OREGON CITY, Ore. (CLACKAMAS REVIEW) — On March 26, Oregon City leaders took home the 2018 Great American Main Street Award from a national conference in Kansas City, Missouri.
Leaders of the Downtown Oregon City Association, City Commission, state and Clackamas County representatives traveled to attend the Main Street Now Conference.
As the Clackamas Review reported in January, Oregon City was nominated among nine other cities as a Great American Main Street semifinalist. Semifinalists were chosen by a national jury of community development professionals and representatives of government agencies involved in economic development and historic preservation. Oregon City was one of only three winners chosen from the group of semifinalists.
National Main Street Center officials say the work of DOCA has paid off in transforming a downtown industrial district into the civic heart of the city.
“Downtown’s transformation began with catalytic investments in the streetscape and facade grant programs, which have attracted a diverse group of independent businesses,” said Jonathan Stone, executive director of the Downtown Oregon City Association.
Since 2009, nearly $42 million has been invested in the district’s buildings, streetscapes and infrastructure and 28 new businesses have opened.
Stone said: “This is an honor shared by the Oregon City community, downtown businesses, property owners and our partner organizations. It validates the sweat and tears of everyone that has given of their time and money to make Downtown Oregon City a place we can all be proud of.”
Along with Oregon City, other contenders for the award were Berlin, Maryland; Brunswick, Maine; Chillicothe, Missouri; Grapevine, Texas; Howell, Michichigan; Saline, Michigan; Rock Springs, Wyoming; Tupelo, Mississippi; and Wausau, Wisconsin.
“Downtown Oregon City’s 10 years of brilliant planning and nurturing of a collaborative downtown community has earned them this prestigious nomination,” said Nancy Ide, Oregon City commissioner and Downtown Oregon City Association board member.
Oregon City is the first community in Oregon and the first on the West Coast in the past eight years to be selected as a Great American Main Street Award winner.
“The transformation of Downtown Oregon City over the past nine years has been absolutely remarkable,” said Sheri Stuart, coordinator of the statewide Oregon Main Street program. “When DOCA joined the Main Street network, there were just a handful of participating Main Street programs in the state. Now, there are over 90. Many of our programs look to Oregon City as a model revitalization effort. We are thrilled DOCA has made it this far in the process.”
DOCA will host an open house from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 7, when downtown businesses will open their doors to meet and greet customers and share the best of their business. The event features all-day happy hours, live music, “open house specials”, and unique tutorials.
The Clackamas Review is a KOIN media partner.