Funding will advance projects that support Bend’s community vision. In a major leap forward for the group, an alliance of business, government and higher education organizations has pledged $50,000 to fund Bend 2030, an all-volunteer nonprofit community organization with a mission of bringing to life a community vision for our town.
At a Holiday Giving Reception at the North Rim Lodge sponsored by BendBroadband on last week, Bend2030 announced that BendBroadband has anchored an informal alliance of key community organizations called the Bend 2030 Leadership Alliance, which has raised $50,000 for a Bend 2030 seed fund.
Ten local organizations including BendBroadband, Bend Park and Recreation District, Brooks Resources, Central Oregon Community College, City of Bend, Deschutes Brewery, The Garner Group/ NorthWest Crossing/SunWest Builders, Oregon State University-Cascades, St. Charles Health System and U.S. Bank, Central and Eastern Oregon Region have each committed $5,000 to the seed fund.
The funds allow Bend 2030 to hire a part-time project manager to provide support for the following:
- An updated Bend 2030 website, regular social media feeds (Facebook, Twitter), and bi-monthly Bend 2030 newsletters to citizens, lead partners and volunteers.
- Regular board presentations to civic clubs such as Rotary and Chamber of Commerce, as well as updates to the Bend City Council, Bend Park and Recreation District and other agencies.
- Bi-annual Bend 2030 Town Halls, informal presentations on current initiatives, citizen engagement initiatives and coordination of feedback from lead partners.
- Bi-annual Bend 2030 Leadership Alliance round table discussions that invite comment and direction from Leadership Alliance representatives and providing updates on key initiatives.
- Tracking and accounting of Vision Accelerators—the 21 broad initiatives that comprise the Bend 2030 Vision, capturing regular updates from board members.
In addition, the funding will support the January 21, 2014 Super Forum – Shaping the Future of CentralOregon, a community event co-programmed with the City Club of Central Oregon, taking place at theTower Theatre. The SuperForum will feature a keynote address by Governor John Kitzhaber and First Lady Cylvia Hayes.
BendBroadband, along with the City of Bend and the Bend Park and Recreation District, was an early funder of Bend 2030, championing the idea that local businesses should have a stake in successful community development.“As a local family-owned business, BendBroadband has seen many changes in the community over the past 50 years. During this season of giving, we hope other businesses will join us in supporting Bend 2030’s vision for a positive, sustainable future for our region,” said Sonja Donohue, BendBroadband’s community liaison and one of the visionaries of the Leadership Alliance.
The Bend 2030 Vision was developed and adopted in 2006. In 2011, over 90 percent of the original action items from the original Bend 2030 vision were underway or complete. In 2012, more than 1,500participants identified 21 vision accelerators projects allowing Bend 2030 to more strategically hone in onthe community’s vision for the future. These efforts and this new alliance demonstrate the strong support for Bend 2030.“One of our best assets in Bend is our sense of community,” said Ruth Williamson, a Bend 2030 boardmember.
“We are fortunate to live in a place where the citizens and businesses work together to create a prosperous community, while keeping sight of what makes the region special. We are grateful for the financial support of BendBroadband, local government, Higher Ed leadership and other business partners that will help us align opportunities, engage our community and make the most of this remarkable moment.”
To learn more about Bend 2030 visit www.bend2030.org and www.facebook.com/Bend2030.
