Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Sweet Home Economic Development Group President Ron Moore said this year’s Oregon Jamboree looks to be one of the most popular ever, which puts his group in a position of figuring out how to utilize that success for the benefit of the community.
Moore, who is in his fifth year at the helm of SHEDG, told attendees at the organization’s monthly Breakfast Club, held at 6:30 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Senior Center, that tickets for the Jamboree are close to selling out, despite the opening of two new campgrounds this year.
He reported on the progress SHEDG has made in distributing money from the Jamboree to other community events and areas of need.
Moore said SHEDG has distributed $102,250 since 2001 in grants and donations to the community, including $43,500 to the Community Foundation that was created by SHEDG to accept tax-deductible donations and distribute grants to worthy causes and organizations in the Sweet Home area.
“We’ve made a commitment to donate 10 percent of our Jamboree profits to the Community Foundation,” Moore said.
Other projects that got help from SHEDG in recent years were the median strip along Main Street ($25,250), the bathroom facilities at Shea Point ($13,500) and the Weddle Bridge restoration effort, to which SHEDG donated $20,000 in matching funds. SHEDG has also taken the Sweet Home Rodeo under its wing after that event ran into financial difficulties.
“I think we can make the rodeo something special,” Moore said, adding that he’d like to see Sweet Home’s become the “Sisters Rodeo of the Willamette Valley.”
SHEDG has also provided $500 grants for downtown merchants to improve their facades, has funded murals, and the new sculpture at the East Linn Museum, and paid for new banners that are being hung along Main Street. Moore noted that SHEDG also helped make the installation of a bench seating area at the Sunshine Espresso shop at 12th and Main and plans to create other such areas.
“We want to put benches and pocket parks around town,” he said.
SHEDG also markets Sweet Home and has worked to support local business and attract new business to the area.
Moore said a big area of interest is constructing a permanent site for the Jamboree and other events, which would bring people and revenue to town. He noted that a study a few years ago indicated the Jamboree then brought $1.8 million into the community.
“I’d estimate it is triple that now,” he said, adding that local organizations make about $250,000 a year with concessions at the event.
Moore said one of the big challenges SHEDG faces is how to distribute the money it’s made.
“A lot of people want to know why we’re sitting on half a million,” he said. “We’re setting it aside as a rainy-day fund for the Jamboree.”
One possibility for SHEDG is to purchase or build an office, possibly one that could be shared with the Chamber of Commerce.
Moore said that money will also be necessary to build the amphitheater, which is the focus of an feasibility study commissioned by SHEDG.
“The impact study will hopefully let us know what our options are,” Moore said. He noted that if an amphiteater is built, it could host not only the Jamboree but other events as well.
“Getting our own site would help us put on four or five more events throughout the year,” he said.