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Economic Development Commission Meeting

The commission focused on rebooting business outreach tools, advancing downtown revitalization support, and lining up fresh programming for the holiday/agrahood concepts.

Highlights

  • 📨 Business survey will relaunch through a city-managed Qualtrics link, giving the EDC direct follow-up and broader reach than the earlier chamber run.
  • 📈 Members reviewed AI-generated marketing playbooks for both customer attraction and business recruitment, aligning them with winter “shop local” promotions and potential small-business workshops.
  • 🏙️ Staff joined COPAC’s Downtown Business Ecosystem grant bid; if awarded, it could jump-start a downtown association, connect North Plains with Oregon Main Street resources, and map funding for coordinated revitalization.
  • 🌾 Agrahood vision around the Lind Reservoir is gaining momentum—commissioners will tour a Phoenix project and keep scouting grants for a community-serving agricultural hub.
  • 🪑 Vice Chair Baron confirmed he’ll step down in December; Jacqueline Smith is weighing reappointment, prompting a November deadline to finalize commission vacancies for council action.

Notes

  • Minutes & logistics: September’s minutes were approved unanimously. Chair Eric Van Dorn noted the overlapping League of Oregon Cities conference and the need to keep meetings efficient.
  • Business survey relaunch: The Commission will resend its business climate survey via a new economicdevelopment@northplains email using Qualtrics. Bill Ganley and Lori will help distribute the link, give Chamber partners a heads-up, and consider supplemental outreach (flyers with QR codes, website posts) so downtown merchants know the survey is legitimate and worth their time.
  • Marketing packages & December activation: Mike Magone walked through customer- and business-facing marketing plans he drafted with ChatGPT to generate turnkey tactics (passports, loyalty incentives, social media pushes). Lisa Adams and Jacine Hunt stepped up to adapt the concepts into a December “Visit North Plains” passport that strings together tree farms, wineries, craft fairs, and other seasonal stops. The Commission also floated quick workshops—possibly a social media 101 session or short evening classes—to give small businesses practical marketing support.
  • Downtown Business Ecosystem grant: Bill Ganley briefed members on COPAC’s grant proposal to Business Oregon’s ROI program. The application positions North Plains alongside other “thumb of Oregon” communities to hire outside expertise that can knit together existing efforts (downtown plan, URA projects, Chamber website, retail studies) and establish a formal downtown association, unlocking Main Street funding. Awards are expected around November with scoping to follow in early 2026.
  • Agrahood concept update: Jacine shared that a community farming/nonprofit model at the Lind Reservoir could blend heritage agriculture, public programming, and small business incubation. She’ll visit a Phoenix agrahood case study, continue scouting grants, and circulate resources that align with the city’s UGB and Lind Reservoir planning conversations.
  • Upcoming vacancies: Vice Chair Chad Baron’s term ends in December and he will not seek reappointment. Jacqueline Smith’s term also expires; the commission encouraged her to consider another term and asked staff to circulate the reapplication form. Council needs roster decisions by late November to place appointments on a December agenda.

Follow-Ups

  • Eric Van Dorn and Bill Ganley to finalize the Qualtrics survey launch (city email distribution, Chamber pre-notice, QR flyer concept) and report back on response rates.
  • Lisa Adams and Jacine Hunt to sketch the December passport/shop-local campaign and coordinate with event organizers and the Chamber for cross-promotion.
  • Bill Ganley to keep the commission posted on COPAC’s Downtown Business Ecosystem grant status and potential next steps if the application is funded.
  • Jacine Hunt to share materials from the Phoenix agrahood visit and outline grant opportunities for the Lind Reservoir concept.
  • Commissioners with expiring terms (Jacqueline Smith et al.) to confirm reappointment intentions by late November so council can act in December.

Video Recording