Oregon Solutions began with the passage of the state of Oregon’s Sustainability Act in 2001. First located in the Governor’s office, Oregon Solutions migrated to the National Policy Consensus Center, in the College of Urban and Public Affairs’ Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University in 2002. True to its mission of collaboration, Oregon Solutions operates through partnerships with other organizations.
While there is often agreement about what a problem is, there is often uncertainty about how to solve it. Just like any state, Oregon’s economy and way of life remain dynamic and evolving, creating new, multifaceted challenges that affect the state’s health. Whether addressing food security, flooding, or high unemployment, each Oregon community faces unique issues that require creativity and collaboration to overcome. Oregon Solutions provides a system and process for problem solving, using what is called community governance.
Collaborative governance is a process whereby community leaders join forces to define a problem, agree on a solution, and collaborate towards a resolution. We bring the business, nonprofit, and civic sector to the table to make commitments, take on specific roles and responsibilities, leverage and pool resources, and ultimately, solve the problem. Learn more about the Oregon Solutions process.
McKenzie Rebuilds
McKenzie Rebuilds is Oregon Solutions’ local project focused on the aftermath of the Holiday Farm Fire. McKenzie Rebuilds will help McKenzie River Valley communities prepare to rebuild in the wake of the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. While there was a tremendous response from first responders and county residents after the onset of fire, the county says the fire’s aftermath has exacerbated several chronic issues in the area, including inadequate communication networks, aging and failing septic infrastructure, high levels of poverty, and a declining economy.
Despite the devastating impacts of the fire, the McKenzie community is resilient and realizes that this moment provides them an opportunity to rebuild in a better and more sustainable way to support recovery and a prosperous future. This project seeks to accelerate the rebuilding of homes and infrastructure lost to the fires so that residents can return home. The project also seeks to do so in a manner that protects the McKenzie River watershed, provides economic and educational opportunity for current and future residents, and delivers housing options for families and individuals at all income levels. Achieving these long-term outcomes will require substantial new resources, expanded local capacity, and collective action built on trust and a shared vision for the sixty-mile corridor.
Much more information on the project can be found on their website here.