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South Columbia County's Leaders are Creating Collaborative Opportunitites
Elected officials from across South Columbia County came together on March 3, 2022, to discuss regional priorities and identify opportunities to work together.
South Columbia County leaders first met in February 2020. Their goal was to increase South Columbia County's communication and collaboration. Since then, a staff leadership team has been meeting to coordinate plans, identify opportunities, and deliver results.
At the March 3 meeting, elected commissioners, councilors, and directors came back together at the St. Helens Community Center to hear updates and set priorities for a thriving future. The group identified four priorities: infrastructure, regional tourism, industrial recruitment, and regional brand development. The staff team used the meeting to report on successes and issues.
We are at a critical time to coordinate infrastructure plans and projects to take advantage of federal funding. This will allow for people, goods, and services to move more freely throughout South Columbia County. Continued partnership on larger broadband initiatives will also open up digital spaces.
The team is working together, under the leadership of the Port of Columbia County, to complete a Rail and Mobility Study. An action plan is expected in the coming months.
The South Columbia County team has recently completed an Industrial Land Inventory with the Port as the lead. The result is a county-wide survey of available industrial sites over five acres that we can market to private partners to boost livability and economic health. The Columbia Economic Team is actively marketing to investors in advanced manufacturing.
New county-wide tourism destinations that boost livability are being developed. Projects include the CZ Trail, Vernonia’s mural project, and Clatskanie’s Bike Hub stations. Work on outdoor recreation, food networks, and an attraction directory are moving forward.
With a regional perspective, we benefit through collaboration, coordinated efforts, and a broader view of South Columbia County's future. We are coming into a time of unprecedented growth for South Columbia County and it serves us well to work in partnership.
The City of St. Helens convened the South Columbia County group. Its partners share a desire to hold our communities in trust and to plan for a thriving future. Partners include the cities of Scappoose, St. Helens, and Columbia City, the Port of Columbia County, the Columbia Economic Team, Columbia River People’s Utility District, and the Board of County Commissioners. We are supported by Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District and the Governor’s Regional Solutions team.
