District 51 Economic Development Plan
The Clackamas River Region: Canby, rural Oregon City, Sandy, Estacada, Beavercreek, Eagle Creek, and Mulino
The role a state legislator should play in economic development is: find what’s already working, remove the barriers, and help it scale. Provide the coordination, funding, and/or state-level support to bring the ideas already coming from our cities, businesses, and communities to life.
Our region is well-positioned:
Close to a major metro area
Surrounded by rivers, forests, and farmland
Near major recreation destinations like Mount Hood and the Clackamas River
Our opportunity is to strengthen what we already do well while capturing more of the spending from visitors already coming to our region.
The ideas below are focused on doing both, and will continue to evolve as I hear from people across District 51.
Canby – The Agricultural Heart of Clackamas County
Idea: Support job growth while investing in the infrastructure that makes it possible
Canby has a strong local economy built on agriculture, manufacturing, and regional events.
The biggest constraint isn’t demand — it’s infrastructure and capacity:
Water system upgrades
Power availability
At the same time, the city is working through the UGB process to create space for job-producing businesses.
As State Representative, I will focus on:
Securing state support for critical infrastructure
Supporting Canby’s UGB expansion
Strengthening agriculture, manufacturing, and local jobs
Canby doesn’t need sweeping changes — it needs the right investments to support the growth it already wants.
Willamette Falls – The Niagara of the West
Idea: Transform Oregon’s biggest waterfall into a world-class tourism destination.
Willamette Falls is the second-largest waterfall by volume in the United States, yet it remains one of Oregon’s least accessible natural landmarks.
This is one of the clearest opportunities we have to capture more of the spending from visitors already coming to our region.
The falls sit just outside District 51, but their redevelopment could transform the entire region. Projects like the riverwalk, new public viewpoints, and the Tumwata Village redevelopment led by the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde could finally open the falls to residents and visitors, while creating a major tourism engine for Clackamas County.
As State Representative, I would focus on moving the project from planning to construction by:
Supporting infrastructure funding
Encouraging coordination between partners
Advocating for Travel Oregon to prioritize the falls as a destination development project
Willamette Falls has the potential to become one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic destinations - the “Niagara of the West.”
Clackamas River Recreation Corridor
Idea: Turn the Clackamas River into the Portland region’s premier outdoor recreation destination.
Outdoor recreation is a multi-billion-dollar industry in Oregon. With the right investments and coordination, the Clackamas River corridor could become one of the Portland region’s signature outdoor destinations, bringing visitors and new business to communities along the river.
The Deschutes River helped transform Bend into a nationally recognized recreation destination. The Clackamas River is one of the closest whitewater rivers to a major American city and has the potential to become a similar economic engine for us.
Several planning efforts already focus on parts of the river, including the Clackamas River Water Tourism Study (2017), Clackamas River Recreation Studio (2019), Barton Park Master Plan (2020), Clackamas Water Trail Project (2020s), and the Clackamas County Parks System Plan (2020s).
The opportunity is to connect these efforts into one clear vision: The Clackamas River Recreation Corridor, connecting parks, river access points, trails, and communities from Estacada through Barton and Carver to Oregon City and the Willamette Falls area.
By improving access, recreation facilities, and promotion, the Clackamas River can become a unified outdoor destination that supports local residents and attracts visitors from across the region.
Regional Aquatic & Sports Complex
Idea: Build a year-round sports tourism and community health hub
Oregon City and Canby are both actively planning replacements for their aging city pools. Because these projects are still in the early stages and sites have not yet been finalized, there is a unique opportunity to think beyond single-city solutions and consider a shared regional facility that serves a much broader area.
Rather than building separate replacement pools, our region should explore a championship-level aquatic and sports complex capable of hosting major swim meets, youth tournaments, and regional competitions.
Today, the Portland metro area’s primary competitive swim venue is the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton. There is currently no comparable facility on the east side of the metro area, even as population continues to grow in Clackamas County and East Multnomah County.
A well-designed regional facility could attract 10,000–20,000 visitors per year from outside the area for competitions and events, generating an estimated $3–7 million annually for local restaurants, hotels, and small businesses.
Several locations could support this kind of regional vision, including: Clackamas County Fairgrounds (Canby), Canby growth corridor (near Hwy 99), Oregon City High School / Clackamas Community College area, End of the Oregon Trail area, Oregon City. With the right corporate partnerships, this project could be delivered without placing the full burden on local taxpayers.
This is not just about building a pool. It is about creating a regional destination for youth sports, community recreation, and economic activity — one that benefits families, supports local businesses, and strengthens the entire District 51 community.
Together with investments like the Clackamas River Recreation Corridor, this can help position our region as one of the Portland area’s premier destinations for outdoor recreation and sports.
Sandy – Mount Hood Basecamp
Idea: Unlock growth by fixing infrastructure and improving state–local coordination
Sandy sits on the path to Mount Hood and has a clear vision: become a basecamp for outdoor recreation with more lodging, restaurants, and a vibrant downtown.
The opportunity is to capture more of the spending from visitors already passing through.
The biggest constraint is infrastructure — especially sewer and water capacity.
Limited capacity is restricting new housing and business growth
Without upgrades, development is pushed outside city control
Cities like Sandy are often asked to grow without the infrastructure, flexibility, or partnership needed to do it well .
As State Representative, I will focus on:
Securing infrastructure funding
Improving coordination between the state and local communities
Supporting practical solutions like water reuse
Sandy doesn’t need a new vision — it needs the ability to execute the one it already has.
Help Shape the District 51 Plan
These ideas are a starting point.
The best ideas come from the people who live and work here.
If you’re in District 51, I want to hear from you:
What’s working?
What’s not?
Where should we focus?