2024 Uniting for Action OR Projects
Uniters in southern Oregon are working with community organizations to design and implement projects to address local economic challenges. See below to learn more!
Klamath County
The Klamath Cohort's Youth Civic Engagement Initiative in partnership with Klamath County Economic Development Association (KCEDA) addresses the low retention of graduates by involving high school and college students in local decision-making. Students from over a dozen schools apply to serve as county government committee members for community grants in Tourism and Economic Development where they are interviewed by elected officials and learn about local organizations to ensure their decisions benefit all citizens. The program fosters engagement and aims to keep more graduates in the community, running in perpetuity without the need for additional funding.
Jackson County
The Jackson County Initiative focuses on the rural community of Butte Falls where they are revitalizing the community garden. Rogue Food Unites is the community partner where they are lending their commitment and knowledge of providing quality, organic food to Jackson County residents. Together they are rebuilding the garden beds to plant quality and organic produce that will be maintained by the local community.
Josephine County
The Josephine County project is working with A Greater Applegate to create a Small Business Toolkit that small business owners and entrepreneurs can use when they are exploring bringing their small business to the small rural communities that make up the beautiful Applegate valley in southern Oregon. The team is using the town of Murphy as their example town that is being used as the blueprint for this toolkit. This toolkit will have everything needed to open a business in Murphy, including who to contact for business permits, utilities, etc. with the intent for the blueprint to be replicated in the other towns along the valley. This resource will be available in hard copy as well as digitally on the Greater Applegate website.
Douglas County
The Douglas County team discovered barriers to economic prosperity and growth starting once students graduate from high school because a large percentage of low to moderate income students do not have access to obtaining their driver’s licenses or attending driver’s education. This team is partnered with Phoenix School of Roseburg who is implementing a driver’s ed program. The project includes the driver practice hours required, the testing and the DMV fees. The driver’s ed program will be an extension of the existing driver’s ed program at Umpqua Community College.