Coming to Sisters to stay

It happens over and over again: A family comes to visit Sisters and falls in love with the natural beauty and sense of community they find all around them. They decide to make Sisters their home.

Whether you're young and single, looking to relocate your family, or getting set to retire, the first thing you should do is get hold of a relocation packet provided by the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce ($1 if you pick it up at the Visitors Center, 164 N. Elm St.; $5 if mailed or free if downloaded from their Web site at www.ci.sisters.or.us/relocation_guide.shtm).

The relocation packet includes information on local employers, schools and churches, community services and a list of Realtors and local organizations. It also includes a map of Sisters, the latest edition of The Nugget Newspaper and a regional profile.

If you're coming here to look for work, the best time to move is in April, according to the Chamber of Commerce. That's when seasonal hiring starts up and it's easier to find a job that can help you get established.

Scout out the area beforehand. Many jobs in Sisters require retail experience or some technical training. The number and variety of jobs in Sisters is growing, but many people choose to live here and make the commute to Bend or Redmond, each just 20 miles to the east.

There is a lot of hidden business activity in Sisters. The Sisters Industrial Park is home to businesses ranging from log and timber frame construction companies to a manufacturer of drift boats to a forge and ironworks.
There are publishers in Sisters, a vitamin manufacturer and several auto repair centers.

Sisters is increasingly attractive to entrepreneurs looking to launch a business. While most of these businesses in past years have been tourist-oriented, the recent availability of light industrial land and improvements in communications technology are attracting more manufacturing firms to the area.

If you want to start a business, come up with a concept and do a market analysis first. Most of the retailers already in Sisters cater to the tourist trade, so you might want to consider a business that offers services to residents or businesses.

If you are interested in manufacturing, land is becoming more available and Roberts Field in Redmond is offering more connections to the wider world via business air travel.

The population within the City of Sisters has climbed to 1,745 people (according to June 2006 data, most recent available) and there are approximately 10,000-12,000 people living nearby.

As the community has grown, cultural opportunities have increased, creating more art, music and athletic events to participate in and enjoy.

As for finding a place to live, several Sisters Realtors offer rentals and there are many options in and around Sisters if you are in the market to buy a home.

Take the time to drive around and really explore the area.

Real estate listings appear each week in The Nugget Newspaper, online at www.nuggetnews.com.

For more information, contact the Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce at 541-549-0251.