Economic and community impact

Like many rural towns across the Northwest, Vernonia’s schools are the heart and soul of its community, and in many ways the glue that holds it together. As the only large gathering place in the city, the school is the town’s civic center. Its high school football team, the Loggers, galvanizes residents on Friday nights, and its wrestling team regularly reaches state competitions. In a town without a movie theater, the school’s drama and band productions provide the arts and entertainment. The school also hosts many large events, including meetings, dancing, and much of the community’s signature event, the annual Friendship Jamboree.

Vernonia’s proximity to the silicon forest and its small-town charm have made it an attractive choice for families wishing to relocate. But several major residential development projects, including a new 67-lot subdivision, are stalled until the schools are rebuilt. The options for this attractive town center—with room for sustainable growth as part of the city’s long range plan, and a vibrant economic future and burgeoning tax base for this community—are on hold without the schools.