EDITOR’S NOTE: Three local officials accompanied Knox Pages reporters to Sherwood, Oregon, to learn how Intel affected that community over the years. We asked them to comment briefly on their thoughts about the trip. Below is the opinion of Elaine Robinson, director of the Knox County Career Center.
MOUNT VERNON — Our community faces the challenge of finding the delicate balance of maintaining rural character while welcoming new industries that will provide additional job opportunities.
Our community has struggled with the concept of change and how and/or if Intel’s presence 25 miles away would impact Knox County.
A quick trip to Sherwood, Oregon, answered this question. Yes, Knox County will see changes.
The amount of change and the acceptance of change will depend largely on the leadership and the ability to strategically plan for growth while maintaining our agricultural roots.
Knox County is a very proud community that embodies hard work and family values. The concept of change is intimidating.
However, it doesn’t need to be.
Planned change will provide career opportunities for the next generations. It will encourage our young people to return home because we can provide affordable housing, top-notch education, and recreational activities, all while maintaining the values that we find significant.
Our educational community will be charged with preparing our youth for futures that stretch from college-ready to workforce-ready.
Educationally, our responsibility will be to continue to produce a competitive, highly-skilled workforce while preparing students for success in all pathways.
Maintaining rigor in our schools and strengthening our partnerships with our local post-secondary institutions will offer our students flexibility to enter a global workforce and continue their educational pathways. In many situations, it will involve both.
Knox County is well-positioned for training and expansion in manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.
Other areas that the growth will impact will include construction, health care, and the service industry.
The need for additional residential housing and infrastructure, such as roadways, will drive the construction trades. The increased population will drive the need for additional service industry workers. Healthcare will continue to be an area of need with an increased population.
Families looking to relocate historically review the availability of quality healthcare and the quality of schools. Both of these need to be strong selling points.
Growth is not the enemy of preservation. In fact, it is a necessary part of it!