DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

February 21, 2011

Winter has been a busy time for CPC with much behind the scenes activity as we prepare to continue our campaign around local economic security.  CPC has submitted a proposal to partner with the Economic Alliance, Invention Works, the NCW Revolving Loan Fund, TwispWorks, and the Twisp and Winthrop Chambers on a project with Seattle University’s Albers School of Business & Economics to conduct a full analysis of our valley’s sustainable economic potential.  The goal is to identify sustainable, economically viable small business opportunities waiting to be met.  Ideally the analysis would include an asset inventory, leakage analysis, and a substitution survey that can help identify viable economic opportunities as the starting point for a larger economic development strategy in the Methow.  It will also take into consideration current and future trends in the areas of crude oil prices and the rate of economic recovery in order to provide suggestions on business opportunities that could meet our valley’s short and long-term needs.  This is an exciting project with enormous potential for our valley. 

Lack of investment capital is an increasing challenge for local entrepreneurs and small businesses as this is the grease in our economic spokes.  Without access to investment capital local entrepreneurs and small businesses cannot launch a new business or expand an existing one – and it is these small businesses that create 90% of the jobs in rural communities like ours.  In response, Rich Watson (NCW Revolving Loan Fund), Lew Blakeney (SBDC) and I are currently seeking opportunities to expand the existing pool of capital for local entrepreneurs.  One option is the Okanogan County Electric Co-op’s USDA sponsored revolving loan fund.  We have been invited to do a presentation to OCEC’s Board on the potential of this fund to be used as a catalyst for local economic development.  OCEC’s status as a local utility also gives it access to community development and economic development block grants which could be used to help launch some of the sustainably viable economic development projects identified in the economic analysis research mentioned above.  Experience says we will be better off if we partner together to leverage our resources and talents for the purpose of creating a healthy, vibrant, local economy capable of meeting our community’s needs.

In other news, Dana Visalli and Hans Smith have agreed to conduct a follow-up to last year’s “Can the Methow Feed Itself” presentation with research for a “Does the Methow Feed Itself” presentation as the launch of CPC’s Food Security segment this spring.  I’ve also been contacted by the Washington Sustainable Food & Farming Network with a request that we partner with them around a springtime event.  And, finally, CPC has an interview with members of the Methow Valley Fund (part of NCW Community Fund) for a grant application, which would allow us to continue CPC’s work.  We now have tax exempt status as a program under the Partnership for Sustainable Methow.  Please consider a donation if you are able.  Our thanks to the community for all its encouragement and support of this important work.

 Cheers!

Kristi Laguzza-Boosman
Director
M.V. Community Preparedness Committee

DIRECTOR'S UPDATE

September 28, 2010

Greetings CPC and beyond!

The Methow Valley Community Preparedness Committee’s work seems to be taking on a life of its own. Here is an update:

The Neighborhood Preparedness Fair & BBQ was a great success. Over 100 people attended the Fair on August 28th in the Twisp Community Center, and 30 signed up to become “Neighborhood Leaders.” Here is a link to the full report of the event on our “Outcome” page.

CPC members attended the Cascadian Transition Convergence Conference in Seattle earlier this month (See http://transitionseattle.com/2010TransitionCascadiaSummit/ ), where we presented our work on emergency preparedness to a very interested audience. You can find he link to this presentation on the Conference website or directly to YouTube.

The producers of Peak Moment TV attended our presentation and have asked to interview members of CPC about our work on preparedness for their upcoming television and DVD series. They will be in the Methow sometime in late October.

CPC received an invitation from Carolyne Stayton, Executive Director of Transition US to do a Webinar on our preparedness efforts so that Transition groups from around the country can learn from our success at reaching beyond the choir. We will be co-presentation with the organizers of L2020 in a two Webinar series being offered by Transition US on Wednesday, October 20th and Tuesday, November 16th. Information and registration can be found at http://transitionus.org/event/community-preparedness-path-transition?utm_source=Transition+US+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=90afa762df-Newsletter_Sep2010&utm_medium=email

At a recent Institute for Rural Innovation and Stewardship (IRIS) meeting (I am on the Advisory Board), I spoke briefly about our preparedness work at CPC. Rufus Woods (owner of the Wenatchee World and an IRIS Board Member) was very interested in our work and wants to come to the Methow to interview us about our efforts around community building and preparedness.

Nancy Warner, Director of IRIS, has invited us to present at the next NCW Community Success Summit on November 17th, location TBA. Here is information on last year’s event: http://www.irisncw.org/09SuccessSupplement-Web.pdf

All this attention leads me to believe we are on to something important here. Working under the banner of community preparedness appears to be an effective and inclusive way to encourage community connections and organizing. Next CPC will take on the issue of economic security.

We would like to assemble a group of forward-thinking business people who would be willing to act as Technical Advisors and offer input into our public education campaign on economic security. Please let me know if you might be willing to be one of our advisors (we promise to use your time judiciously) or if you have ideas about whom we should include. We also need to think through some fundraising possibilities so that we can afford to carry our ideas forward. Thank you, in advance, for any suggestions you may have.

My thanks to all the wonderful people who have contributed so much towards helping this community work towards our common good. I hope this note finds you all well. Have a wonderful Fall and enjoy the harvests of the season.

Cheers!

Kristi Laguzza-Boosman
Director
M.V. Community Preparedness Committee