Greetings and welcome to Friday – and that dreaded “fall back” on Sunday – enjoy your 47 hour weekend!
Thanks to all who made it to Hatfield yesterday for our in-person EDALC Board of Directors meeting. We had a great turn out and a huge thanks to Bob for providing the space and the awesome charcuterie tray!
I left the meeting energized and proud of the work we do, but also with the feeling that sometimes I talk too much! I hope you gleaned some useful information and insights during the meeting and that i didn’t yammer on excessively!
Here’s our staff update for the week:
Blue Economy::
This morning, I met with Rural Prosperity Parters to review our two-year O2IH project plan and funding needs to better help them prospect and plan for some future grant writing. This afternoon, Mark Farley and I met with Don Gerhart of Challenger Biosciences to discuss phase three of the Green Methanol research project. We also gave the green light to the Eastern Research Group to start on a NOAA Pacific Fleet economic impact (in Oregon) study. – Paul
I put together an O2IH funding document for the five coastal incubator spaces that we will be supporting along the coast. I sent it to the Central Coast Food Web, as they are moving forward with developing the organization and building out their food processing space, they are looking for some funding support that our Blue Economy grant funds align with. – Sarah
Creative Economies::
I attended the ART Toledo meeting Thursday morning. For the Arts & Economic Impact study event this week, I posted on our Facebook page, sent out more punchbowl invites, bought some bread and a few other locally made items for the reception, and met with Jason and the team to finalize the event details. – Sarah
Community and Economic Development Grant Program::
This week, Sarah and I put together a tentative schedule for the 2023-24 grant program. I’m also working with Casey to be able to once again edit the online application. We got that solved today, but at the moment, it seems like most older applications, sheets and forms have just vanished from the county account – so we’re checking with SmartSheet’s customer support to see if they can help us find them (since we want to build the new application off of last year’s app). – Paul
Economic Report Update::
This week, I sent off the Letters of Intent we received to update the 2014 Economic Report to Kristin Yuille at the County. The next step is setting up an agreement with The Research Group to do the main report work and another agreement with EDALC to provide boots-oh-the-ground assistance with data collection. – Paul
Organizational/Professional Development::
Paul set up two new monitors in my office to connect with my laptop, it is already an awesome improvement! – Sarah
Our Communities::
On Tuesday Paul and I attended the ribbon cutting of the new ice cream shop in Waldport, Jilly Beans! – Sarah
On Monday afternoon, I met with Alison Robertson and Seth Lenaerts to discuss current and future economic development priorities in Lincoln City. – Paul
Project Work::
This week I finished up the October board meeting minutes, updated the entrepreneurs slider on the EDALC website, and updated Oregon Prospector listings. I also worked on the press release for the Community & Economic Development Grant Program and looked into some options for the individual looking to expand their bakery. – Sarah
Rural Opportunity Initiative::
On Tuesday, Dave Price, Gregory Price, Marcus Hintz (OCVA) and myself met to discuss the possibility of the SBDC stepping in to operate the Lincoln City Culinary Center – for potential training, events and as an entrepreneurial kitchen. Dave is waiting on a proposal from the City (Brulee, the restaurant that opened there in late June, has closed its doors). – Paul
Supporting and Connecting with Partners::
OCCC – I put together a letter of support for the OCCC’s BOLI Apprenticeship grant program application today. On Sunday, I’ll attend the OCCC’s Board of Education retreat. – Paul
Upcoming::
Next Tuesday at 3:30pm, we are supporting the OCCA with an event at the PAC to unveil the Economic Impact of the Arts in Lincoln County report. It’ll begin with a reception, then a presentation of the findings at 4 and then an after-reception – live music, food, adult beverages and economic development – what could be better! – Paul
As a reminder – your Board of Directors resource page is here:
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 🙂