Tag: RARE Resource Assistance for Rural Environments AmeriCorps City of Canby

Meet our RARE AmeriCorps Participant: Mariah Dodson

Mariah Dodson Canby Oregon RARE Resource Assistance for Rural Environments AmeriCorpsAbout Mariah Dodson

Mariah received her Bachelor of Arts in History with minors in Business and International Studies from Gonzaga University. During college, Mariah participated in the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership program, where she focused on learning about creating social ventures to aid in community and economic development. After attaining her Bachelor’s degree, Mariah became a Conservation Volunteer with American Conservation Experience, wokring on projects involving invasive species removal, ecological restoration, fence building, trail work, and dry stone masonry projects. Mariah hopes that the RARE (Resource Assistance for Rural Environments) AmeriCorps program will help her further develop her technical skills and leadership and communication abilities. After her year with RARE, Mariah plans to begin working on a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture or Urban and Regional Planning.

Marian is placed with the City of Canby and is working with its Economic Development and Main Street Programs to tackle current challenges and assist the city to reach its future goals. Projects will encompass each of the three Canby business districts (the Downtown, the Highway OR 99E Corridor, and the Industrial areas) as well as other areas within the Urban Renewal District.  As Community Outreach Specialist, Mariah will serve as a broad resource to assist the Main Street Manager with expanding downtown events, recruiting and coordinating committee and event volunteers, and administering committee meetings and initiatives. Mariah will also conduct an extensive business survey to assist with recruiting new businesses and development, and ensure that Canby remains an attractive place to do business.

About the City of Canby

The City of Canby is located at the northern end of the Willamette Valley and is surrounded by three rivers—the Willamette River to the north, and the convergence of the Molalla and Pudding Rivers to the west. Canby possesses a rich heritage centered in farming and the railroad with its own distinct small town identity. Still depending on its traditional economic bases, Canby has evolved from a small agricultural ‘bedroom’ community into a regional and international business location despite being situated within a 30 minute drive of downtown Portland, Oregon. Canby’s population has reached over 16,866 and continues to grow. Since 1990, the Canby’s population has grown by almost 6,500 or by 300 new residents per year. The current level of business growth and activity in Canby is relatively strong and the variety of employment bases is impressive for the city’s size.

The mission of Canby’s Economic Development Department is to “support existing Canby businesses, recruit new business and development, and to ensure that Canby remains an attractive place to do business”. In order to best serve the needs of these separate industry clusters and to focus on location-specific challenges faced by businesses, Canby is divided into three business districts: the Downtown, the Highway OR 99E Corridor, and the Industrial areas.