Local Businesses Testify to State Recovery Leaders at the McKenzie Business Resource Fair
We had a number of groups at the event to help listen to needs and make available the resources that currently exist.
Oregon Solutions and Locals Helping Locals worked together to host the event and had representatives from Business Oregon, Rural Development Initiative, Lane Small Business Development Center, Lane County and RAIN along with a few others.
Two of the most common needs that dominated the conversation:
- Help with Insurance Shortages – most relief has been targeted at homeowners with very little provided to businesses.
- Land Use and Zoning Issues impeded or restrict recovery.
MCP has been concerned about this for some time. It is one often reasons that Blue River failed to rebuild lost business on its Main Street for decades. It keeps the entire McKenzie River from attracting businesses that will thrive in our respective areas. It also keeps us from getting more middle income and market rate housing for our current business’ employees. Lack of employees has limited many local businesses hours and forced some businesses to move to the city. “It is literally choking us to death” said one local business person.
Perhaps the wide spread fire disaster of 2020 and the housing crisis will open a bi-partisan window for making Land Use and Zoning changes that will help Rural communities like ours to thrive instead of slowly “choking us to death”.
Our current land use rules were enacted in 1980s and reflect a collective mentality from the decades before that. Now in the 2020’s our economy is different, the businesses that can survive in rural areas is different, the idea of a small family farm has changes as has the makeup of the modern family. High speed internet has allowed more people to work from home. Virus threats that are compounded in big cities is encouraging more rural living. Things have changed – we need an updated rural development code that reflects these changes.
“The McKenzie River Communities need smart land use changes that find a good balance”
MCP supports smart land use changes that find a good balance between preserving the rural heritage, environmental protection and smart development that supports vibrant sustainable communities that include a mix of businesses, jobs and housing for all economic groups.
The benefits to our residents include:
- more housing options,
- healthier local businesses that have
- more jobs
- better paying jobs,
- more services and leisure options for local residences,
- healthier schools with more learning options and sports programs for students.
Thank you to everyone who attended the event – both businesses and the groups coming to help offer support!
Questions? Concerns? Comments?
Please email us – we want. to hear form you.
Chris LaVoie – Executive Director
Source: MCP Staff