The board in charge of spurring economic development along the Idaho border will swear in a new member on Monday, Feb. 3.
Gov. Tina Kotek appointed Daniel Longoni, a local realtor, to the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board.
According to Shawna Peterson, the board’s executive director, Longoni replaces Dana Young, whose term ended in December. Young, president of Treasure Valley Community College, served two terms.
Longoni said in his application for the position that he grew up in Argentina and became a U.S. citizen in 2009. Soon after moving to Malheur County, Longoni said he earned an associate’s degree from Treasure Valley Community College after earning his general education diploma.
Not long after earning his college degree, Longoni wrote that he pursued a career in real estate, earning broker licenses in Oregon and Idaho.
Longoni wrote that he had always been interested in real estate, and his business background made him a good fit to become a realtor. When a friend asked him if he would be interested in a career in real estate, he replied: “That is exactly what I want to do,” according to his application.
According to his application, Longoni owned and operated a grocery store for 20 years.
Longoni, who has five kids, wrote during his more than 10 years as a realtor that the community needed a bilingual real estate agent.
In his application, Longoni wrote that he has been able to help many people become homeowners. He said he wants to help the community find more housing opportunities for the low-income population.
He predicts that more land will need to be developed for housing in Malheur County. Longoni said he wants to help pursue opportunities to develop land in the area to help more people become homeowners.
Longoni said that, as an immigrant who pursued permanent citizenship before he came to the U.S. with his family, he can identify with the challenges the migrant population in Malheur County faces.
Including Longonoi, the board includes Taylor Rembowski, economic development director for Malheur County, Ontario Recreation District Director Andrew Maeda; Ron Haidle, a retired bank executive; Montessa Young (no relation to Dana Young), former teacher, professor and curriculum developer and Nicki Shira, a STEM and innovation coordinator for the Malheur Education Service District.
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