Sisters wrestles with economic development

Most people in Sisters tout economic development. Most consider good-paying jobs and a thriving business community a goal to aspire to. But it's far from clear how such a goal might be accomplished.

Who's responsible for economic development in Sisters? The City, Chamber of Commerce, EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon)? Some other group or individual? What is "economic development?"

Lane County, Oregon, defines economic development as "a program, a group of policies, and/or activity that seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community."

Sisters' Vision Statement, adopted early in 2007, states "we have a strong tourism economy because of this beauty. But we are also a diversified entrepreneurial economy that includes arts and culture, light industry, natural resource-based businesses, and small retail. This economy especially supports locally conceived and owned businesses that provide a wide variety of year-round family wage jobs."

Eric Strobel, Business Development Manager with EDCO in Bend, a private, non-profit organization funded by private and public annual membership donations, explains economic development in simple terms:

"Balancing economic growth with quality of life. Local economic development efforts should strive to provide members of the community satisfying and useful work, economic security and stability, access to recreational and cultural activities, good educational opportunities, health care, and affordable housing."

So who is responsible and is there a plan to realize Sisters' Vision Statement?

A simple, non-scientific survey of area residents revealed the following responses to those questions.

Carey Tosello, owner of e-newsmail.com, said, "Who is responsible? No one. The Chamber takes care of its members, the City looks out for City (operational/planning needs) and no one is out looking for 'family wage' jobs in clean, light industrial or Internet-based businesses. We are a desirable place for many of these type businesses to relocate to, but they don't know we are looking for them, or that we are eager to have them be part of our community."

Gary Oldham, owner of GMAC Mortgage: "I don't believe anyone is currently responsible for the planning and execution of economic development in Sisters Country. I think the City Council/government could be more actively involved with economic development, but it's in everyone's (the community's) best interest to be involved in the process."

Ed Fitzjarrell, owner of Metabolic Maintenance Products, relocated his company to Sisters in the early 1990s. The Bend Chamber recommended that Fitzjarrell consider Sisters and a visit with then-Chamber Director Jim Fisher convinced Fitzjarrell that Sisters was the right location for the company.

Fitzjarrell's response to the question was, "a combination of the Sisters Chamber, EDCO, and a member of the City Council. Short and sweet. One can't do it without the other and it should be important to all three."

Jim Fisher, Sisters Chamber Director from 1991-96, experienced a growth spurt with companies like Weitech, Multnomah Publishers, Good Family Magazines, and Metabolic Maintenance (the only company still operating in Sisters from that era).

All these companies had sizeable employee bases.

"Back then, my number-one job was to re-establish the Chamber but even then people were talking about the need for family-wage jobs in Sisters. It was just luck, frankly, that we got Metabolic Maintenance. We were in the right place at the right time for them," said Fisher.

Fisher's answer to the question of who's responsible for economic development was very clear: "There needs to be a partnership between the Chamber, the City, and citizens. It's the only way for us to go. And there has to be someone who takes a clear leadership role."

The new Chamber Executive Director, Cherie Ferguson, gave a very similar answer: "Three weeks into my job I went to the Sisters Leadership Summit and the answer was 'no one entity was responsible, we all were.' The next question was, 'Who should facilitate the we?'

"Some people felt the Chamber should lead the effort. I feel compelled to point out that there is a significant difference between identifying who the leader is and having the resources to lead, specifically staff and funding. Currently, the Chamber is not in a position to take on this effort due to lack of both resources.

"Ultimately, I believe it is the responsibility of our community's leaders and stakeholders, working together collectively," said Ferguson.

Mayor Brad Boyd places the responsibility squarely on the Chamber.

"Their mission statement says it ('to enhance the economic vitality of its members and the Sisters community'). Economic development is wholly and totally not our (the City of Sisters') expertise. The Chamber receives over $100,000 a year from the City through lodging room tax revenue; it seems like they could use part of that money on economic development programs and a point person," he said.

"If we're going to target businesses for relocation to Sisters, let's target 100 small businesses who employ 3-5 people each. Then if one leaves Sisters it doesn't hurt our economy tremendously. But first let's target those who want to stay here," said Boyd.

The Mayor was also open to the idea of the City helping to fund an economic development plan.

The issue will be added to the agenda for the Council's next goal-setting discussion.