Molly Murai
Meet Molly Murai (she/her/hers):
Molly received her undergraduate degree in Community Development from Portland State University and is currently working towards a graduate degree in Nonprofit Management at the University of Oregon. Growing up in a small tight-knit community in Hawaii, Molly could relate to the communal support and personal relationships built in Cottage Grove. In her second year in RARE, she built on those relationships and skills, acting as a stepping stone to continue creating a sustainable community.
Community and Organization:
The City of Cottage Grove is a quaint town of 10,351 people located 22 miles south of Eugene and Springfield on Interstate 5, Oregon Route 99, the Union Pacific Railroad along the Willamette Valley line. Cottage Grove is recognized for its array of outdoor activities and scenic sites such as waterfalls, swimming holes, and trails for hikers and bicyclists, including the Row River Trail. The town also has six covered bridges, 21 murals, and historic buildings on Main Street. It is also known as the “Covered Bridge Capital of the West.” With its rich culture and history, Cottage Grove celebrates its history with its monthly History Pub event which helps fund Downtown Cottage Grove while utilizing the Museum and Historical Society, Bohemia Mining Days, Covered Bridge Festival, and Western Oregon Exposition.
Project:
Main Street Cottage Grove and the Cottage Grove Economic and Business Improvement District formally merged in September 2020 and are now known as Downtown Cottage Grove. Serving as the Executive Director, Molly worked with the Board of Directors, a combination of business owners and leaders in the community, to build sustainable growth within the Cottage Grove downtown area. Her work covered a wider range of businesses within the EBID tiers, along with the historic district of Main Street. She was responsible for organizing fun and COVID-19-friendly community events and activities that helped foster local businesses and boost local economic development.