Hermiston’s downtown will get some extra attention over the next 11 months with the addition of a Main Street Program Coordinator.
The new position was created for Emma Porricolo, a RARE participant. RARE stands for Resource Assistance for Rural Environments and is an Americorps service program with a mission of helping rural communities improve their “economic, social and environmental conditions.”
The program is run through the University of Oregon’s Community Service Center and places about 25 participants throughout the state each year to focus on areas such as community development and natural resource planning.
Porricolo will use her time in Hermiston to strengthen the downtown district, according to a news release from the city, by using the Main Street approach, a “nationally renowned program that has been implemented in cities of all sizes across the country.” The program focuses on creating opportunities downtown in four categories: organization, economic vitality, design and promotion.
Porricolo graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and minors in geology and public policy, planning and management. She said in the news release that she hopes to pursue a career focused on how people interact with and affect their physical environment.
Porricolo is originally from Pelham, New York, and chose to do the RARE program for a chance to experience a new place, help a community and grow professionally.
She said she looks forward to learning more about downtown Hermiston and gathering perspectives from downtown stakeholders. She can be reached by email at mainstreet@hermiston.or.us and encourages people to send her their thoughts about ways to revitalize the downtown area.
Originally Published in East Oregonian
333 East Main St.
Hermiston, OR 978381
Phone: 800-522-0255