Alison Smith

Email: alison@scoedd.org
Title: Rural Economic Recovery & Resiliency Specialist
Organization: South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD)
Community: South Central Oregon
Population: 76,107
Counties Served: Klamath & Lake

Meet Alison Smith (she/her/hers):

Alison Smith spent last year in Klamath Falls, Oregon, working with the South Central Oregon Economic Development District (SCOEDD) to identify and organize economic recovery, mitigation, and resiliency initiatives. She is continuing her service this year at SCOEDD to build upon the work and is preparing to implement opportunities and actions derived from the district’s needs assessment. Before RARE AmeriCorps, she spent five years working in the business consulting industry, assisting US Government agencies with human capital projects, such as change management, human-centered design, and training and facilitation efforts. She is passionate about the triple bottom line – social, economic, and environmental success – and helping others prepare for and overcome change. In her free time, she can be found hiking, soaking up the sunshine and outdoors, trying new food, and catching up on her favorite TV shows and books.

Community and Organization:

Located in the south central region of Oregon and bordering northern California, Klamath Falls sits on the southern shore of the Upper Klamath Lake, nestled in the Klamath Basin on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains. Klamath Falls enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine each year.

The South Central Oregon Economic Development District, formed in 1999, serves as the primary conduit for regional economic development resources for Klamath and Lake Counties, Oregon. It provides the professional staff to support economic development planning on a regional basis and the individual economic development efforts of Lake County and Klamath County. SCOEDD also manages and administers regional grant and loan programs.

Project:

As the Rural Economic Recovery & Resiliency Specialist in her second year with SCOEDD, Alison aims to continue driving economic recovery, mitigation, and resiliency initiatives by engaging and collaborating with SCOEDD’s staff and board, partners, community leaders, regional businesses, farmers, youth, and underrepresented communities in Klamath and Lake Counties. To address community and economic needs in the region, Alison will also support the expansion of a local food brand, assist and lead a broadband action team, and investigate funding opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs.