Open Letter to City Administrative Services Committee
Corvallis stands poised at a unique moment of opportunity - poised to move forward and prosper or stay still and fail. Shrinking budgets, continued demand for services, and citizen angst and fury directed toward civic leaders all compel us to make that leap to move forward and change - or - stagnate and fall.
Vitality of community and life depends upon a strong local economy and the revenue base that brings for City government - to provide services, plan for growth, and implement needed change. The shift in the equation between revenue and expenses in Corvallis has reached a critical tipping point that will bring us to failure if not reversed. Reviewing the City's approach to its economy from a strategic level at this time is required.
I encourage the members of the City's Administrative Services Committee to prioritize and address our community's stance to economic development by reviewing our existing policy in detail. Economic vitality is multi-faceted and multi-layered - it encompasses policy, zoning, planning, funding, etc. Most importantly, it requires commitment, courage and community collaboration - Commitment to create a welcoming and nurturing space for business development, collaboration between all vested parties, and courage to take a stance that says "We Care."
Please help Corvallis remain strong and economically viable by providing the leadership needed at the policy level of this equation and work with our community to review and address needed change at this critical point in time. Every moment we wait means one more lost business, one more unemployed citizen, and one less dollar in the City's budget.
I trust, with your assistance and leadership, our community can move forward and NOT fail.
Regards,
Mark
Chair, Willamette Innovators Network & WiN Planning Committee
Board Member, Software Association of Oregon
Director, Business Solutions Group, College of Business, OSU
& Most importantly, Concerned Citizen
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on -
Thanks Mark, well said and very timely. A call for innovation and leadership by concerned citizens like you unfortunately isn't enough. It is a start and right now it is time for action where everyone can get out and vote for those leaders who will listen, make a decision and act on their knowledge and experience. See ya at WIN. I will be the one wearing last year's tiny near wortless buttons! Smile
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Permalink Reply by Mark W. Van Patten on -
Wait 'til you see the NEW buttons Bill... You're gonna LUV 'EM!!
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Permalink Reply by Loyan Roylance on -
And stickers!
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Permalink Reply by Mark W. Van Patten on
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And stickers too! They're really cool...
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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Luv is such an action filled and emotional word. I can hardly wait. Of course WIN is a day after the 235th Anniversary of the US Marine Corps and on Veterans Day! Two more reasons to celebrate innovation and creativity.
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Permalink Reply by Mark W. Van Patten on
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Exactly! Glad you made that connection Bill - It takes FREEDOM of thought to have creativity!
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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Then why not BRAND that creativity and get the 6 county economic development region on the same page? BL3 plus Polk and Marion. Seems like enough of a population base if we could all pull together. Seems like the folks over the mountain have figured this out already and are able to move forward at a faster rate than our region is progressing.
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Permalink Reply by WIN Admin on
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I agree Bill, and I see it happening in bits and spurts. I think once this city gets its forward motion identified, it will easier to achieve a regional coalition.
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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It looks as if Corvallis is seriously considering an Economic Development Commission. Is that something that you think has the potential to move the conversation toward a regional brand forward and produce this forward motion identified? I think achieving a regional coalition is only slightly easier than a camel passing through the eye of a needle lost in a haystack. Some good things are happing , like WIN, Food Boot Camp, WAC, Tech transfer, SBD at LBCC, the BEC, SAO and OSU's research and commercialization efforts just to mention a few, isn't that enough forward motion to start the branding effort of the 6 county region?
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Permalink Reply by Mark W. Van Patten on
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Bill - (WinAdmin Hat and Myself) - The intent of WiN as it was conceived was to help pull these efforts together. We identified that there was no context for either understanding the great diversity of creativity through research, entrepreneurism, outreach,e tc. that existed in this community. We also wanted to created a space and context in which these creative elements could come together to share and collaborate - from local to state policymakers, investors, the entrepreneurs and researchers, and the general public as well so that people would start building an awareness of the great potential there is here.
You might not be aware, but WiN recently sponsored a local branding session on the OSU campus that was attended by all of the major ED players in Corvallis. That effort flowed up to the regional effort that was recently facilitated by the regional Council of Government. And, from WiN's presence and voice at the city council meetings and through buy-in of the concept by a few of those same individuals, forward progress is being made.
I chose the topic of "Leadership in Economic Development: Where Does It Come From?" for the Town Hall Meeting at WiN to help move that dialogue even further and raise awareness that the local leaders need to start working together, collaboratively, to build a strategy, plan, and begin structuring policy and funding to support it. From dialogue at meetings, and murmuring on the street - forward progess is being made.
Branding is a necessary part of the process, and there have now been two exercises locally and between Linn, Benton and Lane Counties. In the middle of this month, there will be a strategy/planning workshop facilitated by the Oregon Business Council to bring in the Eugene area as well. In this effort, WiN has played a strong role in the capacity of its mission to foster a nurturing ED environment and build an "umbrella" space as described above - and, yes, progress is being made.
So, hang on to those buttons... Someday they might be worth something as a symbol of the role WiN played in this effort...!
Keep the up the faith and good work my friend!
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Permalink Reply by William Ray Ford on
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No fear Mark. I will be part of the last man standing brigade. Always have been and always will be. I came to Corvallis at the age of 17 and was a Rook Beaver. At 37 I returned and looked Corvallis over again from Chip Ross park and picked my permanent home. I bought land and built a house at near Chip Ross at the age of 41 when I retired from the Marines. At 57 I got to work on the 2020 Vision Statement and North Corvallis Plan. At 67 I will watch the Economic Development Commission come into being. I want to be wheeled to the top of Chip Ross park when I turn 97 and be able to have someone tell me of the great thing that were done beyond 2020 and are still being done.
See ya with the small 2009 WIN buttons on. Still haven't seen any of the 2010 WIN buttons. Hope you bought a lot of them as they are going to be collector's items as well as those issued for WIN 2009!
I appreciate all you are doing via WIN to keep our community vital.
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Permalink Reply by Mark W. Van Patten on
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Thanks! And, how many buttons would you like for us to hold for YOU Bill?
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