Manson organizations unite to form community visioning coalition

MANSON — Three leading community organizations in Manson announced the formation of the Manson One-Voice Coalition, launching a yearlong initiative aimed at developing a unified vision for the town's future.

The coalition, formed through a partnership between the Manson Chamber of Commerce, Manson Community Council, and the Historic Manson Main Street Association, will be funded by a grant from the Port of Chelan.

The project will be facilitated by Dan Eernissee, an economic development and real estate consultant, who has been contracted to gather community input and guide the visioning process. Eernissee will conduct stakeholder interviews via phone and Zoom, supplementing written responses from community members. The coalition plans to hold public meetings later in the year to discuss findings face-to-face.

The initiative represents a collaborative effort between key community organizations, with leadership from Timi Starkweather, Executive Director of the Manson Chamber of Commerce, Kim Ustanik, President of the Historic Manson Main Street Association, and Chris Willoughby, Chairman of the Manson Community Council.

The coalition encourages community members to share their perspectives directly with Eernissee via email. The organization aims to develop actionable steps to ensure the community's long-term vitality.

Stakeholders and community members interested in participating in the initiative can contact Eernissee at dan.eernissee@gmail.com.