Build groundwork for lasting prosperity

The downtown core represents the jewel of Sisters Country. The foundation of our downtown is built on tourism, recreation, arts and culture. From Hoodoo to FivePine, from Aspen Lakes to Black Butte Ranch the success of the downtown is "hitched" to the success of Sisters Country.

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else.

A living example of "hitched" is the union between the lodging properties, golf properties, and Hoodoo. Under the direction of our chamber, competing businesses joined together in an effort to draw more tourism to Sisters Country.

Instead of focusing on owning a greater share of declining revenue, each business contributed time and money toward joint marketing and advertising strategies. The success of their work can be quantified by annual room tax revenue. Sisters maintained its annual room tax revenue while Bend, Redmond, and Deschutes County experienced substantial annual revenue losses. Attracting more overnight tourism to Sisters Country raised the tide for the entire community.

Providing leadership and decision making that ensures economic, environmental, and community sustainability will define the future of Sisters. It's my belief that for Sisters to continue to be economically viable we will need to develop community finance mechanisms for small business, support the enterprise zone with adaptable tax incentives for new business, and build sufficient revenue to support a continuum of beatification projects downtown and expanded recreational opportunities.

The outcome of our past election was a council committed to economic vitality. With a majority of council support SBART was born. Sisters Business Attraction and Retention Team follows a mission defined by its name. The focus is around protecting existing business and attracting new business. From its humble beginning it has been an inclusive organization that has been responsive in pursuing every opportunity that relates to economic success for our community.

In cooperation with the city, the SBART team supported the creation of an enterprise zone thus allowing Sisters to be regionally competitive by providing tax incentives equal to Redmond and Bend. In addition the city and SBART focused on rebuilding a relationship of trust with the Economic Development of Central Oregon (EDCO). EDCO represents all of Central Oregon in attracting and retaining business through advertising, promotion, and trade shows.

I'm troubled when I read that SBART is being politicized and questioned by individuals who have never participated in a meeting. Before writing this editorial I interviewed our chamber director, city manager, director of EDCO, and our new SBART director. Each expressed the importance of SBART in bringing economic vitality to our community. SBART is the place to bring your thoughts and ideas around business retention and attraction.

Sisters' livability and schools represent our most significant assets in attracting new business. Bullying, blame, and other forms of division will prove our greatest challenge. Success will be built on our ability to attract, invent, and develop creative talent. There are no quick fixes. As we move through the current recession we will need to keep our focus on building the groundwork for lasting prosperity.

Our individual tolerance test will be to replace the word THEY with the word WE. Together, with understanding and acceptance, we will find better days ahead.