Weed and Seed 2001

Economic Development/Jobs Minutes

May 3^rd 2001

Carol Snyder, Joan Pasco, Shelly Parini, Karen Cusick, Jeff Beiswenger, and Sharron Kelley were in attendance.

Carol Hood, Don King, Francisco Lopez, Fred Rau, Hud Lasher, Marie Dalstrom, Oscar Sweeten Lopez were absent.

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 AM.

Jeff Beiswenger agreed to be chair. All the committee members were very grateful.

Concern was expressed over the number of absent members, however.

There was a presentation of the requirements of the DOJ to achieve a designation followed by an in depth discussion regarding the demographics in the Rockwood area. The committee discussed the major economic issues, unemployment underemployment and the data needed to support these issues in the grant request. The committee agreed that per capita income would be more factual than family income data and that tracking businesses and employment data would be complex as few if any agencies collect data by census tracts.

Shelly described some of the major industrial changes that have occurred in the Rockwood area from 1990 to 1996. The committee also discussed the value of a business organization and the possibilities of organizing one.

It was decided that Sharron would invite several commercial real estate agents to the next meeting to discuss their perspectives of the Rockwood area as well as their agency data. Cost per square foot was suggested as a comparable.

Informal discussion continued. The committee was asked for their individual perspectives of the most serious employment issues facing the people in Rockwood.

Language and communication skills, education, deterioration of the business climate, crime and violence and diminished opportunities were listed as the liabilities. Workforce availability and community partnerships and diversity were the stated assets.

Each of the committee members agreed to gather specific data before the next meeting. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:00AM.

The next meeting will be held on June 7^th from 8:15 to 10:00 AM at the Gresham Employment Office.