Keeping the Dream Alive

On November 20, 2008, six WSU IDI graduate students came to town and offered solutions to the senior housing problem in Ritzville. Each student presented their vision for apartments in the old Ritzville Hotel.

The designs ranged from small studio apartments to larger one and two bedroom units. The students also allowed for some common areas to provide space for socialization.

Additionally the building will house a small exercise room, computer room, and other amenities including a walking path on the roof with an organic garden.

While the designs were a class project, they will certainly be a valuable resource to any prospective developer. The students interviewed many seniors from the community to determine what their wants and needs are. By providing this information to the developer, it will help to ensure a more successful project.

Imagine living in downtown Ritzville within walking distance to the library, bank, post office, grocery and drug store, not to mention a birds eye view for all community parades and activities.

WSU IDI Partnership for Community and Economic Development

One of the many partners contributing to the success of the Horizons effort and the overall community and economic development work in Ritzville is the WSU Interdisciplinary Design Institute. Dr. Janetta McCoy and her graduate students have been worked with Ritzville to develop strategic plans, grant proposals and marketing materials, research and create presentations about tax credit incentives, historic preservation needs, training and job opportunities, etc. WSU IDI is the lead partner on a new Historic Preservation Trades Center in Ritzville which will provided both training and job opportunities in the community. Thanks Dr. McCoy and all your students for there invaluable assistance and support of Ritzville!

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 Final Action Plan Approved!

The Ritzville Horizons strategic plan has been approved by the Northwest Area Foundation. CONGRATS Ritzville on this success! I hope you will all join me in thanking your local Horizons steering committee for their tenacity and involvement in this project over the past 18 months. Those dedicated, volunteer leaders are: Debbie Chapman, Dorothy Grove, & Ann Olson!

Thanks also to our partners who have helped in a variety of ways – Carol Simonson, Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Ritzville Public Development Authority board, and the City of Ritzville.

The full report is available at http://horizons.wsu.edu/HorizonsCommunityInfo/documents/RitzvilleStrategicPlan0620.doc

Again, I applaud all who helped with Horizons and three cheers to Ann, Dorothy, & Debbie!!!
Monica
Ritzville Horizons Coach

Hospitality Training

Sue Price presented her hospitality training to over 40 eager citizens of Ritzville and Lind this past week. She came early and did some secret shopping. Ritzville received some good and some not so good comments. The critiques were well received by the attendees.

As evidenced by the amount of conversation in the parking lot, everyone went home energized and ready to create their WOW moments for Ritzville's visitors.

Sprague Workshop Well Attended

Five Ritzville community members attended the Sprague Horizons' Hospitality and Marketing Workshop. It was a great success. In fact, it was so well received that Ritzville is hosting another.

Hospitality & Marketing Workshop
June 25th, 6-9 PM or June 26th 9 AM-Noon
Zion Philadelphia Church Social Hall

201 W. Broadway

Ritzville

The Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce is coordinating the registration. The deadline for registration is June 23.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity. The workshop is free. If needed, gas cards and child care are available.

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.

Ritzville Survey Preliminary Report

The top 3 areas of concern expressed by those returning surveys that were mailed to every household in the Ritzville zip code:

#1 Better/More Jobs
#2 Youth Activities
#3 Improved Economy


On October 27 at the Circle T Restaurant community members could provide ideas to meet these concerns. Following are those ideas. Nov 30 will be the next opportunity for ideas from community members, and that evening participants will create a strategic plan to address those items selected.

#1 More/Better Jobs

• Be willing to change; more open minded to new things
• We need to promote the quality of life to be expected in living here. If potential employers want to live here bad enough, they will bring jobs with them.

#2 Youth Activities

• We have so many vacant store fronts, open one to be a youth center with pingpong, foosball, video games, etc.
• tennis court, handball court, soccer field
• training opportunities & scholarship opportunities to return to the community upon graduation

#3 Improve Economy

• Welcome newcomers to community so they are willing to state and make this their home.
• Retail downtown needs to be concentrated even in one block so the businesses can build off each other.
• More things to do will keep tourists here longer.

What one project should Ritzville undertake?

• Skateboard park
• Downtown public restrooms (visitors need these)
• Signage to direct people to downtown
• Pea Patch program (community garden)
• Hospitality Training
• Resource Center - brochure

Link to the full survey report

Ritzville joins Sprague's LeadershipPlenty group

Struggling with scheduling conflicts within the community, Ritzville's Horizons group joined with the community of Sprague. Meeting together each Monday in July at the Sprague Community Center, the two groups were successful in teaching LeadershipPlenty to their required number of community leaders.

It was a great experience to teach and learn together. Meeting our neighbors just twenty minutes down the road allowed new bonds to be formed. Sharing similar challenges, the two communities have identified ways to work together in the future.

If your community is having difficulties, look around and see who you might partner with. Who better to assist you than someone in the same boat! Pay it forward!!