About Us
Supporting Our McKenzie River Communities
Building a Better Community, Together!
McKenzie Community Partnership was formed by you and your neighbors to help solve community wide problems.
Formerly known as McKenzie Community Development Corporation, weʼve changed our name to better reflect our mission in solving problems and bringing our community together.
As a community member, you are invited to participate with us.
Key Reasons We are a vital resource
McKenzie Community Partnership helps provide 4 important things:
1. An organized Community Voice to advocate for our needs.
2. Project Funding – as non-profit, we can help facilitate fundraising and donations for your community project
3. Communication to keep us all connected – Get on the Community Mailing List!
4. Advocates/Volunteers/Managers – depending on your need, we may be able to help.
We are here to partner with you and your community group to make good things happen. If you are a community group looking to advance a project, Reach Out and see if we can help.
Our Mission
We foster and support community, environmental and economic resiliency in the McKenzie River area as we all recover from the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire.
After the Holiday Farm Fire, we have redoubled our commitment to be here for the people of the McKenzie River for the long term.
We serve the unincorporated rural communities along the 60-mile McKenzie Highway from the Springfield Urban Growth Boundary to the river’s headwaters.
The MCP is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit, first incorporated in 1995 as the Blue River CDC.
Featured Projects
Fostering and supporting economic, environmental, and community well-being for the McKenzie River area.
Our Board
The Board of Directors of the McKenzie Community Partnership is made up entirely of volunteer McKenzie River residents.
Jeffry Dehne
Board President
Jeff is a life-long McKenzie resident who resides on a family farm started generations ago. After military service in the 1970’s Jeff returned to the McKenzie to continue the work on the farm, and volunteer in the Valley. For many years and until very recently Jeff led the Walterville Grange. Currently, he is President of the McKenzie Community Partnership and serves on the Tourism Committee of the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce.
Chris LaVoie
Executive Director - Community Outreach Coordinator
Chris owns and operates McKenzie Mountain Resort in Blue River, most of which was destroyed by the wildfire. Chris has been on the CDC Board for many years lending his support to promote the economy, enhance the environment, and support McKenzie Communities. Chris’s business acumen and perspective as a long-term resident are invaluable to the reconstruction discussions and deliberations.
Jane Wilson
Treasurer
Jane is our newest member and has taken over as Treasurer from Larry Brown.
Madison Kleiner
Secretary
Madison operates and manages the McKenzie General Store and the Obsidian Grill, a local family business. After graduating she moved to McKenzie Bridge to have a lifestyle full of intention and connection. Madison created and managed the grassroots organization of the Blue River Relief Center, located at the McKenzie School. The Relief Center operated for more than four months providing food, clothing, water, and other essentials for families devastated by Holiday Farm.
Carol Tannenbaum
Director
Carol is a retired research scientist. In retirement, Carol owns and operates McKenzie River Lavender in Walterville. Each summer during the lavender bloom she welcomes many visitors to her farm for a festival. Through her farm Carol has been involved in the McKenzie tourism for many years. She is current Chair of the McKenzie Chamber Tourism Committee, serves on the Travel Lane County Board and works in support of outdoor recreation and tourism in the Valley.
Deborah Blair
Director
Deborah is a resident of the McKenzie Valley and commutes from Leaburg to Eugene for work.
Community Stories
Tiffany Lemmerz – #McKenzieStrong
#McKenzieStrong
Diversity & Inclusivity
McKenzie Community Partnership is a diverse group of people who care about our community, our local economy, and our local environment. We care about each other, coming together to make a collective impact. That is the heart of who we are.
As we think about diversity, equity, and inclusion and how we enter into community with one another, we ask that: we honor our stories, be present for each other, and strive for empathic action in every moment. At our core is the idea that we demonstrate the deepest part of our humanity through interacting with each other and showing we care.