Kooskia, ID

QED a private, research and evaluation-consulting practice that is working within the Horizon’s program conducting panel interviews for the past 2 years has selected Linda Martin of Kooskia as one of the winning panelists. The prize, a charitable donation of $500 for participating in the Horizons panel study interviews will be going to an organization called Communities Creating Connections.

Communities Creating Connections is  the non-profit organization that founded the Kooskia Technology Center. Under their guidance the tech center offers an array of services to underserve citizens of the Kooskia region.

Vincent Martinez, site coordinator states, “I am honored to be selected and to give this money to the Kooskia Technology Learning Center for volunteer staff stipend. Communitites Creating Connections (CCC) is the non-profit who sponsors such a great program. Thank you.”

For more information about Communities Creating Connections or the Clearwater Valley Outreach Center call Martinez at the Clearwater Valley Outreach Center (208) 926-7085. 

The Horizons Program has done amazing things for the communities in North Central Idaho. The least of which is encouraging, motivating and supporting all community members.
As Horizons Phase II transitions into a community-based program, the Upper Clearwater Community Foundation (UCCF) will act as the fiscal agent and 501 c3 non-profit organization. The Foundation is an established organization that has provided support to the community projects in the Clearwater Valley for the past 2 years.
With the increased involvement of community members, we are looking forward to Kooskia becoming the embodiment of our community vision.

Can you believe that Kooskia is now seeing a change in the people who are involved in community events? As the Horizon’s Leadership Program continues to roll forward, we are now seeing new faces becoming involved. This is an exciting change in our small community! As I have become more involved myself this has been one of the issues that has become apparent as the annual events unfold. Thank you to all of you who are taking action instead of sitting back and watching. Each time we have met at Horizon’s Program Events such as the Steering Committee, Leadership Plenty, Visioning Rally, Commuity Pot-Luck, etc. it has been a pleasure to meet, see, and rub shoulders with people in our community with whom I’ve never met previously.

In response to the rising demand for entrepreneural training in rural Idaho, Lewis Clark State College (LCSC) developed an on-line class. Identified as one of the top needs in Kooskia and upon inquiry with the LCSC Small Business Development about their NxLevel program, the offer was made for interested budding entrepreneurs to test this class. Normally the NxLevel 12 session class is conducted on the LCSC campus in Lewiston, 45 miles away and at a $300 fee; both huge barriers. In two days, 21 participants stepped forward to begin the class. This immediate response reaffirmed with LCSC the need for this class.

In late April, early May Kooskia Horizons will join together will Phase I Horizons community, Kamiah to host a 9 hour entrepreneur workshop locally to provide additional assistance to those taking the on-line course and to other people within the region.

The Greater Kooskia Chamber of Commerce is starting out the new year with a new look. Some of the new board members transitioned from leadership roles in the hHorizons Program to leadership positions in the Chamber. In addition, the Chamber has moved thier meeting time to evenings to accomodate a wider variety of members and businesses.

The lastest group to partener with the Chamber is the Student Council/Student body of Clearwater Valley High School. This exciting move will increase the participation of youth in our community activities.

We look forward to some great events from these groups!

The Greater Kooskia Chamber of Commerce recently met with the Clearwater Valley High School Student Council. They spoke about a future partnership between the two to get Kooskia youth more involved in the community. Out of that meeting plans for 2008 Kooskia Days were discussed. Based on Student Council input more youth activities will be included during the annual Kooskia Days event. Youth will be involved in the monthly planning meetings, event setup and as volunteers during the event. Kooskia Days will be the first of other Chamber/Kooskia youth endeavers. This is creating opportunities for future leaders of our community.

This 8 member Action Team will be involved with the following issues: Lack of Living Wage jobs; Business and Service Directory and the Community Bulletin Board. By June of 2008, we hope to establish an active partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and IdaLew foundation to increase the presence of small businesses in Kooskia, as well as increase the active membership in the Kooskia Chamber of Commerce. We also want to have a Business Market Analysis completed, to identify new businesses that Kooskia needs and determine their sustainability. We will also work with the other Kooskia Horizons Action Teams to complete the Community Bulletin Board and Resource Guide. Long Term, we would like to bring businesses to the Kooskia area that will create an additional 50 jobs.
Kooskia Horizons is slowly overcoming apathy and the defeatist attitude that has undermined similiar endeavors.