SHERWOOD, Oregon — The latest “Beyond the Chip” schedule included interviews with Sherwood Main Street, Portland Community College, Oregon Metro and Washington County commissioners.
Gregg Jacot, Sherwood Main Street treasurer, discussed the organization’s goals to revitalize the downtown Sherwood area, host events and bring in more retail shops.
Source reporter Grace McCormick and Knox County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carol Grubaugh met Jacot at Symposium Coffee in the heart of downtown Sherwood.
Make sure your roads are ready first — that was a complaint I heard was they build the houses first and the roads after that. Getting roads, houses and transportation built is a huge thing.
Gregg Jacot, Sherwood Main Street Treasurer
Jacot discussed challenges of bringing Gen Z and Millennial adults downtown regularly. He said the city recently approved on ordinance allowing food carts, which he hopes will encourage downtown visitors to explore new food options and support other businesses.
“Portland is famous for food carts, and the City of Sherwood recently approved food carts for our area, so that might help encourage people to walk around with food, pop into our shops and things like that,” Jacot said.
Jacot said art walks and wine walks have been successful. He hopes to commission more murals and public art downtown.
Sherwood Main Street aims to revitalize the downtown area by attracting businesses, hosting events and improving infrastructure.
“With Intel and many other technology companies coming to town, that made us build more housing like some apartments and the townhomes,” he said.
“We also added some restaurants so people can eat in their hometown rather than go to Portland or somewhere else.”
Jacot also offered some advice for Knox County.
“Make sure your roads are ready first — that was a complaint I heard was they build the houses first and the roads after that,” he said. “Getting roads, houses and transportation built is a huge thing.”
Lavender farmer: ‘protect your rural environments’
The Knox County team on the ground in Sherwood made up of reporters McCormick, Cheryl Splain and Grant Ritchey, and Knox County Area Development Foundation President Jeff Gottke, Knox County Career Center Director Elaine Robinson and Grubaugh visited Carriage House Lavender farm owner Dave Murray on Thursday.
They discussed his work with the business for the past 12 years, including limited opportunities in agritourism to host events on his property.
“I’ve lived here for 31 years and seen a lot of growth,” Murray said. “I don’t know if it’s all the result of Intel, but there’s been a lot of growth … Sherwood was a one-traffic-light town when I moved here, and we have several supermarkets now. Growth has been astronomical.
“I would say (for Knox County), protect your rural environments — that’s precious.”
“I would say (for Knox County), protect your rural environments — that’s precious.”
Dave Murray, Farm Owner
Gottke, Robinson and Grubaugh also visited Intel’s Gordon Moore Park facility in Hillsboro Thursday afternoon, where the company develops and manufacturers microprocessors. The Intel public relations team denied a media request for a tour last week.
