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CLARKSTON, Wash.–The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) and Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) are offering "The Business Basics Lunch & Learn" series at the WWCC Career and Workforce Building on 1470 Bridge Street, in Clarkston, Wash. for eight consecutive classes each Wednesday, beginning June 21 through August 9 at 12-1 p.m. Lunch and class materials will be provided for each attendee. SEWEDA is partnering with WWCC to offer an eight-week series of classes s...
POMEROY–The Pomeroy City Council held public hearings on Water Use Efficiency Goals and Measures and an updated Water System Plan, discussed donations for the Tennis Court Retrofit project, and discussed a possible Low and Moderate Income (LMI) survey, according to the minutes from their January 10 meeting. No public comment was received for the hearing on the Water Use Efficiency Goals and Measures, presented by Stillman Norton of Keller Associates. The goals and measures are a part of the u...
POMEROY–The Community Forum hosted by the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association presented Jennifer Sherman, Professor of Sociology at Washington State University, as speaker on the inequity found in rural communities, during the meeting held at the Pataha Flour Mill on November 15. Professor Sherman is a part of the Humanities Washington Speaker's Bureau and she gave a talk called Diamonds in the Rough-The Gentrification of Rural Washington, discussing her book Dividing P...
POMEROY–The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) Community Forum meeting is scheduled at the Pataha Flour Mill on Tuesday, November 15 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Pomeroy Community Forum meeting is a working lunch provided by SEWEDA, and a presentation by the author of Dividing Paradise: Rural Inequality and the Diminishing American Dream, Jennifer Sherman, Ph.D., Sociology Professor, WSU. The book focuses on the social changes in rural gentrification and class inequalities occurring in rural communities as new comers s...
CLARKSTON–The Southeast Washington Economic Development Association has named Erika Stricker as Executive Director of the nonprofit which focuses on enhancing economic vitality and community development in the southeastern Washington counties of Asotin, Garfield, and Whitman. "I am very much looking forward to continuing the amazing work this organization has done to strengthen the economic vitality and diversity of our beautiful little corner of Washington," Stricker said. "We will remain focus...
POMEROY–The Community Economic Forum is scheduled at the Pataha Flour Mill on August 16 at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The Community Economic Forum meeting will take place at the Pataha Flour Mill, 50 Hutchens Hill Road on August 15 starting at 11 a.m. Discussion and updates will focus on the Garfield County Hospital District strategic plan, Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), water, infrastructure improvement and the wayfinder sign project. The Chamber of Commerce will provide lunch. The public is invited to submit questions a...
Ten years ago November 2, 2011 On Friday, October 2, Garfield Fire District No. 1 Ambulance and Rescue were dispatched to a hunter who had fallen and suffered a possible back/pelvic injury in the Cabin Saddle/ Wenatchee Creek area, which is between Mount Misery in Garfield County and Mount Horrible in Asotin County. Due to the distance to that area, LifeFlight from Lewiston was requested as well. Thanks to the persistence of Alesia Ruchert of Pomeroy’s Southeast Washington Economic D...
POMEROY–The City Council approved a continuance of the August 7 meeting to August 24, 2021 at 7 p.m., to better address funding opportunities and meet grant deadlines. Mayor Paul Miller stated the need to have such meetings organized in a critical form and indicated the council can firm up anything else at that time. In addition, the City received Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Finds of $194,706 July 27, 2021. Information about the American Rescue Plan Act Spending Guidelines was given to Mayor Paul Miller and Council. The Treasury Departmen...
POMEROY–Jack Peasley of Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) advised the Council that Tracy Murray with Evergreen Rural Water will give Pomeroy "one more shot" at the Low-to-Moderate Income Survey to see if a qualifying percentage can be reached. He asked the Council for a date or time of day to do the survey. Peasley said it would involve homes on Columbia Street and State Street. The last time the survey was done at 2 p.m.; this time the group recommended beginning a...
POMEROY–The City Council heard Jack Peasley of Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) speak about the Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) proposal to have Evergreen Rural Water of Washington (ERWoW) conduct another survey, funded by the City of Pomeroy, Garfield County, the Port of Garfield and SEWEDA. The last time a survey was done it was not a “full-blown” survey and the city fell below the percentage of the population qualifying as LMI needed to be eligible for state and federal grants. Peasley indicated if Pomeroy gets...
POMEROY–The Blue Mountain Artisan Guild is closed until March after receiving a generous grant from the Shepherd Foundation to purchase the building to the west of the existing gallery. In addition, the BMAG was recently awarded additional grants from Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), Innovia, Inland Power, Blue Mountain Community Foundation (BMCF). The BMAG gallery will be closed through February and reopen March 1, while changes to the new building are made to house the gallery. The original building will be u...
Editor’s Note: Due to space constraints, this annual look back at the year just completed will be made in installments over the next several weeks. –Charlotte Baker AUGUST 6). New cemetery memorial dedicated to those who didn’t make it home just prior to Memorial Day in mid-May and dedicated to Garfield County military or related support personnel who served our country. School plans for in-person classes, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has issued official guidance for reopening Washington Schools for the 2020-202...
