We’ve spent the last two issues on this page discussing topics related to the Sweet Home Economic Development Group.
Normally, we’d be moving on to another subject since we’re a weekly and three weeks is a long time to spend on any particular issue, albeit one that is very important to our community.
But we want to say that we’re encouraged by the message that was delivered and the choices that were made by SHEDG members at the organization’s annual meeting, held last Wednesday, March 13 (page 1). What we heard was a fairly frank discussion of the challenges SHEDG faces and some fairly realistic statements of purpose in how the directors and employees are planning to tackle some of those.
First, the vote. We were glad to see three sitting directors re-elected to the board because of the combination of years of experience in that role on the part of attorney John Wittwer, and of varied backgrounds in community service, tourism and business in the cases of JoAnn McQueary and Rachel Kittson-Maqadish, both of whose tenure on the board has been a year or less, but who bring insights that may prove very helpful as members make decisions that include some real risk and will need to think outside the box.
Joining them are local restaurant owner Michael Hall, a Chamber of Commerce leader and former city councilman, and Joe Graybill, a city engineer who has been very active in community service as well.
This board faces some tough challenges, the most recent being the resignation of SHEDG’s Economic Development Director Brian Hoffman.
Hoffman’s position is supported by proceeds from the Oregon Jamboree – or more specifically, past profitable Oregon Jamborees.
We believe that replacing him needs to be a high priority for SHEDG. But in saying that, we are not blind to economic realities and we understand what SHEDG board members have been well aware of and have been working to correct: the string of financially unprofitable festivals that must end.
Although some local country music fans may be delighted to see major stars performing 20 miles down the road in Brownsville for an $89 three-day ticket, $50 less than what it costs to attend the Jamboree, that competition from the Willamette Music Festival has been a major factor in the reduced profitability of the Jamboree and the resulting loss of funding for that economic development director position, the Sweet Home Community Foundation and other financial beneficiaries of the event.
What is needed now is strategic, bold planning to dig ourselves out of what festival Director Erin Regrutto described as the “deep hole” we are in.
The proposal to piggyback an entirely separate “indie” music festival with this year’s Jamboree, unfortunately had to be delayed until 2014 by timing issues, but it has plenty of promise for many of the same reasons that the Jamboree has turned out to be a great idea over the last 20 years. And, as SHEDG leaders pointed out in our report in this issue, the proposed county park is a potential “game-changer” for Sweet Home’s future.
The fact is, the Jamboree has been great for Sweet Home and we hope it continues to be great.
Yes, we all know the festival creates a bit of strain for the residents who have to deal with increased traffic, noise and general disruption – not to mention the lines at the grocery store. But those benefits, financial and in terms of reputation for Sweet Home, are immense – tens of thousands of needed dollars in revenue flowing into our community that wouldn’t be here if the visitors didn’t come.
When we tally up all the pluses for the community as a whole that are provided by the Jamboree, the negatives are really a small price to pay. If it can happen two weeks in a row, we believe the pluses will far outweigh the minuses.
The next steps will be up to SHEDG board and staff members. We wish them the best as they call those shots.