Group to take action on economic development

Sisters business leaders and concerned residents are coming together to promote economic development in the Sisters Country.

The Sisters City Council, with Mayor Kellstrom at the helm, has committed to fostering a renewed effort toward economic development within the community.

The council has helped to form a committee called SBART (Sisters Business Attraction & Retention Team) made up of local business leaders committed to fostering economic growth in the community.

A Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce press release stated, "This inspiring team of Sisters business leaders has been formed in response to the need for economic stability and growth in the Sisters Country. The mission of SBART is to recruit, retain and grow businesses in Sisters to produce sustainable, measurable economic vitality across existing and future sectors."

The SBART team includes Patty Vandiver, Sisters Area Chamber board president and Real Estate broker; Mac Hay, consultant; Jerry Bogart, Sisters City Councilor; David Winter, corporate consultant; Jeff England, civil engineer; Bill Willitts, owner of FivePine; Lisa Clausen, owner of Sisters Movie House; Erin Borla, Sisters Area Chamber executive director; and Mayor Lon Kellstrom serving as an advisor to the team.

Speaking to the question of "who or what will lead the economic development effort in Sisters," Mayor Kellstrom said."I think everyone's (the various Sisters groups and committees) going to be involved but I think, for the most part, the heavy hitting is going to be done by EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon) and SBART. We just don't have the resources to pay a Bud Prince-type of economic development manager (Redmond's now retired economic development manager) here, the returns (on investment) just aren't there to justify it."

SBART's first press conference, announcing the formation of this new team, was held Monday, March 23, at the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce.

SBART chair Mac Hay stated that "SBART will be interfacing with state and federal agencies such as EDCO, regional organizations, and local citizens to help attain economic stability and success for the Sisters Country. SBART's primary goal is to prepare our community for a strong and vital economic base through the retention and attraction of businesses and jobs for our citizens."

Patty Vandiver, develop-ment project coordinator with SBART, noted during the press conference that SBART would operate as a committee within the Sisters Chamber.

"We are now under the umbrella of the chamber, giving us the ability to obtain grants and allowing us to interface more easily with all the other groups in town," she said.

The city council and SBART are not the only committees in Sisters working toward improving the economy. On March 11, the Sisters Village Association (SVA) held their first public meeting at the Sisters Library. The association's goal is the revitalization of the downtown core.

On March 12, the city council approved an effort to attach Sisters to Redmond's application to renew its enterprise zone.

About 70 people attended the informational meeting, a mix of local merchants and business people. Sixty-eight people signed-up for the four committees: organization; promotion; design; and economic restructuring.

The Citizens for Community Input (CCI) committee, which advises the city council on matters important to the residents of Sisters Country, is also committed to fostering economic development.

Speaking about her committee's concern for the local economy, Chairperson Wendy Holzman said "Ultimately the key to success is to bring all the various groups working on economic development together."

"We've got a whole bunch of engaged citizens now, people who are devoted to bettering our community - and the chamber is happy to be the 'communication hub' for dispersing information (on economic development plans) in the short term," Erin Borla said.

Trying economic times have created a sense of urgency within the community perhaps best summarized by Patty Vandiver, board president of the Sisters Area Chamber.

"The synergy and communication between the different organizations is creating an energy within the community that has been missing for some time," she said.