An incumbent and two new members were elected to three year terms on the Sweet Home Economic Development Group, Inc. Board of Directors during that group’s annual meeting held Wednesday evening.
Elected to another term was Bruce Hobbs, owner of Cascade Hardware. New board members are Linda Garcia, owner of L’Loraine’s Dance Studio and Herb Hyer, owner of Sweet Home Liquor and Beverage.
Leaving the board will be former SHEDG President Jean McKinney.
Oregon Jamboree director Peter LaPonte reported that the talent lineup is strong and will total more than $420,000 for the August event.
Headliners include Alan Jackson, Phil Vasser, Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, and Tracy Lawrence.
There are two more acts needed to round out the talent lineup.
LaPonte said this year’s talent costs exceeded the entire budget of the early Jamborees.
Last year’s Jamboree netted approximately $80,000. Of that amount, $8,000 was donated to the Sweet Home Community Foundation.
SHEDG is also building a contingency fund for a rainy day and has accumulated $60,000.
“It’s been a long, challenging process that has included both ups and downs,” LaPonte said. “But, in the last three years the Jamboree has grown into what the founders wanted it to be.”
SHEDG board members will meet in mid-April for a day-long retreat to set a five-year action plan.
LaPonte said ticket sales have been brisk. Advance sales totaled more than $200,000 by the first of the year. Some $2,000 in tickets have already been purchased for the 2004 event.
Although Alan Jackson is expensive to book, he drives ticket sales, LaPonte said.
SHEDG has used funds generated by the Jamboree for the downtown beautification project, a restroom proposal at Shea Point on Foster Lake, donated to the S.H. Fire District imaging program, the Boys and Girls Club auction, funded web site development for SHEDG, the Chambe and Boys and Girls Club, is working cooperatively with the City of Sweet Home to advertise at a Albany mall, is funding an economic development coordinator position.
The group was told by Karen Owen, economic development coordinator, that Gail Gregory is heading up a committee to develop a mural at Shea point to be painted on tiles.
Students at the Oak Heights TAG program are going to develop a mural information pamphlet. New murals will also be painted by young persons.
Application has been made for a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission to paint a mural on Terry Bentley’s autor repair building.
Owen said she sends out several business information packets each month and that four to five prospective business/industrial leads come into the Chamber office each month.