Friday, October 2, 2026
MANSON — After nine months, six forums, and hundreds of ideas, Manson’s year-long visioning process concluded at the Sept. 11 Community Forum Wrap-Up with a straightforward playbook: Collaborate, prioritize residents, and build the off-season economy.
Consultant Dan Eernissee, hired by the Chamber of Commerce with a grant from the Chelan-Douglas Port Authority, told a full room that Manson’s biggest advantage is organizational unity. “If I were to say one thing, and only one thing, I’d say continue to strive to work with one voice,” he said. “If [a county commissioner] hears five different things from five different people about what Manson thinks and what Manson needs… it’s not his job to be the referee. If another community comes… with a real clear idea… he’s going to listen to that.”
That “full room” included one such commissioner, Chelan County’s Brad Hawkins. But his presence didn’t feel like stifling authority when he was in the same room with Community Council members, the president of the Manson Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Historic Manson Main Street Association, and even the brand-new owners of the Mountain View Lodge and Resort
Eernissee credited the Manson One Voice Coalition — formed by the Chamber, the Main Street Association, and the Manson Community Council — for getting past historic divisions. “If you can do that, you will differentiate yourself… and you will punch above your weight.”
Though tourism fuels summer revenue, Eernissee urged a shift in emphasis. “I really don’t think, as a community, that should be your main focus,” he said. Instead, he wants Manson to optimize life for the people who invest long-term, like “timeshare owners, renters, homeowners [and] business owners,” arguing that “people like to be where people like to be. And people like to go where people like to be.”
Manson, he said, has a distinct niche: “[It’s] the perfect location of being close to amenities but far from hectic.” During previous forums, many locals, he noted, named shoulder seasons as their favorite time of year. “If the best time of year here is the part that isn’t the real active tourist part… can your activities and events celebrate that whole year-round thing?”
1) Speak with one voice. Keep the Chamber, Main Street, and Community Council aligned when communicating priorities to county and regional partners.
2) Prioritize residents and long-term investors. Design decisions and messaging around year-round life and the businesses rooted here.
3) Grow the off-season economy. “Restaurants hum during the summer,” Eernissee said, “but in the off-season, it can be a struggle.” Targets include remote workers — “you have remarkably good internet in Manson” — employer attraction, and events/activities that make eight slower months “not so slow.”
How the coalition should work
Eernissee recommended formalizing the Manson One Voice Coalition as a coordination table, rather than a standalone program runner, whose job is to “help leaders work together to hone and clearly communicate Manson’s priorities to Chelan County and other partners.”
To broaden support, he proposed an “affiliate” tier for groups like the Colville Confederated Tribes, Hispanic organizations, the Manson School District or Chelan County Fire District 5. He also suggested the Chamber serve as initial administrator of the coalition. They would “not necessarily [be] the leader,” but would schedule meetings and keep tasks moving: “If nobody’s in charge, I’m worried nothing will get done.”
Tell better stories, consistently
On messaging, Eernissee floated a unifying statement to guide a one-year social campaign (about 50–60 posts), featuring local businesses, farms, events, residents, historic buildings, infrastructure improvements and more. Sample prompts included: “Manson is perfectly located, close to convenience and far from hectic” and “Manson residents enjoy 12 months of events, activities, and traditions.”
“The job is to feature the people and places that illustrate one thought at a time,” he said. Ideally, businesses echo and repost the coalition’s themes: “I’ve seen it work. It takes time, but repetition changes how the region talks about you.”
Near-, mid-, and long-term goals
Next 12–36 months
Five years
Community voices
After the presentation, Chamber Executive Director Timi Starkweather thanked Eernissee for nine months of work and invited continued public input as the coalition formalizes. Don Amore, of the Manson Community Council, highlighted a push for broader attendance at council meetings and previewed upcoming speakers; Council Chair Mike Kirk is leading that effort to increase engagement and accommodate larger crowds with a venue change.
Eernissee closed his presentation with a nudge to stay the course. “You already are special. Lean into what’s really made you special — and amplify that.” Starkweather repeated that sentiment, but in the language of Manson: “We will always be a village, even if we grow into a town on paper. What matters is how we grow together.”
Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media
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