There's a fresh breeze of change sweeping through rural Oregon, and it has found its latest foothold in Sutherlin with the Sutherlin Chamber of Commerce being designated as the new Sutherlin Area Regional Main Street Hub of the Umpqua. The program by Oregon Main Street (OMS), which aims to breathe new life into rural communities through development and revitalization, formally welcomed its latest addition, expanding its reach to now include Sutherlin, Winston, and Oakland.
In a statement obtained by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Jessica Cannon, Executive Director of the Sutherlin Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed elation over the designation. “I am absolutely honored and beyond excited for the Sutherlin Area Chamber of Commerce to be designated as the next Oregon Main Street Rural Regional Hub,” she said. Cannon emphasized the program's potential to "uplift rural communities like ours, strengthening main streets through revitalization, development, networking, and real-time support."
The Sutherlin Chamber’s new status is part of the expansion of OMS’s Rural Regional Main Street (RRMS) tier. This tier was created to connect rural communities more effectively with resources to sustain economic momentum. It stresses flexibility in organizational structure, considering the diversity of regional needs and capabilities.
Sheri Stuart, State Coordinator for Oregon Main Street, spoke to the success of the pilot regional hubs and the permanence of the RRMS tier. “Based on the success of working with our initial two pilot regions, we decided to make the RRMS tier a permanent tier in the OMS Network,” she explained on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The addition of the Sutherlin Chamber of Commerce to the OMS Network is seen as a positive move to enhance access to resources such as the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, which supports community-driven improvement efforts.
To become a designated hub, Sutherlin's Chamber underwent a rigorous selection process, including a letter of intent and a detailed application. The application covered a range of criteria from past enhancement efforts to commitment to the Main Street Approach™, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the evaluation. OMS, a part of Oregon Heritage within the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, provides training and technical services to over 100 communities seeking to enrich their historic and traditional commercial districts, all at no participation fee.
