Local Foods Local Places

The City of Cottage Grove received planning assistance through the Local Foods, Local Places program to develop an action plan for growing our existing and emerging food assets in tandem with our ongoing efforts at downtown revitalization and place-making. The Local Foods, Local Places program is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Northern Border Regional Commission. Cottage Grove was one of 16 communities across the United States selected to participate in the program in 2020. A Local Foods, Local Places steering committee was formed in Cottage Grove to prepare for the planning assistance award and was comprised of a variety of community partners.

The Steering Committee hosted a two-day workshop in November 2020 and over 60 community members joined to contribute to a Community Action Plan. In this plan, one of the goals to revitalize the downtown area is to put educational posters in vacant storefronts. Downtown Cottage Grove partnered with Singing Creek Educational Center, Alice Christianson, and Kalapuya elder Esther Stutzman, on the creation of these posters. These three posters are currently on the windows of the Old Club building downtown at 522 E Main Street. Check it out!

Contact City Planner, Amanda Ferguson for more information at planner@cottagegrove.org.