Columbia County’s Wish List

DAYTON - In December,

business leaders, elected offi cials and citizens gathered

at the Dayton Memorial Library for the annual Community Economic Development

Strategy meeting.

This group created a list

of Columbia County projects

successfully completed and

organized a list of projects to

focus on in the new year.

2010 Successes:

-Port created master plan

for Blue Mountain Station,

including a marketing plan,

pre-engineering study, and

five potential start ups.

-Permit granted for Lower

Snake River Wind project

-Beautification of the west

entrance to Dayton

-Public art - Station Master statue at the Depot

- Made progress in establishing broadband to library

- Hospital installed electronic health records

- Regional ag-tourism

map/brochure

- Television spot on Dayton on NW Backroads

- Improvements to 2nd

Street

- New event: "Mule Mania" - Timber tours, successful

for land owner management

goals

- Developed skate park &

"teen scene" program

- Secured funding for

planned Dayton downtown

playground

- Relocation of Smith Hollow School

- Improvements to Lyons

Ferry marina, store, walkways - Retained Bluewood Ski

Resort

The project list in Capacity Building and Planning

were:

1. City & county adopt

ordinances to encourage

in-fill development, alternative housing opportunities,

and industrial/commercial

mixed- use development

guidelines

2. Inter-local agreement

between city/county planning departments

3. Downtown parking

plan (public/private parking

in CC district)

4. Investigate use of TIF

for downtown improvement

5. Legislative sub-committee of EDSC (focus on

communication)

Education and Training

Projects:

1. Drug Free Communities Grant (educating community/ involving public/

changing perception)

2. Ongoing Workforce

Training emphasis (access

existing resources)

3. Update technology in

schools/community

4. WWCC and/or WSU

satellite or branch (teleconference equip. or online/

video)

5. Infrastructure (location

for classes/educational opportunities) Infrastructure Projects:

1. Increase sanitary sewer

capacity for industrial and

other uses, treatment technology & wastewater reuse

2. Improve City street &

County road infrastructure

3. Jail/law & justice facility (10-year goal)

4. Downtown pedestrian

and parking improvements &

playground (NEW)

5. Fairgrounds facilities

planB

usiness Development

Projects:

1. Develop targeted strategy for downtown businesses,

including recruitment

2. Develop and implement marketing plan for Blue

Mountain Station for valueadded ag business

3. Expand year-round opportunities at Bluewood in

cooperation with USFS

4. Continue to improve

stability of local hospital

district

5. Develop value-added

ag, i.e. co-op grain milling

facility; straw pulp; USDA

certified meat processing

Tourism/Recreation Projects: 1. Develop tourism advisory committee responsible

for creating a strategic marketing plan. The committee

will consist of City, County,

Port, Retail, Lodging and

Chamber representatives

2. Develop additional opportunities for ag tourism &

seasonal recreation

3. Develop a tourism promotional plan as recommended by advisory committee 4. Hotel/motel with amenities, and recreational vechicle facilities

5. Establish historical and

general signage

Housing Projects:

1. Apply for CDBG Housing rehab and weatherization

through joint agency application and use of BMAC

2. Address and encourage

affordable housing need for

Seniors and Low-income in

Columbia County

3. Address sub-standard

housing issues

4. Community survey to

identify areas of income levels (more detailed/targeted

than Census)

5. Temporary/emergency

housing assistance

Community Development

Projects:

1. Expand Recreational

opportunities at Bluewood

2. Develop community

center

3. Repair high school gym

bleachers & outdoor walkways for community use

4. Starbuck City Hall

maintenance

5. Encourage youth activities & establishment of teen

center