PORT ANGELES — A “Highway 101 Revisited: Investing in Downtowns for Increased Health and Prosperity on the Olympic Peninsula” workshop is planned for Port Angeles in June.
The workshop’s sponsor is Seattle-based Forterra, which describes itself as “Washington’s largest community-building and conservation organization.”
It said the goal is “to bring a diverse group of stakeholders together from around the Peninsula to explore how to energize downtown areas, focusing on economic development, historic preservation and urban design.”
The Port Angeles workshop, focused on Clallam and Jefferson counties, will be held at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 6.
A second workshop focused on the south Olympic Peninsula will be held in the Port of Grays Harbor Commission Chamber in Aberdeen from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 14.
Community leaders have been invited to participate in the workshops, which are also open to the public.
The workshops will “focus on the barriers, opportunities and support needed to build economically vibrant downtowns that have strong connections to surrounding neighborhoods, support local business, create more housing choices, promote adaptive reuse, preserve historic structures and create a sense of place,” Forterra said in a statement.
Participants at the workshops “will explore how historic preservation and urban design can contribute to economic development; learn about programs, resources and easy-to-implement strategies for downtown-improvement projects; and connect with organizations and individuals pursuing downtown-revitalization efforts in their communities.”
In addition to the workshops, Forterra officials said their organization — with funding support from the National Endowment for the Arts — will partner with two communities to provide “free technical assistance related to economic development, historic preservation and urban design during the summer and fall of 2012.”
The type of assistance offered will depend on the needs identified by the communities selected but could include guidance on developing complete streets and active transportation plans, acquiring Certified Local Government status or engaging local residents in the planning process.
For more information about the PA workshop or to RSVP, visit tinyurl.com/highway101forum.
Or contact Jeff Aken at jaken@forterra.org or 206-905-6928.
