Citizens strategize on economic development

Some 40 Sisters Country residents attended what was called an "economic development strategy session" on Wednesday, April 22, at Sisters High School.

Organized by the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS), along with the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Sisters, the session's goal was to involve as many residents as possible in the second updating of the Sisters Economic Development Strategic Action Plan.

First written in 2002 by CATS, with the assistance of Jennifer Houston, former Business Development Manager with EDCO (Economic Development for Central Oregon), the Action Plan was last revised in April of 2005.

The 2005 revised plan focused on seven identified "key sectors." These included retail, natural resources/agribusiness, light industrial/manufacturing, entrepreneurial/home-based businesses, professional services, tourism, culture/arts and real estate/development.

Last week's 2009 strategy session was designed to review and update goals for the same seven key sectors.

Facilitator for the three-hour

session last week was Andrew Spreadborough, program administrator with the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC.)

Recognizing the many changes that have taken place over the last seven years, City Manager Eileen Stein told the attendees, "Today's session is just a start, the strategic plan will be refined based on this session and the results discussed with each stakeholder (SBART-Sisters Business Acquisition & Retention Team, SVA-Sisters Village Association, CCI-Committee for Citizen Involvement, etc.). This session is one of several initiatives designed to put everyone in the community on the same page."

Stein also pointed out the plan's accomplishments since its origin in 2002:

"We've been accepted into the Redmond Enterprise Zone and we're very confident that the state will renew Redmond's zone designation this summer.

We've also created a local incentive package for our enterprise zone which, with the creation of our SBART rapid response team, creates a sort of welcome wagon when we have a fish on the hook (prospective new business).

We've also created land inventory for new businesses through the efforts of both Shane Lundgren and Peter Hall in our light industrial park.

Marketing-wise, the Unique Properties group has banded together to market and promote the local resorts.

And the newly created Sisters Village Association (SVA) will be instrumental in helping to strengthen our retail core downtown."

Following the opening remarks, attendees were asked to roam from table to table where a facilitator listened and recorded their comments on the goals of each of the seven identified 2005 key

sectors.

Commenting on the entrepreneurial/home-based businesses goals from 2005, Patricia Gainsforth said, "We need a Web page that highlights existing entrepreneurial businesses and speaks to how the community supports them. It should say that Sisters Country is home-based business

friendly."

Standing at the retail sector table, Marie Clasen lamented the declining state of the downtown core.

"My main concern is the downtown core. There are too many empty stores now. I want to preserve the strength of downtown through economic development," said Clasen.

Paul Alan Bennett felt one of the revised goals for the culture/arts sector should be concentrating on Cascade Avenue.

"I believe we should make Cascade Avenue say that Sisters is an 'art town' when people drive through," said Bennett.

Following the "roaming session," attendees were then asked to choose a sector that most appeals to them, one in which they were willing to invest time and effort. Each facilitator then asked his or her group to discuss their sector goal ideas in more detail. At the end of this session the goals and priorities for each of the sectors were discussed with the entire group.

Fran Willis, co-chair of CATS, believes the 2009 revised Sisters Economic Development Strategic Action Plan will be ready to distribute to community stakeholders during the week of May 11.

"During the week of May 11, the final updated 2009 plan will be sent to the local organizations who were identified during the session. They will be asked to review and discuss the relevant sections of the updated 2009 plan with their boards/committees/members in light of their organization's current goals to assure we are sharing and integrating their community voice," said

Willis.

Chuck Newport, co-chair of CATS, sees the organization as the glue in the completion of the 2009 revised Sisters Economic Development Strategic Action Plan.

"I see CATS as the catalyst for collaboration - to quote our mission - between the various stakeholder groups. Helping to facilitate

communication and maximizing focus so groups aren't redundant in their efforts. With grant acquisition and administration, we are also hoping to become a clearinghouse for funding to help implement actions and programs using our 501(c)(3) status. In addition we will continue to monitor progress and convene additional 'summits' like the Leadership Summit of last April and the one on Wednesday," said Newport.

Bill Willitts, owner of the FivePine Lodge & Conference Center, summed up the meeting attendees' feelings:

"I enjoyed the interaction. I love the fact that we're working together as a community. It was a big step in the right direction," said

Willitts.