Greetings and welcome to Friday and welcome to Fall.! What a gorgeous day out there!
Here’s our EDALC update for the week:
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Sarah’s Update:
I began this week with updating the opportunities for entrepreneurs slider and replaced the classes that took place last week. Afterwards, I worked on the September newsletter. Later in the day, I continued to pack up our old office and clean it. At the end of my day, I continued to work on the newsletter and began working on a Leadership Lincoln questionnaire.
On Tuesday, I finished the Leadership Lincoln questionnaire and packed up the last few things for the office move. While the movers were here, I continued to work on the newsletter. Afterwards, I met with Mr. Lawson in our office to go over Google Earth Pro and got him the aerial photos of his property he was wanting in order to create his commercial property ad. Later, I went to our new Waldport office and unpacked the rest of the day!
I started off Wednesday by updating our address on the EDALC Facebook page. Next, I edited the address and google maps frame on our website as well. Afterwards, I shared OCCC’s press release onto our Facebook page and thanked them for welcoming us into their building! Later, I proofread the newsletter and wrote a post for the Olalla Center’s Cultural Fest taking place this Saturday. After sharing that promo, I edited the ART Toledo website. At the end of the day, I called Habitat for Humanity multiple times to try to connect with them about picking up our donations and added to the opportunities for entrepreneurs slider.
Thursday morning, I confirmed that Habitat was coming for our donations and what time they would be arriving. Afterwards, I added the new newsletter to the archive on the EDALC website. Next, I edited the ART Toledo website and looked at one of our fellow ART Toledo volunteer’s new author website that she just released. She is a local writer and poet and a wonderful person! If you are interested in checking out her website and books here is her new website: https://catherinerickbone.com/ Afterwards, I cleaned up our Newport office and updated the average rent of commercial buildings and land in the county. Next, I called the remaining businesses on the major employers list. Later, Habitat for Humanity picked up our donations. Afterwards, I worked on updates on the ART Toledo website.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
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Leslie’s Update:
First, I encourage everyone to join and spread the word Saturday afternoon’s Cultural Fest at Newport’s Performing Arts Center! Click here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1twgcS8vxdSbIC7c9FlhQpb1n8Iu2rL4h/view?usp=sharing) for the event flier, and please share it on your social media platforms of choice. This week I’ve been busy gathering and preparing to share bilingual resources (see one of the business support handouts I created here). I also plan to ask some community building questions, following up and building upon efforts I started at 2021’s La Fiesta Latina and National Night Out – I hope to see lots of folks tomorrow night!
This week began with the monthly Community Builders Collective (CBC) meeting convened by The Ford Family Foundation’s Rural Community Building Program (TFFF RCB). We discussed ideas for what future years of rural community building support from TFFF could look like (stay tuned for outcomes from that discussion). We also heard from the Public Profit team who conducted a TFFF RCB-wide Evaluation. The team heard from 76 RCB community partners representing 23 counties in Oregon and Northern California. Surveys and interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, resulting in the Findings Memo available here.
For those who wonder what and why TFFF RCB funds and supports, I encourage you to read the report. The Foundation recognizes and encourages rural community builders to share their successes and challenges that are both unique to their individual communities, yet have underlying similarities to situations faced in other rural communities. In my experience, the Foundation rewards authenticity and humility in illuminating and continually working on the gaps between individuals’ and organizations’ intent and impact. In other words, I believe TFFF RCB’s efforts and support system help communities question and counteract box-checking, performative measures (that often perpetuate inequitable, non-functional systems that weren’t designed to work for everyone).
Continue the deep dive with Leslie’s full report here (as always, so well worth the read):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z9lTbmlStbDCz9yfBafHnc8e0UKmyLQLTncszsl0B8w/edit?usp=sharing
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Paul’s Update:
Blue Economy – Last Friday, I had a good meeting with Nate and Connor of Start Up Blue (RAIN). We discussed overlapping blue economy efforts, plus handled the awkward conversation of Connor moving out of his lane and into EDALC’s (without checking) – I think that’s solved. Mark and I will be meeting with RAIN in the next few weeks to discuss the next year of the Hatfield/RAIN EDA grant and how we can work together and avoid duplication.
This week, I spent some time putting together a high-level presentation on our O2IH project work (I figure we’ll be asked about that a lot in the coming months). Today, I delivered the Newport Chamber luncheon presentation on O2IH. The event was at the OCCC and it was a packed house – and folks really seemed to be energized by the work underway (as well as getting some “blue sector” context).
Waldport Office – We finished packing up the office on Monday and movers showed up Tuesday morning to haul our things to Waldport. Sarah and I spent the rest of the day unpacking and starting to set up our new digs. Habitat for Humanity came by on Thursday to pick of the furniture we are donating – they took it all evict for one large, heavy L-shaped desk. I’m trying to find a new home for it on FB’s Buy, Sell, Trade. If not, we’ll call Thompson’s next week. I also spackled all the picture holes and did a few coats of blended cover up paint on the spots. The OCCC has been a joy to work with during the move! I’ll start our officially residency there on Monday morning (Sarah is off Monday).
Newsletter – This week, we sent out our September newsletter. We’re up to a mailing list of a bit over 200, so it’s growing. A HUGE hats off to Sarah for her excellent work putting much of it together. I always love sharing what we do with the larger community.
Community and Economic Development Grant Program – The time is upon us to start ramping up the grant program. The county admin offices are struggling with staffing like so many others, and Casey Miller is in the weeds, so we’ll likely need to step in and pick up the slack – which we’ll certainly do, given the importance and impact of this program. Commissioner Jacobson will be contacting me soon to discuss the 2022 pool of funds for the program.
Economic Summit – Jeanette Campagna has resigned from her position at the Newport Chamber – she was the organizer and driver for the summit coming up in October. Today, she gave me her files and I’ll make an assessment early next week if we can and should shoulder this burden ourselves. Thoughts?
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 🙂