Speakers: Greg Evans, City Councilor; Ethan Nelson, City of Eugene; Debi Farr, community member; Colt Gill, Bethel Schools; Clayton Walker, Walker & Associates
Program Date: March 18, 2016
Time: 12:05 – 1:20 pm
Location: UO Baker Center, 975 High Street
How can a group of passionate community leaders turn their respective resources into thriving realities that offer opportunities for all? What can City agencies contribute? What is the proper role of schools? How do businesses and developers make achieving their entrepreneurial goals part of the whole fabric of community growth? In four meetings held at the end of 2014, the Bethel Economic Development Task Team identified actions that community partners could take in the following five years to create an area that has “everything right here.” In a conversation about their collaboration, key participants in this work explain their roles and accomplishments.
Greg Evans, City Councilor for Ward 6, will introduce the discussion. He will explain the vision, rationale, and hope for the work in a neighborhood that is also represented by Councilors Claire Syrett and Chris Pryor. Ethan Nelson will talk about the City’s role in leveraging resources and maintaining alignment with the overall vision for the City. Debi Farr, a community member who serves on the Bethel School Board, will describe how the team engaged a variety of stakeholders. Bethel Superintendent Colt Gill will characterize the role of institutions in moving the collective vision forward. Clayton Walker will summarize some of the ways public and private investments can spur redevelopment and bring prosperity. Together they will describe how the elements of their approach might apply to other areas, report on progress to date, and suggest next steps.