2024 NW RURAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY SUMMIT AGENDA
DAY ONE – TUESDAY, Sept. 3rd
11:30am CHECK-IN & GATHER
Skamania Lodge, 1131 SW Skamania Lodge Way, Stevenson, WA
12:00pm OPENING LUNCH
Cascade Locks Ballroom
KEYNOTE
Welcome: Helen Price Johnson, State Director, USDA Rural Development Washington
Keynote Speaker: Deidre Deculus Robert, Director of State Operations, USDA RD State Operations
PANEL – Year 1: Making Progress, Moving Forward
Moderator: Margi Hoffmann, State Director, USDA Rural Development Oregon
Panelist: Amelia Porterfield, Oregon Regional Solutions
Panelist: Greg Wolf, Oregon iSector
Panelist: Thomas White, Kelley Nonprofit Consulting
Panelist: Molly Sanchez, Innovia Foundation
Panelist: Jody Opheim, Partners for Rural Washington
2:00pm STATE BREAKOUTS: Ground-Truthing Year One Actions
Oregon Breakout, Cascade Locks Ballroom
Washington Breakout, Stevenson CD
4:15pm TOWN HALL: Breakout Session Debrief
Cascade Locks Ballroom
Moderator: Heidi Khokhar, Rural Development Initiatives
5:00pm RECEPTION
Sequoia Terrace
6:00pm DINNER
Cascade Locks Ballroom
DAY TWO – WEDNESDAY, Sept. 4th
7:30am BREAKFAST
Cascade Locks Ballroom
8:30am WELCOME
Cascade Locks Ballroom
KEYNOTE
Introduction: Helen Price Johnson, State Director, USDA Rural Development Washington
Keynote Speaker: Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Administrator, Rural Business Cooperative Service, USDA Rural Development
FIRESIDE CHAT – What is the Right Role of Technology in Accelerating Investment?
Moderator: Margi Hoffmann, State Director, USDA Rural Development Oregon
Panelist: Sarah Ortner, Community Infrastructure Center
Panelist: Rachael Maddock-Hughes, Rural Prosperity Partners
10:00am USE CASE WORKSHOPS (concurrent tracks)
CONSTRUCTING COMMUNITY CENTERS AND EMERGENCY BUILDINGS
Stevenson D
Moderator: Greg Wolf, Oregon iSector
Presentation: Kittitas County, Abby Hall & Kat Compton – Environmental Protection Agency (view slideshow here)
Presentation: CORE3 Resilient Emergency Services Training and Coordination Center, Scott Aycock – Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (view slideshow here)
EXPANDING ACCESS TO RURAL CHILDCARE
Stevenson C
Moderator: Taylor Sarman, Rural Development Initiatives
Presentation: Skamania’s Play Frontier, Tiffany Pearsall – Play Frontier
Presentation: The Story of Yoncalla Early Works, Dr. Todd Bloomquist – The Ford Family Foundation (view slideshow here)
BRIDGING THE RURAL DIGITAL DIVIDE
Jefferson
Moderator: Michael Gaffney, WSU Extension
Presentation: WSU Rural Learning Access, Christina Sanders – Washington State University, Division of Governmental Studies and Services (view slideshow here)
Presentation: Bridging the Digital Divide in the Rural PNW, Jim Cupples – Economic Recovery Corps (view slideshow here)
12:00pm LUNCH
Cascade Locks Ballroom
CASE STUDY – Olympic Peninsula’s RECOMPETE Award
Speaker: Una Wirkebau, RECOMPETE Project Manager (view slideshow here)
KEYNOTE
Introduction: Darrien Thompson, Staff, HUD Assistant Secretary Kimberly McClain.
Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Dr. Kimberly A. McClain, Assistant Secretary, Congressional and Intergovernmental Relations
1:30pm USE CASE WORKSHOPS (concurrent tracks)
TRANSFORMING LOCAL FOOD SYSTEMS
Stevenson D
Moderator: Tim O’Connell, USDA Rural Development
Presentation: National Intertribal Food Business Center (IFBC) Update, Johanna Herron – Intertribal Agriculture Council (view slideshow here)
Presentation: Oregon Ocean Cluster: Phase 2 – Oregonians Feeding Oregonians, Marcus Hinz – Oregon Coast Visitors Association (view slideshow here)
Presentation: Lessons Learned from the Resilient Food System Infrastructure Program, Julia Terlinchamp – WA Dept. of Agriculture (view slideshow here)
DEVELOPING ATTAINABLE RURAL HOUSING
Stevenson C
Moderator: Mark Mitchell, HUD
Presentation: Catholic Charities, Bryan Ketcham – Housing Services Yakima
Presentation: Oak Street Commons Workforce Housing, Jerry Gillham – City of Sutherlin (view Sutherlin’s slideshow here) & Deb Flagan – Hayden Homes (view Hayden Homes slideshow here)
DEVELOPING & IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL AND MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEMS
Jefferson
Moderator: Barton Robison, Willamette Partnership
Presentation: City of White Salmon, Mayor Marla Keethler
Presentation: Newport Big Creek Dam Replacement, Chris Beatty – City of Newport (view slideshow here)
3:30 TOWN HALL: Key Takeaways & Next Steps
Cascade Locks Ballroom
Moderator: Heidi Khokhar, Rural Development Initiatives
4:15 ADJOURN
The Northwest Rural Investment Strategy Summit (NWRISS) is hosted by USDA Rural Development Oregon & Washington in conjunction with non-profit partners The Oregon iSector & Partners for Rural Washington, with support from Rural Development Initiatives.
Thank You to Our 2024 Summit Sponsors
