St. Maries, ID

How will our community make decisions about seeking further resources to support or plans?

We have also begun talks with Habitat for Humanity to get a Chapter started in Saint Maries, as low income housing is in great need in our community.
As well as:
We have begun to put out feelers on how, when, where and the possibility for additional training, resources and coaching for the community. We have also drawn from the community members who have done the Leadership Plus training to create a new group from which we can draw increased community involvement.

What structures have been changed that will enable our community to address poverty in the long term?

We have also been (and will continue to do so) working with existing organizations on expanding current projects they are working on…for example the City Park Project in Saint Maries (also to get all the arrows going in the same direction)!
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We have begun to work on gathering and establishing stronger ties with current elected officials; such as the City Council, the Benewah County Commissioners, and Planning and Zoning. As well as the business community, including but not limited to: Timber Plus, the SBA and other Economic Development Groups.

In what ways is our community operating or working differently?

We have already partnered with Silver Valley Horizons, as well as Agencies for Families to create a multi-county joint resource directory, in order to make interagency and inter related resources easier to communicate to everyone who might need it.
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An SBA (Small Business Association) Representative has come in and talked to us about how to set up a successful rural business, including how to become more technologically connected to more metropolitan areas.

How has our community leadership expanded?

We have begun to meet with local businesses to figure out what is necessary for them to increase their success and continue to be a successful rural business.
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Saint Maries Horizons has begun to establish itself as a link between different community resources. This is so that we can get projects completed as a union and in a timelier manner, making all the arrows go in the same direction sooner.

What kind of concrete steps have been taken by our community to address poverty?

We have a great start on creating a Saint Maries Horizons Resource Guide for newcomers as well as current residents. We have also started negotiations on a joint location with the Chamber of Commerce; where anyone can come in and find all the information they might need in Saint Maries.
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We have begun to work on establishing a “Community Breakfast”, in order to unify communication amongst all our entities and also to share information and create even stronger ties amidst ourselves and newcomers. (Some ideas we have been “kicking” around is a ‘Newcomers’ picnic, where everyone in the community can get together to show just how welcoming we are!)

We are proud to be able to say that we are part of a wonderful group called “Horizons”. To be a part of this, we do have to “jump” through a few hoops, but to be totally honest, they just help us stick to our goals and stay on track!
One of these hoops, was to create a report, in which we were to create some “blog” posts…which, of course, we have done. After working on the posts, I realize just where we are, and how we have truely begun to ‘change’ our community for the better.
We have to post them idividually under their own Categories, so feel free to “search” the site to find the one which tickles your fancy!
TTFN
Tala.