Brett White, left, one of three finalists for the economic development director position that SHEDG is seeking to fill, speaks with Peter LaPonte of the Oregon Jamboree and Nancy Patton of SHARE. Photo by Sean C. Morgan

Members of the Sweet Home community were able to meet the three finalists for the economic development director position on Nov. 4.

The Sweet Home Economic Development Group plans to hire one of the three men as part of the ongoing Sweet Home Active Revitalization Effort started last year.

The finalists for the position are Brett White of Walla Walla, Wash.; Bill Burstow of Burns; and Tim Johnson of Portland.

“The position has been developed because we believe the next step for us as an organization is to start looking at other opportunities to enhance the economy of Sweet Home,” SHEDG President Ron Moore said. One of the strategic goals developed last year during the formation of SHARE was to hire an economic development director.

“The plan is for the position to engage with the community and engage with the SHARE committees and continuing driving their goals,” Moore said. The goal is for the director to work with the chamber and SHARE to help strengthen business in Sweet Home, to fill empty storefronts, bring in more businesses and retain existing businesses.

Moore hopes that the SHEDG Board of Directors, which is funding the position, can make a decision on the three finalists at the next board meeting, Nov. 18.

“Once we get the right person in that position, their input is going to be key to moving forward,” Moore said.

SHEDG previously had an economic development director, Moore said, but at that time, it wasn’t in a position to be successful.
Since then, SHEDG has built a stronger position, financially and organizationally, he said. “We’ve become more organized and more structured. We’re more on our game for lack of a better term.”

Added to that, Sweet Home has the SHARE committees, which operate under the SHEDG umbrella.

Committee members are volunteers who are excited about making a positive change in the economy of Sweet Home, he said. They’ve signed up to lead the way.

“That’s going to make a difference for this person,” Moore said. “As president, I’m excited to see where we’re headed. Hopefully, 2010 is a turning point for our organization to create some synergy.”

Craig Martin, a member of the SHEDG board and city manager, said community members have made it clear that Sweet Home needs a paid professional to help sustain the effort.

“It was one of the most frequently identified needs when we had the large community meetings at the beginning of the SHARE process,” he said.

“That evolved into one of the strategies for the SHARE group, adopted by SHEDG and SHARE, to continue the existing SHARE effort and help all the groups move forward with economic development for the community,” he said. After the position is filled, the director will initially provide leadership to the existing effort.