As with the existing Sustainable City Year Program, the Small City Program will support city-identified priority projects through the work of student classes across the University. The partnership with La Pine will serve as a trial to see how this model, which has been previously implemented in larger Oregon cities, can translate on a smaller scale. Student efforts will focus on a variety of city needs ranging from economic development to bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, community engagement, and local nonprofit strategy. Funding is being provided by the City of La Pine and The Ford Family Foundation, with an in-kind match from the UO.
“Having SCYP work with cities and agencies across Oregon, regardless of their size, provides significant value to our state,” says SCYP Manager Megan Banks. “Thanks to the City of La Pine and The Ford Family Foundation, we can begin working with Oregon’s newest city.”
The UO-La Pine partnership will officially begin in January. Students, professors, and UO leadership will travel to La Pine for the kick-off, which will be held at La Pine City Hall during the first week of winter term classes.