The Person
Behind STEPS

Clare Troutman is the Executive Director of STEPS — Small Town Economic Progress & Support. Her background combines small-town government, entrepreneurship, small-business development, and community project leadership.

She served four years on the Jefferson City Council, including three years as Council President, and later served on the City of Jefferson Budget Committee. Her community work has included pedestrian-access improvements, library development, park planning, and creating and managing a citywide cleanup effort.

Clare launched two businesses and was involved in launching two others, including a bookstore business that reached approximately $2 million in revenue. She has also spent years helping small-business owners with marketing, websites, SEO, branding, events, and connecting with resources. Her experience includes teaching through the SBDC, serving on the board of Professional Photographers of Oregon, and participating in and later helping manage workshops through Rural Development Initiatives.

Having grown up, lived, worked, and raised a family in small towns, Clare created STEPS around a problem she knows well: small communities often have good ideas and committed people, but not enough capacity to move every worthwhile project forward.