Editor's Note: This annual look back at the year just completed will be made in installments over the next several weeks. –Charlotte Baker JANUARY 2). The Shepherd Foundation has awarded the Pomeroy School District a total of $28,247.08, as well as an additional $6,000 for two other purposes, announced Superintendent Rachel Gwinn. The long-standing Giving Tree Program blessed over 80 local kids through the generosity of local shoppers and cash donations. The Special Hospital Levy for $860,000 w...
POMEROY–The City Council has accepted and approved a retirement request from City Public Works Director Kenny Landkammer effective December 30, 2020. In light of the upcoming vacancy, Councilman Mike Cassetto recommended a review of requirements and qualifications for the position. Councilman James Harris stated, "We need an established letter of qualifications" for the job before it is advertised." Mayor Paul Miller will sign the Property Tax Increase Resolution before November 20 which was approved at the City Council meeting November 10. C...
POMEROY-The Gazebo Restoration project at the City Park is gaining momentum with some recent donations. Headed up by Jack Peasley, Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) Managing Director, and Grant Morgan, Garfield County Public Works Director, the project funds collected to date are nearing $13,000. The latest donation was the $1,000 presented by Bill Clemens, Regional Business Manager with the Pacific Power Foundation. Another large portion, $5,000, came from one...
POMEROY–During the City Council continuance meeting on Tuesday evening, September 15, they discussed how to use $42,000 of the CARES Act funding. Jack Peasley of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), elaborated on a subrecipient agreement proposal he had made to the City regarding having SEWEDA manage the COVID/CARES Act grant funds. Peasley recommended the utilization $10,000 of the CARES Act money for local businesses in need. He also identified certain protocols and requirements put in place to determine if i...
POMEROY– Rachel Anderson, representing the Garfield County Aging and Disability Resource Center (GCADRC) was contacted by the City Council regarding a Subrecipient Agreement for COVID-19 funds. Anderson said that with the city portion of this grant recipients could use the funds for some city water bills, mortgages, rental assists, etc. Councilman James Harris asked if applicants had to meet certain requirements and Anderson said they have to follow specific financial guidelines, provide documentation for utilities and other expenses and p...
POMEROY––The Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Garfield County Health District accepted plan for this year's "restructured" Garfield County Fair events, as submitted by the Fair Board with one exception: RV camping. The Fair Board and Health District recommended the RV park remain closed for Fair weekend. The BOCC contended the area should be available families participating in the livestock show and sale as a space to retreat between shows because congregating in pub...
POMEROY–The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to contribute $25,000 to the assistance of local small businesses in conjunction with $50,000 in funds being distributed through the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA), at the August 17 meeting. Garfield County received COVID-19 funding through the CARES Act, which must be spent by the end of October, 2020. All COVID-19 related County expenditures by all departments were totaled and determined that approximately $25,000 is available to use for small-business s...
By Jack Peasley Special to the East Washingtonian POMEROY–Efforts are being expedited to raise $25,000 to "Save the Gazebo" and City Park makeover now that Fall is just around the corner. The City of Pomeroy and the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association have joined in this fundraising effort and Jack Peasley is designated as point person on the project. Plans for a makeover of the Pomeroy City Park are rapidly coming to a head, including much needed repairs to the 111-year old h...
POMEROY-Sara Lunsford, Garfield County Fair Board President reported that the Fair Board had voted to cancel the 2020 Garfield County Fair with the exception of the market sales and livestock showing with animals already weighed and tagged to the Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC), at the meeting August, 3. These events would follow strict guidelines and the Fair Board needs to know the number of participants for these two events. County Commissioner Bob Johnson reiterated the Governor’s current limit for gatherings of 10 people a...
POMEROY–Jack Peasley of the Southeast Washington Economic Development Association (SEWEDA) told the council that the Department of Commerce has had 27,000 applications for assistance in dealing with the COVID-19 virus restrictions. Garfield County was given an allotment to help businesses here impacted negatively by the shutdown. Businesses must meet three criteria before they are eligible to receive this aid, which are: 1) businesses must be up to date on their taxes; 2) businesses must have been in business for at least a year; and 3) b...
POMEROY–Chairman Justin Dixon announced Garfield County received official approval from the state to move forward to Phase 3 of the Governor’s Safe Start plan and confirmed the receipt of $250,000 from the Department of Commerce at the meeting of the Garfield County Board of Commissioners Monday, June 8, 2020. Opening into Phase 3 allows groups of up to 50, government offices can reopen and meetings can resume in person, but have been recommended to continue meetings through telecommunication. The commissioners question as to how it affects pub...
POMEROY–In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Garfield County Commissioner Justin Dixon stated Garfield, Columbia and Walla Walla Counties applied for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Washington State Department of Commerce and received $53,000 of the $8.1 million fund. The grant is for counties with current DCBG Public Services Grant contracts and will help with economic, social and health recovery resulting from a declared emergency or disaster. Dixon added that the funds will be sent to the Blue Mountain Action C...
POMEROY–Chairman of the Garfield County Hospital District (GCHD) Board of Commissioners Cindy Wolf, addressed the Garfield/Pomeroy Community Economic Development Forum about the upcoming $860,000 levy vote April 28, to support the GCHD. Ballots will be sent out April 10, 2020. For the levy to pass, a minimum of 435 votes are needed to be cast, with 60% (261 votes) in favor. The assessment amount for taxpayers has increased since the previous election in November, 2019, from $1.40 per $1,000 assessed property value, to $1.56. The reason s...