Gov. Tina Kotek recently appointed a Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) employee to a committee devoted to advancing regional community and economic development efforts.
Monica Paradise, CTUIR Department of Economic & Community Development business development and tax project manager, was named to the Regional Solutions Greater Eastern Oregon Advisory Committee on July 1 for a four-year term.
“I am thankful to be appointed to the committee by Gov. Kotek because it allows the opportunity for the tribe to have representation when key economic development issues are being discussed in Oregon,” Paradise said. “It can also offer ways for me to understand how local partners have navigated through such challenges and how the CTUIR can collaborate and be innovative in our thinking to solve problems.”
In 2014, the state adopted its Regional Solutions program to have state, local and tribal governments, as well as private and public businesses and organizations, advance projects, solve problems, seize opportunities and respond to local needs.
The program has 11 economic development districts in the state with each having an advisory committee to identify community and economic development priorities, obtain and connect to resources, and fund and advance efforts via local connections.
Paradise was appointed to the Greater Eastern Oregon Advisory Committee, which consists of Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla and Wheeler counties and meets up to four times annually at one of six designated Regional Solutions centers.
“My goals on the committee are to gain an understanding of challenges and issues at CTUIR and then be the voice to express those to the committee to better understand resources that the tribe can leverage around the region,” she said. “It will be great to learn more about what other regions are doing and to be able to be a resource to tribal membership who may not know what services or opportunities are nearby.”
Paradise said she was selected for the committee because of her experience managing projects, developing businesses and serving on external groups in Pendleton as a liaison for the CTUIR.
