By Jane Allen, Project Coordinator, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District

We all knew when signing up for the 20-21 RARE term of service, that this year would be different. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage on in our country, it is hard to count all the ways in which our lives have changed since that virus first presented itself in the US and lockdowns began in mid-March of last year. For many RAREs, what is normally a service marked by in-person community development and fostering connections, this service year has been mostly serving behind a screen — not unlike many other people around the world who are navigating a Covid-ridden landscape. But what do you do when times are tough, and conditions change? You adjust, recalibrate, and move forward with the new set of circumstances.

One of the first projects I was tasked with as an incoming RARE working for the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, was to coordinate their annual Columbia Gorge Economic Symposium. As someone who has had little experience with event planning, this was a daunting task. For the first time ever, this event would be held virtually, and not surprisingly, the main focus would be recent impacts to our economy and how we, as a region, begin to move forward and recover from this crisis.

Diving into this work was a great opportunity for me to learn about the new community I had just moved to. I found ways to build on the partnerships that were already in place in the Columbia Gorge, inviting industry leaders to speak about their experiences, how they pivoted in the face of uncertainty, and what their hopes are for the future. I am happy to say that the event was a success — we had over 200 people register, and many commented that they appreciated the discussions centered around resilience, recovery, and what the future holds for their communities.

This event solidified one of the most important lessons my service has taught me thus far — that getting things done in rural Oregon requires extensive collaboration and relationships that are built on trust and communication. I have seen it as I have joined the monthly calls of our economic resilience team — a cohort of stakeholders representing all facets of life in the Gorge, from health care professionals, teachers, workforce agencies, tourism representatives, tribal members, and more — who have been gathering since early March to meet this moment and share vital information back to their communities. I have seen it as I have listened to community members in Wasco County share the projects they have been working on, sometimes for years, to enhance their towns, and the relentless effort it takes to finally break ground. And I have seen it as MCEDD helped local counties develop a grant program to disperse over $1.5 million in funds to small businesses just weeks before the funds were set to expire. This work cannot occur without the strong foundation of partnerships built and coalitions formed, which have been critical for the Gorge region to navigate the COVID-19 crisis. I feel lucky to have been witness to this, and to play a small role in ensuring those relationships are strong, vibrant, and sustainable.

About the author, Jane Allen: Jane majored in Environmental Studies and Geography at the University of Northern Colorado and got her Masters in Climate Change & Society at North Carolina State University. Having lived all over the country, Jane has seen the impacts of a changing climate coast to coast and wants to help communities be more resilient to these changes. In the future, Jane hopes to work on natural hazards planning and climate adaptation and is excited to apply her skills to economic development in rural Oregon. In her free time you will most likely find her exploring the outdoors with her husky in tow, listening to live music, or hanging out at a local brewery.

By Molly Murai, Main Street Coordinator, Cottage Grove Main Street

The most rewarding accomplishment is seeing the community’s support and involvement in my projects. I have seen positive responses for the hanging basket project, which benefits the beautification of downtown. The hanging baskets are not a Main Street project, but my responsibility is to help support the watering service and basket purchases. Despite being in a pandemic where people are experiencing their own challenges, they still donate to this project. I have received a higher amount in donations than in previous years, which makes me have faith in humankind. People are willing to help because they care about their community in Cottage Grove; they are passionate and want to see the best for their little town. By donating, they are creating awareness for this vital cause. I have also seen this compassion on social media platforms, like Facebook. People have offered food assistance, help with grocery shopping or mask distribution. People in Cottage Grove genuinely care for each other. Within this group of people who support each other, I would often see local government officials, like the Mayor of Cottage Grove, the City Manager, or City Councilors at community events like the Cottage Grove Art Walk or my seasonal events. I also see business owners in other business’ establishments. It’s nice seeing people I work with who also make the City’s decisions show up for the community. I receive a tremendous amount of support from my Board members who also serve on other boards, attend my events. Through their connections, they create awareness for the Main Street Program and demonstrate their commitment by making time and effort to be there.

From my position, I have learned the importance of supporting local and the domino effect it has. Before this position, I was a huge supporter of the more prominent franchises like Safeway, Target, or Costco. And although those stores have their benefits like Costco selling in bulk, the locally owned grocery stores like Bi-Mart or Grocery Outlet are just as substantial. When Walmart entered the economy in Cottage Grove, the company drove out many small, locally owned businesses. Walmart became customers’ one-stop-shop, which closed smaller and specific stores like pharmacies, jewelry, clothing, etc. It has been very refreshing to visit the historic districts’ businesses because I see the owners in their stores almost every day. I can count on them to be there on days that I go there. I have noticed a greater feeling when you purchase an item from the store owner who may have created that item, or served by the restaurant owner. I am now passionate about sourcing products locally and buying in-store rather than from on line sites, like Amazon. Some people prefer one-stop-shops instead of going to multiple stores to save time. Although I understand this concept, it may be hurting the small businesses more than people think.

A business owner has taught me about the definition of “local.” As Cottage Grove already has limited resources, the term must be used correctly. I made a mistake in an email about the t-shirt company being local, when it wasn’t our actual Cottage Grove company, but a company based out of Happy Valley, Oregon. As a resident from Hawaii, I use the term as statewide because the state is so small that we are proud if something is made in the state. Due to there being so many towns in Oregon, the term is used within the city. Using the city also applies to money. Money must stay in Cottage Grove, distributed, and should go directly back to the area.

About the author, Molly Murai: As the Main Street Coordinator, Molly works with the Main Street Board of Directors and local business owners to build sustainable growth within the Cottage Grove Main Street Program. Molly is responsible for organizing fun and engaging community events that help foster local businesses and boosts economic development in the historic downtown district. Molly serves as a liaison between the business owners and the City and helps them improve community engagement and economic development in Cottage Grove.