On June 17, 2009, the City Council formally adopted its 2009-2010 Goals.  The theme of these goals was to improve Ashland’s ability to be sustainable well into the future in six major areas.  Under the “Economy” section, Council adopted the following goal:

The development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy for the purpose of:

• Diversifying the economic base of the community
• Supporting creation and growth of businesses that use and provide local and regional products
• Increasing the number of family-wage jobs in the community

Public Process – Mayor’s Appointments

The public process will be guided by two groups appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council.  The Policy Group is made up of representatives from various community partners and other key stakeholders and will be charged with laying out the framework of the strategy based on the initial work of the Economic Opportunities Analysis from 2007 and the accompanying draft implementation plan that Council agreed on as a starting point for the process. 

The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is made up of staff members of the community partners and other local, regional and state agencies involved in various aspects of economic development in our community and region.  This group will provide an understanding and working knowledge of current economic development tools and practices and will be a resource to the Policy Group and the City Council in providing feedback on potential strategies and action items discussed throughout the process.

Policy Group

Russ Silbiger                    City Councilor, Chair

John Stromberg               Mayor

Wendy Siporen               Executive Director, THRIVE

Ric Holt                          Southern Oregon University, Economics Dept

Dean Cropper                 Owner, Cropper Medical/BioSkin Technologies

Mark Marchetti              CEO Ashland Community Hospital

Jim Klein, Provost           Southern Oregon University

Tom Bradley                   Bradley Properties/Board Member Ashland Community Land Trust

DeeAnn Everson             Executive Director, United Way of Jackson County

Pam Hammond                President, Ashland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Annie Hoy                       Board Member, Ashland Chamber of Commerce

John Fields                      Golden-Fields Construction

Emile Amarotico              Citizen

Laurie Gibbs, Owner       Winchester Inn

Technical Advisory Committee

Sandra Slattery                Executive Director, Ashland Chamber of Commerce

Larry Holzgang               Oregon Business Development Department

Ron Fox                         Executive Director, SOREDI

Jim Fong                         Executive Director, Job Council of Southern Oregon

Bill Molnar,                     Community Development Director, City of Ashland

John Rinaldi                     Citizen/Planning Commission

Jim Teece                        President, Project A, Inc

Mallory Pierce                 Director of Marketing & Communications, Oregon Shakespeare Festival

Jeff Griffin                        Regional Coordinator, Economic Revitalization Team, OR Business                                           Dev Dept