Grangeville, ID

The Recreation Action Team has successfully completed the application process for accepting a summer intern from the University of Idaho.  The intern will start this week and will function as a “Recreation Director” work at developing new summer programming for community members of all ages and be a conduit for getting people signed up and in to those programs.  Most of the cost for office space for the intern has been donated by local businessman, James Rockwell.  Furnishings for the office are being donated by Lindsley’s. 

The Grangeville and Prairie Horizons groups have decided to form a joint non-profit entity instead of each community pursuing this separately.  The intent right now is for each community’s Horizons group to continue to function independently what there are issues specific to one community or the other but to have a mechanism to come together to pursue funding and issues that have a larger, regional impact.  An interim “Board” has been developed while 501(c)3 status is pursued.  Once non-profit status is received, a Board comprised of citizens from both communities will be selected and will work to insure that joint projects are well managed and impactful.

The Grangeville Horizons Coordination System Action Team has determined that their number one goal is development of a community entity with 501(c)3 non-profit status.  The Action Team is in the process of working through the process to form a community-wide structure and system for developing and implementing a variety of projects that will target issues of poverty.  Development of a non-profit entity will allow for an organized and coordinated approach to community-wide planning and fund seeking for projects that help the community reach its vision of being a vibrant small town that has a powerful sense of community with opportunities for all people to thrive and grow.

Grangeville’s Leadership Development Action Team is working to “create and make a path and resources for people interested in developing leadership skills within the community”.  Their goals include:

• connecting existing community leaders with people who may be leaders on new community projects
• developing community mentoring/leadership training in the schools by placing volunteer mentors in the schools and offering monthly brown-bag lunch leadership training in the school to include youth as well as other community members

The Leadership Development Action Team’s ultimate goal is to see an increase in community members taking leadership roles. 

Downtown Action Team - 1/14/08, 6:00 PM, Miller Hardward

Farmers Market Action Team - 1/18/08, 12:00 PM, The Gallery

Education Action Team - 1/16/08, 6:30 PM, Soltman Center

Leadership Action Team - 2/4/08, 4:00 PM, Super 8

Business Development Action Team - 2/4/08, 5:30 PM, The Gallery

Recreation Action Team - 1/14/08,  6:30 PM, Oscar’s

Coordination System Action Team - 1/18/08, 9:00 AM, Jahn Studios

Grangeville’s Horizons Steering Committee met on Tuesday, January 8th to talk about priorities for use of funding through the Northwest Area Foundation and the University of Idaho.  Each Action Team submitted a plan for upcoming work and a request for funding to assist with that work.  All funding requests will be considered and a final budget will be set by the Steering Committee at its February meeting.  The Steering Committee identified that completing the application process and becoming an approved non-profit entity is the highest priority but it appears that all requests, with the exception of a contract with the U of I to survey the community about attitudes and beliefs about education, are within the existing amount of funds available.

Leadership Development Action Team Work Plan

Cordination System Action Team Work Plan

Grangeville Horizons has a new and “official” website.  Go to www.grangevillehorizons.org to access it and learn more about the Horizons project in Grangeville.  Information will be posted at this site about the work of each Action Team and their meeting times so anyone who is interested can find out more and get involved.  This is a great way to find out all about the Vision and Action of Grangeville’s Horizons project all in one place!