Submitted by Port of Olympia
The Port of Olympia is launching a community-wide public engagement process to help identify community priorities for the future. The Port Olympia Vision 2050 project, approved unanimously by the Port Commission earlier this month, will provide direct engagement and input opportunities for citizens through a combination of interviews, surveys and community group presentations. The goals of this initiative are to better-engage citizens in Port planning, develop stronger community partnerships and establish a shared vision for Port activities and investment over the long-term.
Adorned in blue Vision 2050 shirts, members of the Port’s vision team and volunteers will be conducting “intercept surveys” at a wide variety of events throughout the County this summer, including Harbor Days, Music in the Park, Summer Splash and others. Additional outreach will take place at grocery stores, transit stops and other locations in urban and rural areas of the county alike. A list of events is posted, and will be periodically updated, on the project website, www.portolympia2050.org.
Interested citizens can learn more about the project by visiting the website and also submit their own suggestions by taking a brief survey. To incentivize participation, the Port is offering two $250 gift cards that will be awarded following a random drawing of survey participants later this winter.
The Port manages four primary business lines: the marine terminal and Swantown Marina and Boatworks in downtown Olympia; the Olympia Regional Airport in Tumwater and a diverse real estate portfolio with holdings in various locations throughout Thurston County. In addition to its core lines of business, the Port manages a variety of public spaces and places, including land that houses the Olympia Farmers Market, Port Plaza, Billy Frank Jr. Trail and Park and the public dock and fuel station at Swantown Marina as well as other retail, restaurant and office space on the Port Peninsula.
The Port Commission recently adopted three focus areas to guide future investment and policy-making decisions including: creating economic opportunity; serving as an environmental steward; and providing and managing community assets. The results of Vision 2050 will help the Port identify specific ways and priorities for moving forward within each focus area.
Featured photo credit: Nick Morrison
