2004 Annual Report Executive Summary
Five Star Rural Enterprise Community
The Five Star Enterprise Community (5-Star EC) in northeastern Washington State is a partnership of five communities that reaches across four counties and serves three Native American tribes - Colville Confederated, Kalispel and Spokane. Unemployment, low per capita income and high poverty rates have plagued this area for many years. Over the last five years, the 5-Star EC has worked extremely hard to assess the needs of these communities and to use the valuable EC funds most appropriately with the assistance of Tri-County Economic Development District (TEDD) serving as the lead agency.
The areas served by 5-Star EC have similar issues and they have used this common ground to assist one another with like projects. By utilizing each other’s knowledge and experience, this group has been able to achieve amazing success throughout all of the communities. The 5-Star EC recently approved its 187th Benchmark. Almost all of the benchmarks submitted have been or are being completed. It is rare when a benchmark by this group has to be cancelled indicating that a great deal of thought and planning is put into each project. This year, 2004, has been a shining example of what this group can accomplish by working with partners. They have raised their leveraging ratio to approximately 100:1. The partners they have worked with include the Tribes, US Forest Service, Local Communities, State Agencies and USDA. Despite personnel changes within TEDD, the Executive Board has continued to work together as leaders for their communities. Utilizing the coordination efforts of a new Executive Director and Program Coordinator at TEDD, they have readily accepted changes and ideas presented.