Email: cecelia@talentbusinessalliance.org
Title: Destination and Tourism Strategic Planner
Organization: Talent Business Alliance
Community: Talent
Population: 6,337
County Served: Jackson County

Meet Cecelia Bagnoli (she/her):

Cecelia was raised in small towns in Kentucky and Iowa, where she developed an appreciation for local businesses and community initiatives. She earned degrees in Communication Studies and Environmental Studies from the College of Wooster, during which she studied abroad in Thailand, focusing on small-scale farming and community-led sustainability.

In her first role as a Community Life Coordinator and Nursing Assistant at Mayflower Community in Grinnell, Iowa, she provided whole-person care and became a certified tai chi and yoga instructor. Her experience teaching English in Spain, along with her travels in Europe, broadened her perspective in the connections between population health and sustainable communities. She became particularly interested in critical issues like public transportation, affordable housing, and locally sourced food, recognizing their essential roles in resilient communities.

Now participating in the RARE program, Cecelia is committed to becoming an urban planner and advocate for sustainable communities, working to ensure that everyone has access to the resources needed for a healthy and fulfilling life.

Community and Organization:

Talent is a vibrant, tight-knit community in the Rogue Valley, surrounded by stunning mountain ranges. Following the devastating Almeda Fire in September 2020, which destroyed 60% of its businesses, the town is working hard to recover from both the fire and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To aid this recovery, community leaders revitalized the local Chamber of Commerce into the Talent Business Alliance, transforming it into a nonprofit. This new model eliminates membership fees, allowing small business owners to access support without financial burden. The Talent Business Alliance is dedicated to fostering connections among local businesses, enhancing access to financial aid and grants, expanding customer bases, and offering technical assistance, all aimed toward strengthening the community and supporting its economic revival.

Projects:

In partnership with the City of Talent and Travel Southern Oregon, Cecelia is developing a Destination and Tourism Strategic Plan during her year with RARE. This plan aims to guide funding requests and grant applications for tourism initiatives, enhancing the town’s appeal and supporting local economic growth. Through this collaborative effort, Cecelia seeks to create a roadmap that promotes sustainable tourism and benefits the business community.

Specifically, she will focus on plans for a Wine Country Biking Trail, providing bikers and walkers with easy access to the attractions in Talent and Phoenix. Additionally, Cecelia will work on downtown development plans for Talent’s Arts & Cultural District, aiming to enhance the local arts scene and foster greater visitor engagement