The City of Oakridge has been selected by the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) for a two-year partnership. In addition, the City of Bend will participate in a project-based partnership in fall 2024. Based out of the University of Oregon, SCYP helps communities solve the problems of today and lays the groundwork for a sustainable, livable future—all while helping students prepare for the workforce through applied learning.

These SCYP and community partnerships are possible, in part, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending and the U.S. Department of Education. With additional matching funds from the cities, the partnerships will allow UO students and faculty to study and make recommendations on city-identified projects and issues while leveraging and strengthening city capacity to reach their equity, housing, and transportation goals.

“As a proud graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, I’m always pleased when my alma mater expands its connections beyond Eugene to help communities around the state,” Senator Ron Wyden said.

“UO’s Sustainable City Year Program is a proven model of success, using the drive and expertise of students and faculty to discover solutions that move Oregon communities—both urban and rural—to a clean energy future faster,” said Senator Jeff Merkley. “The entire Oakridge community will benefit from becoming an idea-sharing hub over the coming years, which will provide students with tangible, real-world learning opportunities while also making the rural community more sustainable and resilient to climate chaos threats in the future.”  

SCYP will match resources from existing university courses to high priority projects identified by the City Council and the Oakridge community such as the Oakridge Industrial Park marketing and development, Willamette Activity Center planning and outreach, city website improvements, urban renewal opportunities and research, housing development planning and design, community service program options, and affordable GIS alternatives for the city. SCYP courses to address these project ideas could include business, journalism, geography, planning, design, and public administration with more disciplines added throughout the year as project and course matches are made.

“The City of Oakridge is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to begin our two-year partnership with SCYP,” said City Administrator, James Cleavenger. “The expertise and assistance from UO faculty and students will allow us to take-on far more projects and endeavors benefiting the city than we would otherwise be able to accomplish due to understaffing and limited funds. As a UO Law School graduate myself, it is especially exciting to be able to work with my alma mater to find solutions to a myriad of complex issues facing the city.”

The City of Bend will partner with SCYP Community and Regional Planning graduate students to apply contemporary land use planning and urban design concepts to help transition a traditional, auto-centric neighborhood into an area with a mix of residential and commercial uses that is climate resilient, equitable and includes infrastructure that facilitates active transportation.

Megan Banks, Sustainable City Year Program Director, shared that “Working at a larger city scale in Bend while being able to partner with a small city close to our main campus, is ideal and allows our students to experience the diversity of Oregon cities. Both cities present unique challenges and thanks to our federal grant funds, SCYP can support both municipalities and contribute to improving the quality of life for Oregonians around the state.”

The partnership will officially launch in the fall 2024 with a celebration event on campus. An initial class match occurred this spring through an Advanced GIS class in the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management. Planning for additional 2024-25 classes is underway.