Since June 2020, Columbia Basin Trust has been engaging with a variety of stakeholders in the Basin to develop a short-term strategic plan to guide its activities over the next 18 to 24 months. The Trust is now seeking public feedback on the draft plan from all people in the Basin.
The Trust directly spoke with its volunteer boards and advisory committees, local government leaders, and individuals engaged in a range of sectors including business and industry, education, environment, social services, arts, culture and heritage, and youth development. These conversations identified challenges and opportunities in Basin communities, and that input was the basis for developing the draft plan. The Trust is also continuing meetings with Basin First Nations communities and will incorporate this feedback into the plan prior to finalizing.
Now the Trust is asking all people in the Basin to comment on the draft plan via the Trust’s website at ourtrust.org/feedback.
“Like so many others, we have adapted our approach to engagement and to planning in response to COVID-19. We appreciate that people took the time to speak with us over the summer and tell us what matters in their communities. I hope all Basin residents now do the same and give us their feedback on how the Trust can support their aspirations,” said Johnny Strilaeff, Columbia Basin Trust President and Chief Executive Officer. “This is the Trust’s 25th year, and public input is as fundamental to the Trust now as it was in 1995.”
To read the draft plan and provide input, visit ourtrust.org/feedback by September 11, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The Trust recognizes that some Basin residents do not have access to high speed Internet, and invites those residents to call the Trust toll-free to request a hard copy of the draft plan, and to then either share their feedback directly in conversation with Trust staff or in writing to the Trust.
After the Trust integrates feedback from the public into the draft plan, the Trust Board of Directors will review the document at its September meeting, with an aim of sharing the final approved plan in late September.
