around us. Too often, people just weren’t hearing about them.
So I started Groovin’ in the Grove: a place to share recommendations, celebrate local wins, and help neighbors connect. People showed up. They shared, voted, nominated others, and helped turn that idea into a community.
As it grew, I built this website to give those businesses, stories, and events a home people could return to. A post can disappear down a feed. A useful local resource can keep helping someone long after that first introduction.
What I’m building
More ways to discover.
More reasons to show up.
Every part of Groovin’ has a practical purpose: make it easier to find what’s here, recognize the people doing good, and support each other.
Local businesses, easier to find.
A growing business directory and local features introduce you to the shops, food, services, and organizations around you. For owners, it’s another way to help neighbors discover what you do.
Explore local businesses ↗Recognition chosen by you.
Business of the Month and Local Legends put the community’s voice first. You nominate and vote. I help share the stories behind the names and give that recognition a place to live.
Meet our community winners ↗A reason to make plans.
The events calendar helps people find things to do in Cottage Grove and Creswell. Markets, music, community gatherings, and local happenings deserve a place where people can find them.
Find your next local event ↗Stories that bring us closer.
Business spotlights, local discoveries, conversations, and community features help us get to know the people behind this place. A recommendation or a shared story can be the start of a real connection.
Be part of the conversation ↗“Visibility shouldn’t be a luxury in a small town.”Austin Hall · Groovin’ in the Grove
What matters to me
Build trust.
Stay useful.
Keep showing up.
This works when people feel welcome, businesses have a fair chance to be seen, and the community knows what it’s supporting.
The community has a voice.
Community-voted recognition belongs to the community. Sponsorship supports the project; it doesn’t purchase a win or decide who deserves recognition.
There’s room to participate.
Free listing and visibility opportunities are part of what I’m building. You can join in, share a recommendation, nominate someone, or support a neighbor without spending money.
Support helps the work continue.
Local sponsorships, featured opportunities, and optional contributions help cover the website, content, ongoing improvements, and community initiatives. I also work with businesses and organizations on consulting and collaboration.
Where we go from here
There’s a lot more
good to uncover.
I want Groovin’ to become an even more useful part of everyday life here: a place to discover your next favorite business, make weekend plans, celebrate someone who gives back, and feel more connected to where you live.
That means continuing to improve the directory, keep the events hub growing, tell more local stories, and build partnerships that help this work last.
Every person who shares a post, visits a featured business, votes, or sends me a good lead helps move this forward. You don’t have to do something huge to make a difference here. Start with one local choice. Bring somebody along.
Austin Hall
Be part of what’s next
If you believe in supporting local,
you already belong here.
Have a business people should know about? A neighbor worth recognizing? An event, a story, or an idea? I’d love to hear it. Let’s keep giving Cottage Grove more to be proud of.