PULLMAN, Wash. – Rural communities will identify ways to build their local economies by creating places for businesses to thrive with help from Becky McCray, a national expert in entrepreneurship.
The Nov. 15 Rural Pathways to Prosperity Conference invites chambers of commerce, entrepreneurs, government officials and economic development leaders in more than a dozen locations across the state to participate in the unique format of this interactive forum.
McCray, co-author of “Small Town Rules: How Big Brands and Small Businesses Can Prosper in a Connected Economy,” will deliver a keynote presentation via webinar to locations listed below. Then participants at each site will turn their attention to the specific issues, resources and project ideas for their local communities.
There will be time for networking over lunch and then the sites will work together on ways to improve how they support entrepreneurs.
The conference will be 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. Register by Nov. 8 at http://waruralprosperity.wsu.edu.
Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in this program may call Washington State University Stevens County Extension at 509-684-2588.
Conference sponsors include WSU Extension, Washington State Department of Commerce, Association of Washington Cities, Washington Microenterprise Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development and the state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.
Nov. 18-24 is international Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). The state commerce department plans activities cross the state; visit http://www.commerce.wa.gov.
| Sites | Local Contact | Venue |
| Chehalis In Lewis County | Sheila Gray, WSU Extension(360) 740-1214Sheila.Gray@lewiscountywa.gov | Lewis County Old Historic Courthouse,Meeting room 003351 NW North StreetChehalis, WA 98532 |
| ClarkstonReaching Asotin and Whitman Counties | Mark Heitstuman, WSU Extension(509) 243-2009heitstuman@wsu.edu | Clarkston Campus of Walla Walla Community College, Lecture Room,1470 Bridge Street, Clarkston, WA 99402 |
| Colville Reaching Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille Counties |
Krisan LeHew, WSU Extension(509) 690-8400Krisan@wsu.edu | WSU Stevens County Extension Office986 S. MainColville, WA 99114 |
| Grandview In Yakima County | Jessica Hansen, Port of Grandview(509) 882-9975jessica@portofgrandview.org | Grandview Library207 West Second StreetGrandview, WA 98930 |
| Hartline in Grant County | Emily BraunwartGrant County Economic Development Council (509) 764-6579emily@grantedc.com | The Historic Hartline School92 Chelan StreetHartline |
| Odessa in Lincoln County | Margie Hall Lincoln County Economic Development Council (509) 725-1170edcmargie@centurylink.net |
Any Occasion Banquet Hall3 West First Ave.Odessa, WA 99159 |
| OlympiaIn Thurston County | Lucas Patzek, WSU Extension360-867-2151lpatzek@wsu.edu | WSU Thurston County Extension5033 Harrison Ave. NWOlympia, WA 98506 |
| OmakIn Okanagan County | Roni Holder-Diefenbach, Economic Alliance(509) 826-5107rholderdiefenbach@economic-alliance.com | Havillah Road Printing and Business Center208 S MainOmak, WA 98841 |
| Pasco Reaching Benton and Franklin Counties | Ana Maria Martinez, WSU Extension(509) 545-3511anamaria.martinez@wsu.edu | Location to be determined |
| Rosburg Serving Wahkiakum and Pacific Counties | Carrie Backman, WSU Extension(360) 795-3278carrie.backman@wsu.edu | Johnson Park Community Center4188 W SR4Rosburg, WA |
| Sedro-Woolleyin Skagit County | Debra Peterson, City of Sedro-Woolley Library(360) 855-1166dpeterson@ci.sedro-woolley.wa.us | Sedro-Woolley City Hall325 Metcalf StreetSedro-Woolley, WA 98284 |
| SequimReaching Clallam and Jefferson counties | Clea Rome, WSU Extension(360) 417-2279clea.rome@wsu.edu | Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal CenterRed Cedar Room1033 Old Blyn HighwaySequim, WA 98382 |
| StevensonReaching SkamaniaAnd Klickitat Counties | Linda Williams, WSU Extension(509) 773-5817lindaj@gorge.net | Skamania County Extension Office710 Rock Creek DriveStevenson, WA 98648 |
| WenatcheeReaching Chelan and Douglas Counties | Ray Faini, WSU Extension(509) 667-6540faini@wsu.edu | Confluence Technology Center285 Technology Center WayWenatchee, WA 98801 |
Contacts:
Debra Hansen, WSU Extension, 509-684-2588, debra.hansen@wsu.edu
Krisan LeHew, WSU Extension, 509-690-8400, krisan@wsu.edu