Today, Governor Tina Kotek took a moment to pat the state on the back for a decade of teamwork through the Regional Solutions Program, touting successes in collaborative governance and highlighting the road ahead. According to her office, Kotek praised the "uniquely Oregon approach" which meshes the public, private, and civic sectors together to ignite community and economic development. “Over the past decade, communities across the state have benefited from Regional Solutions bringing people together to collaborate on durable solutions. The challenges facing our state require thoughtful collaboration, and I look forward to partnership with the advisory committees as we make progress on our shared priorities.” Kotek declared in a statement.
The Regional Solutions Program, set in stone through legislation in 2014, is split into 11 Economic Development Districts with governor-picked advisory committees at the helm, they're composed of community figureheads from local government officials to tribal representatives, but the real thing is how they set priorities and pinpoint resources for their neck of the woods, shepherding projects that matter most to Oregonians. And Governor Kotek resetting these advisory committees with a fresh lineup of leaders ready to tackle new regional challenges head-on.
Economic development is no small feat, and Kotek underscored the necessity of a united front from all sectors, underlining during last year's "One Oregon Listening Tour" just how valuable these partnerships truly are to local communities. These regional coordinators are the Governor's eyes and ears on the ground; tasked with ensuring that the gears of state support mesh with local initiatives, and that communication between government and Oregon's varied communities stays in the flow. In a statement obtained by her office, Kotek emphasizes the facilitative role of the coordinators is to ensure effective state government, support local partners, and serve as the crucial connection between her office and residents all over the state.
