Rural Development Council Offers Community Assessments
Courthouse Journal
Washington State Association of Counties &
Washington Association of County Officials
December 5, 2002
The Washington Rural Development Council (WRDC) has partnered with several organizations, sate and federal agencies, and private businesses to bring the Resource Team Assessment to Washington State. What is a Resource Team Assessment? A community-based planning and assessment process consisting of an independent team interviewing a large number of people in the community; recording their suggestions and comments; and having the independent team write up implementation plans, based on the interviews, for community use.
Over 90 individuals have been trained and are available to volunteer their time and talents to rural communities in Washington State. The objective of the Resource Team is to recruit partners to assist rural communities with locally conceived and driven development strategies. Through facilitated Listening Sessions, the Resource Teams hold up a mirror to rural communities so they can get a good look at themselves.
The Quincy Valley (including George, Crescent Bar, the Gorge, and surrounding unincorporated county) was the first community in Washington State to request a community assessment. Lisa Karstetter, Executive Director of the Chamber, coordinated the Quincy effort. At the request of the City Councils of George and Quincy, the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Quincy Port Commission, the 5-member resource team converged upon the Quincy Valley November 12, 13, and 14 and met with 16 groups ranging from high school students to senior citizens.
The team of five spent 3 days in Quincy. The week began with an in depth tour of the area and ended with a town meeting where the resource team presented the major themes from the listening sessions. The report will be sent to Quincy within 6 weeks that will include recommendations, resources and opportunities for the community to implement, based on the major themes.
One month from the time the community receives the report the team or some portion of the team will return to Quincy to help with a prioritization process on the major themes.
The Rural Development Council will conduct a review and follow up after 6 months and then again at the end of the first year.
If you are interested in bringing a Resource Team to your community, contact Jim Lowery, Executive Director of the Washington Rural Development Council at (360) 943-5151 or email to washrdc@reachone.com.