Twisp Mayor Soo Ing-Moody accepted a Governor’s Smart Communities Award for Twisp at a recent Twisp Council meeting. She is joined, from left, by Benjamin Serr, Washington State Department of Commerce, Mark Easton, council member, Hans Smith, council member, Eric Johnston, SCJ Alliance, Alan Caswell, council member, and David Anderson, Washington State Department of Commerce.
The Town of Twisp’s economic planning efforts have been recognized as “pioneering and a model for other jurisdictions.”
Twisp is one of a handful of Washington communities to receive the Governor’s 2018 Smart Communities Award, presented to town officials during a recent Twisp Council meeting.
The award specifically commended the town for adopting an Economic Revitalization Master Plan last year. “The plan encourages build out that will make the town livable, not just shoppable, keep those working in Twisp, living in Twisp, and keep those living in Twisp, working in Twisp,” said David Anderson of the Department of Commerce, which sponsors the award.
The Smart Community awards program recognizes achievements by local leaders who promote smart growth planning and projects that contribute to thriving communities, a prosperous economy, and sustainable infrastructure in Washington State.
Judges who chose the winning communities said Twisp’s revitalization plan was an example of “smart planning and planning to implement their priorities,” said Anderson during the presentation. He said the judges liked how the plan represents a reinvestment in the town’s core.
The town was also commended for the high level of public involvement that went into developing the plan, including open houses led by SCJ Alliance, a consulting group hired by the town. The award committee said the techniques used to prioritize projects and formalize the plan were innovative and impressive for a smaller community.
“This is a really a big honor for the Town of Twisp,” said Mayor Soo Ing-Moody. “Through the public comment and outreach activities we were able to bring the community together on a plan that is both visionary and doable. It’s a very exciting time in Twisp.”
Several improvements and projects identified in the plan have received funding and are already underway, including a gateway art project and new decorative street lighting on Glover Street. The town is also in the midst of transportation and infrastructure improvement projects in the downtown area.
“The effort we put into developing the plan and identifying specific projects, coupled with the broad community involvement, have made our funding applications very competitive,” said Ing-Moody. She said the plan has also been a catalyst for private sector action, including removal of eyesores and plans to upgrade exteriors.
