Oregon City Announces New Parks And Recreation Director (Photo) -03/19/25

 

Oregon City, ORE. – A new face in Oregon City’s leadership may actually be a familiar one for those who have been involved in the organization for a while. Scott Archer has been announced as the new Parks and Recreation Director.

 

Archer has more than 30 years of experience managing local government, including 12 in Oregon City as the Community Services Director from 2004-2016. Archer returns after serving as the Deputy City Manager for Community Services in Salem, a position that oversees Parks and Recreation, Libraries and Senior Services.

 

During his time as the Community Services Director, Archer led the city through a period of expansion of parks services and facilities in Oregon City. His efforts were responsible for Wesley Lynn Park, Canemah Children’s Park and Rivercrest Spray Park, among several others.

 

“I have a high level of familiarity and knowledge of the City of Oregon City organization along with the community. I understand what makes Oregon City the special place it is,” said Archer. “We’re a modern, growing, vibrant city that also maintains deeply rooted connections to its history.”

 

Archer’s connection to the community is also personal; he raised his kids in the community, and his wife continues to be a teacher in the Oregon City School District.

 

“My roots and ties to Oregon City remain deep. I’m eager to complete my public service career with the city in this position,” he said.

 

It's his extensive experience, especially with Oregon City, that set Archer apart from other candidates, according to City Manager Tony Konkol.

 

“It’s not often that you get a candidate who has so much institutional knowledge about the City. With his experience, he’ll be able to hit the ground running. We’re excited to have him rejoin the team,” he said.

 

Archer was selected after an extensive recruiting process that included a preliminary interview, a community open house where they met with residents, and multiple interview panels.

 

His first day back with Oregon City will be April 21.

Oregon City Opens Grant Applications For City-Sponsored Public Events -03/06/25

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

Oregon City Commission Approves $50,000 In Grant Funds To Be Allocated To Community Events

 

 

Oregon City, ORE. –The Oregon City Commission voted unanimously Wednesday evening to allocate grant funds to support community events. The grant process will span two rounds, with a total of $50,000 available.

 

The funds are a continuation of the City-Sponsored Public Events Program which has supported several popular events in prior years. The 1^st City Celebration, Oregon Trail Brewfest and Oregon City Festival of the Arts, among others, have all received grants in the past.

 

Administered by the Economic Development Department, the goal of these events is to bring more attention and tourists to the community. “City Sponsored Public Events are those that help solidify the City’s brand and attract visitors from outside of the City, increasing tourism,” said Economic Development Manager James Graham.

 

Events should also be well publicized, benefit local businesses and maintain accountability to taxpayers. All applications will be reviewed by the City Commission.

 

Round One opens March 6 and closes on March 25. Round Two opens March 27 and closes May 26.

 

The funds for the grant are taken from the City’s lodging tax revenue. State laws require that at least 70% of lodging tax revenues must be used for tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities.

 

Guidelines for the program and grant applications can be found on the City’s website.

Oregon City Announces Forgivable Loan Program For Historic Building Rehabilitation -02/27/25

 

 

 

For Immediate Release

Oregon City Announces Forgivable Loan Program For Historic Building Rehabilitation

Oregon City's Economic Development Department recently announced a new program aimed at bringing new life to older buildings.

 

The Adaptive Reuse Building Rehabilitation Program is a "forgivable loan" opportunity for projects that would help achieve certain goals laid out by the City Commission. Namely, the project must be on a building that is at least 40 years old and within the Urban Renewal District, contribute to increased economic opportunities and enhance the safety factor of those older buildings.

 

The loan becomes a grant once the project is completed and approved for occupancy. Should the project not be completed, or if it is altered to where it no longer meets the criteria, it remains a loan with a term of up to four years and a simple interest rate of 20% annually.

 

Only specific expenses are eligible to be covered by the program. Improvements like seismic upgrades, HVAC and sprinkler system enhancements, exterior renovations and system development chargers are eligible. Demolition of a building is not allowable, nor are soft project costs. Repair/maintenance and wholesale distribution businesses are also ineligible.

 

"As the first city west of the Rockies, Oregon City has a lot of history, and it's something that residents are proud of," said Oregon City Communications Manager Jarrod Lyman. "This program aligns with that connection to our heritage, and is meant to preserve our historic buildings and making them viable, economic drivers for many years to come."

 

Full details about the program, guidelines and applications can be found on the Oregon City Economic Development website.