Clackamas County is taking a different approach to economic development. With help from the Athena Group out of Seattle, WA, the County has identified three areas to focus specific efforts for economic and community development. The Prosperity Zone Initiative has identified three communities to focus resources. Unincorporated Clackamas County from Milwaukie to I-205, the City of Estacada, and the Northeast part of Canby will be where the groups will host their meetings. The goals of this program are to concentrate new efforts to identify specific needs of these communities and amplify existing programs to reach broader residents. The process will run until 2021 and the County plans to identify new programs, learn best practices, and engage populations in community development efforts.
As a result of these conversations, new methods, strategies, and ways of thinking will emerge to focus on tangible community wealth building. This program is a high priority for the County to continue economic and community growth for the areas identified above.
Timeline:
Spring 2019: Community Consultants brought on, County adopts support for plan
Summer 2019: Community outreach meetings established community project boundaries established
Fall 2019: Community lab workshops outlined
Winter 2019: Community lab workshops implemented
Spring 2020: Strategy established for community wealth building
Summer 2020: Clackamas County Community programs outlined and implemented
Community Benefit:
The three communities have been established for this project will see increased economic activity and develop tools for successful community involvement. The County will assist in creative ways to bring programs and tools that can directly benefit the members of these communities.
Prosperity might mean access to a new or better job, a new business, affordable housing, or improved health. The Labs include businesses, service providers and civic groups. The plans and ideas will answer the question, “how do we ease the struggle to pay for the things we need and want?”
For more information please visit: https://clackamascommunityprosperitycollaboratives.org/