Greetings and welcome to Friday! And happy Earth Day 2022!! Go out there and hug a tree!
Here’s our EDALC update for the week:
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Sarah’s Update:
This week I started off with working on the MailChimp ad for International Economic Development Week. Afterwards, I posted a Facebook post for the Oregon & the Blue Economy panel discussion that took place last Thursday. For the rest of the day, I finished all the writing for the executive summary of the external environmental scan for OCCC.
On Wednesday, I continued to make edits and additions to the MailChimp ad and finished the format editing for the brochures. I also made some edits to the executive summary based on Paul’s notes. Later, I created a social media plan for IEDW and began writing posts and pulling together graphics to be ready for when that begins. At the end of my day, I began researching rural economic development facts and definitions to be used for IEDW and future marketing. I also posted on Facebook about the progression of the mural being created in Toledo.
At the end of my week, I made lots of website edits. I updated the entrepreneur slider and added a section to the entrepreneur page for “Resources and Guides for Starting a New Business”. I also created a blue economy page slider in order to make the recordings of the Oregon & the Blue Economy panel discussion and the presentations from Hatfield Marine Science Day 2022 available to watch. Later, I began planning the editing I will be doing to the ART Toledo website and worked on IEDW marketing.
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Paul’s Update:
Blue Economy – Last Thursday evening, I was one of the five panelists on RAIN’s “Oregon & the Blue Economy” (under their new “Start Up Blue” branding) event held at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. It was both a live and virtual event – not sure how many folks were virtual, but there were maybe 15 or so folks in attendance. Representative Gomberg was an 11th hour addition, and he had some great insights as well. If you’ve got a few hours to kill, here’s a link to the event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGEm01CRv5U. You might be able to see, about 15 minutes in, me writing a note and slipping to the very nervous host Connor Nolan to remind him that he forgot the opening keynote speaker 🙂
Creativity Boot Camp – This week I was able to deliver two sessions of my two-hour Creativity Boot Camp seminar through the OCCC’s Community Ed program. I did Lincoln City on Wednesday night and Newport on Thursday. It was interesting re-jiggering the content for more general “workplace creativity” instead of the game developer focused presentation I used to give at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Economic Development Week (May 9-13) – As you can see from Sarah’s update above, we’ve been planning an event (which will be on Thursday, May 12th from 4-5:30pm at COVE in the News-Times building), a short video production (we meet with the videographer on Tuesday morning), the launch of our bi-weekly economic development column and a social media blitz. It’s a great anchor and time to start spreading the word a little wider about EDALC.
ART Toledo – The first major mural in Toledo is underway at the north end of Main Street. I got to check out some of the action on Monday when I was in town for a lunch meeting with Mayor Cross. It’s very rewarding to have been part of the team to make that happen – it’ll absolutely transform the entrance from Business 20 to Main. You can read more about it here: https://www.newportnewstimes.com/news/art-to-liven-up-main-street/article_0d045062-c024-11ec-9ce8-93bef02f03da.html
EDALC Future Funding – A couple of wonderful updates on the fun funding front (hello alteration!). First, I received word from Paula that it looks like the Port of Newport could offer EDALC annual funding at the level of $5,000, starting with the 2022-23 fiscal year. You rock, Paula!! I also received this week a check for $10,000 from the OCCC! You rock, Birgitte!! In my Monday meeting with Mayor Cross, he is recommending to up their 2022-23 support from a planned $10,000 annually to $15,000. Wahoo Toledo! It feel so good to not only see the support coming in, but also to know that it will allow us to do our good and important work into the future.
Rural Opportunity Initiative – I submitted our first required report for the grant program, and we had quite a bit to share with the launch of CO.STARTERS, the upcoming SBDC Start Up Success class and our municipal funding asks… we’re all doing good work!
Broadband Action Team – This week was our monthly regional BAT meeting, and we learned that progress being made to set up a rule-development process, as well as recruit folks from around the state into the statewide commission, to prepare for the dollars that should start flowing into the broadband sector later this year. The Faster Internet Oregon program – to help regions get a real sense of statewide broadband and costs to improve, will launch in early May – details to follow.
Outdoor Rec/CORE – After about a month of delays, stakeholders from Lincoln City came together to discuss OSU’s CORE (Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy) initiative, and how some of their programs might be utilized to both create jobs and outdoor opportunities in the 300+ acre open space that the city owns that sits nears the northern Urban Renewal District. Just brainstorming for now, be the group looks to directly connect with CORE to explore the possibility space.
Federal Rural Opportunities – This week saw the release of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook – guidelines for rural communities and regions to participate in the upcoming infrastructure opportunities. I’ve attached the PDF to this update.
High Fives and Huzzah – Our own Linda Roy was just honored as the recipient of the 2022 REALTOR of the Year by the Lincoln County Board of REALTORS!! Way to go!!!
As a reminder – your Board of Directors resource page is here:
Because I know you are dying to know, this weekend should see the final major project on our complete kitchen gut and rebuild project – just need to grout the backsplash tiles we installed last weekend (I had to hand trim about 180 tiles – yowza!). Hopefully Sunday we can enjoy a leisurely cook in our new kitchen – I’ll share pictures next week.
Thanks for ALL that you are doing out there! Please reach out to me if you need anything at all.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cheers,
-Paul 🙂