Ritzville Successful in $200,000 Heritage Fund Grant Request

Ritzville has received a $200,000 Heritage Capital Projects Fund (HCPF) grant to continue renovation on the building where the new learning center will be located. This is a very competitive grant process and we are thrilled to have been chosen to receive these funds. Thanks to Ann Olson for leading this effort and all those involved!

Ritzville Horizons Successful Partner with RPDA and BBCC for Community Capacity Building

The Ritzville Horizons Steering Committee has partnered with the Ritzville Public Development Authority, Big Bend Community College and the Big Bend Community College Foundation to offer scholarships for the new learning center. Northwest Area Foundation is providing this grant to continue support of Ritzville's success in the Horizons Program. These funds will be available for place bound and other who need financial assistance for training. They will allow students to attend classes, purchase books and/or travel to attend training.

Partnership with Sprague Horizons to Include Support for Families with Disabled Members

Debbie Chapman, Ritzville Horizons Steering Committee member, has been working with a group from the Sprague Horizons team to establish a parent group for those with disabled family members. In addition to networking and support, they hope to help identify training and other resources. This effort will help families with limited access to support services and may help to reduce physical, support system and financial poverty.

WHAT THE VISITOR WANTS – DO YOU HAVE IT?

Visitors are the people who come to your town to visit – for a quick stop, a few hours, or a few days. Visitors can be friends and family of locals, tourists on vacation or attending a special event, or people stopping by on a trip to somewhere else.

The longer a visitor stays the greater the opportunity for the community, local businesses on the street, in-home businesses, and non-profit organizations to benefit financially.

On Wed, March 19, 9:30- Noon, in Sprague at the Chamber’s Community Center, 3rd and C Street, Sprague Horizons is hosting a workshop led by expert Marketing Consultant Sue Price to discover how to increase the number of visitors stopping, staying, and spending. Free Workshop for members of the Sprague, Lamont, and Ritzville communities but pre registration required to wa_sprague@yahoo.com by March 14 – seating is very limited, filled on a first come basis with snacks provided. Gas cards available to those who drive in. Child/elder care funds available.

What's Your Dream for Ritzville

New Mayor, Linda Kadlec, has challenged the community to share their dream for Ritzville. Some really great dreams have been submitted. The Journal has printed many of the dreams and will continue to do so as long as they keep coming in.

What's your dream? Submit all of your dreams to the Ritzville Chamber of Commerce, City of Ritzville, or the Journal.

Together we can make a difference.

"If you don't have a dream, how ya gonna make a dream come true?"

Ritzville Horizons and Chamber Partner for Christmas Celebration and Visioning

A great family-friendly time was enjoyed by 130 community members to celebrate the holiday season. Thank you to the Chamber for partnering on these festivities! Following the party, a Horizons visioning session was held where it was detrmined that a strategy of "community education, life-long learning twoard a vital economy and competent workforce through the development of a community learning center" would help address Ritzville's poverty reduction and community prosperity needs.

WSU Extension Rural Bridges Joins Efforts to Assist with Historic Preservation Trades Center

WSU Rural Bridges staff has joined WSU IDI to assist Ritzville in efforts related to a new Historic Preservation Trades Center. This includes assistance with a market analysis, strategic plan, outreach to potential funders, curriculum developers, instructors, students, etc. This project will provide needed skills training and hopefully lead to job opportunities and economic development in Ritzville.