The Next Five Years
2008 - 2013
The Three Rivers Community Roundtable "found its way" during its first five years. It enjoyed some success in terms of the communication channels it opened and the projects it tackled, most notable being the advancement in higher education. Its original vision, created in 2001, was largely realized during this first five years. To answer the "what's next" question, the Roundtable sponsored a community forum in March 2007 to discuss the community's future and determine whether there was still a role for the Roundtable in shaping that future. The Roundtable members reviewed the input received, discussed the original operating model, and constructed a "next evolution" approach.
Today, all the original principles of the Roundtable remain in place (no legal entity, no funding, no staff, no formal rules or procedures, operate by consensus, exist as long as the partners want to exist, be the steward of the community's vision, and be accountable to the public), and the structure remains as well (focus groups led by formal organizations and two members-at-large). What has changed is 1) shifting several "focus areas" to reflect today's community priorities and 2) challenging the lead agency/organization of each "focus area" to continue to do what they do well everyday while also aspiring to lead a "megaproject" that will make a dramatic difference in the future of the Three Rivers region. Shown below is the updated "focus areas", lead organizations, and the "megaprojects" associated with each.
| Focus Area/Lead | Lead Agency/Org | Megaproject |
|---|---|---|
| Research & Development Diahann Howard |
Tri-City Research District (TCRD) Board | Develop the Innovation Partnership Zone (IPZ) according to its master plan; ensure the research conducted therein benefits the broader Tri-Cities area. |
| Water, Dams, and Power Jim Toomey |
"WPD" discussion group facilitated by Port of Pasco and Columbia Snake Irrigators | Ensure continuation of a multi-purpose river system by providing a forum for discussion, debate, and information exchange on
|
| Education Frank Armijo |
Tri-City Education Advisory Council (TEAC) | Realize the "Bridges Plan" of a seamless education system, integrating the new STEM high school. |
| Health & Human Services Beverly Weber |
United Way | Implement the "Community Solutions" Plan to improve people's lives by creating lasting change in community conditions: kids matter, families matter, and community matters. |
| Transportation Leo Bowman |
Benton-Franklin Council of Governments (B-FCOG) | Complete the transportation study to identify the need for an additional bridge crossing of the Columbia River, and pursue its development. |
| Business & Economic Development Carl Adrian |
TRIDEC | Accelerate development in targeted geographic areas that offer unique location attributes such as the IPZ and Heritage Industrial Center. |
| Workforce Development Vacant |
Not yet finalized | Attract and retain early career professionals |
| Entrepreneurship Vacant |
Not yet finalized | Create a collaborative entrepreneurial development program/network; explore the potential of a "Rainmakers" recruiting strategy. |
| Tourism Kris Watkins |
Tri-City Visitor and Convention Bureau | Realize the completion of major marquee projects:
|
| Regional Projects Matt Watkins |
Tri-Cities Regional Centers Study Oversight Committee | Create a mechanism for multi-agency financing, ownership, and operation of Regional Centers and identify regional projects to use the mechanism. |
| Special Project MaryLynn Merriman Matt Riesenweber |
"4C" Task Force | Communication, Cooperation, Collaboration, and Consolidation assessment. |
