Tag: Hood River

Meet RARE AmeriCorps Participant: Margaret Hanna

Posted on by Julia Havens

Margaret Hanna Maggie Resource Assistance for Rural Environments RARE University of Oregon a.k.a. Maggie Hanna

Maggie received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Urban Studies from Trinity University. As a student, she strived to comprehend the world of transportation, water use, mapping, health and education, and real estate in order to better understand how the ranch she grew up on might continue to exist in the ever-developing Front Range of Colorado. After graduating from Trinity University, Maggie served as an El Pomar Foundation Fellow where she worked in northeastern Colorado as well as in the Pikes Peak region on regional councils, helping distribute $400,000 in grants to rural nonprofits and government entities. Following her year with the  RARE AmeriCorps  Program – Resource Assistance for Rural Environments, Margaret plans on attaining a graduate degree in the planning and community development field and ultimately returning to the family ranch.

Maggie is placed with the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District and will act as the District’s representative and point-person helping to roll-out the Agora Investment Platform. The Agora Investment Platform enables community leaders to navigate the funding system much more efficiently. Maggie’s primary function will be to enhance community capacity for project development and funding with use of the newly developed Agora Investment Platform. Specifically, she will support community leaders in their identification of projects and articulation of projects in a way that multiple funders can quickly grasp.

The Mid-Columbia Economic Development District was established in 1969 by its five member counties who realized that by sharing a common workforce, a common geography and a number of other important factors, their economic fates were tied together. They realized that by joining together they would benefit from better access to economic development loans and grants, pooled technical assistance, marketing, and administrative resources, and most importantly, they would be able to bring a regional approach to their economic development efforts. Over the years Mid-Columbia Economic Development District’s membership has grown to include cities, ports and chambers of commerce within the five county region.

Organization: Mid-Columbia Economic Development District
Community: The Dalles
Population: 80,708
Counties: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat and Skamania

 

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Meet our RARE participants: Rebecca Sergeant & City of Cascade Locks

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Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University.  Continuing her education, Rebecca received a Masters in Architecture from the New School of Architecture and Design.   After completing her Master’s Degree, Rebecca worked as an intern architect, architectural coordinator and a freelance model builder.  Rebecca joined the RARE Program alongside her husband, Jason, and their daughter Mary.  Following her year with the RARE Program, Rebecca hopes to develop her own authentic character and perhaps step up to role model status for her daughter.

Placement: City of Cascade Locks

 Population:  1,200

Location:  Cascade Locks

Sponsor:  City of Cascade Locks

Supervisor:  Paul Koch

County: Hood River

Columbia River Gorge.  Economic Development.

Cascade Locks is a historic town located in the heart of Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge and Cascade Mountains.  It is one of the oldest towns on the Columbia River, originating in 1853 with the arrival of three families who settled alongside an existing native population.  A small settlement grew up on the banks of the river to help travelers portage around the rapids, first by foot, then by mule-drawn rail cars, steam engines, and finally riverboats.  The City took its name from a set of locks built to improve navigation past the Cascades Rapids of the Columbia River.  Incorporated in 1935, the City of Cascade Locks is led by an elected Mayor, a City Administrator and six City Councilors.

The RARE participant placed with the City of Cascade Locks will coordinate with various community groups to promote the City as a tourist destination.  Specifically, the participant will work with the Downtown Revitalization Steering Committee, downtown merchants, the Tourism Committee and the Port of Cascade Locks to plan, conduct and evaluate new activities aimed at bringing more visitors to the community. The participant will also identify local volunteer opportunities, create a volunteer marketing and recruitment campaign, train volunteers, oversee the work of the volunteers, and help the community evaluate its volunteers and the events.

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