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Consultant asks Donald leaders for 20-year vision as regional economic plan is drafted
Summary
A consultant leading a nine-city North Marion County economic plan asked Donald officials to articulate a 20-year vision, citing 550 local jobs and constraints including limited sewer capacity, water supply and only two developable parcels in the city's urban growth boundary.
Brendan Buckley, a consultant with Johnson Economics, presented a regional economic development draft to the Donald City Council on Oct. 14 and asked the city to describe its 20-year economic vision. Buckley identified local employment in agriculture, construction, manufacturing and wholesale trades and said there are "550 jobs in town," noting many workers commute into Donald.
The council and staff ran a SWOT analysis during the discussion. Councilors and staff flagged transportation gaps for residents without vehicles, limited affordable housing, sewer and water capacity constraints, and a lack of formal business organizations such as a Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Houdyshell and City Manager Eric Underwood discussed informal local business partnerships and opportunities to strengthen formal city-business coordination.
Council members suggested workforce training as a priority; participants discussed the idea of a Chemeketa satellite campus focused on trades and skilled labor. Buckley will synthesize feedback and deliver a draft vision and recommendations for the council to review at a later date.
