((Left) Mountain View Community Development — Redmond Safe Parking is Executive Director, Rick Russel (Right) Dry Canyon Arts Association — Lend Me Your Walls/First Friday Art Walk is Secretary, Beth Hanson | Photos courtesy of REDI)
Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is excited to celebrate not one, but two winners of the 2024 THRIVE (Trailblazing Heroes of Redmond’s Innovation & Victory for the Economy) Award. The THRIVE Award, sponsored by Mid-Oregon Credit Union, recognizes significant initiatives, programs, projects, or partnerships that support economic and community development in Redmond. Applicants are evaluated based on six different criteria including economic and community impact, innovation, creativity, and impact.
The Redmond community continues to grow and thrive thanks to a variety of events, organizations, and initiatives put forth by its citizens. This year’s winners offer very different approaches that both contribute significantly to making Redmond a better place to work, live, and thrive.
Redmond Safe Parking Program
The Redmond Safe Parking Program helps those experiencing homelessness by providing safe legal parking options for people living in vehicles as they work towards stability with case managers. There are currently seven locations with 28 parking spaces. In the last year, The Safe Parking program has served 96 people where 30 have found permanent or positive transitional housing. The THRIVE Award spotlights this program which shows the potential to contribute to the local economy through building a workforce to empower those in need on a transitional basis. It has also expanded its model to other communities within the state. Visit the Redmond Safe Parking Program to learn more.
First Friday Art Walk/Lend Me Your Walls/Arts Education
Dry Canyon Arts Association, through its art shows, educational art programs, Lend Me Your Walls, and First Friday art walk in downtown Redmond, uniquely combines economic development with cultural enrichment. Providing local artists ways to display and sell their work in collaboration with local businesses also brings prosperity through visual arts avenues making Redmond a more attractive place to live, work and visit. It is testimony that when a city is thriving economically, the arts thrive as well. Having a vibrant arts and culture identity provides a quality of life that appeals to a diverse community in a growing city. Find out more by visiting the Dry Canyon Arts Association
Whether in prosperous times or challenging times, the way the Redmond community comes together is something all citizens of the region can be very proud of, and that is what will keep Redmond thriving. Congratulations to this year’s winners!
About Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI):
Redmond Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) is a private, nonprofit corporation established in 1987 as a partnership between private business and the public sector to encourage economic development in the City of Redmond, Oregon. Its Mission is to create prosperity through community and business development. REDI serves as an advocate for Redmond’s industrial companies and assists them by providing information about Redmond as an area for business, relocation, or expansion.
