Building Capacity in 19 Counties Across Washington State

Building Capacity in 19 Counties Across Washington State

Building Changes is pleased to announce 25 new partners in 19 counties across the state who will participate in its Economic Opportunities Initiative. This intensive, 18-month capacity-building program is designed to support nonprofit service providers in Washington’s most economically distressed counties.

While the missions and services of these organizations are diverse, they all share the common goal of better serving the needs of low-income individuals and families.

One such organization is Spokane-based Transitions, which specializes in housing, employment and childcare services for women experiencing poverty and/or sexual abuse. Currently, Transitions is running an employment training program through its privately owned New Leaf Bakery Café, which gives clients the opportunity to develop job skills in a real-life business setting. This innovative program has been so successful at cultivating more confident, capable clientele that Transitions is looking to go further. With assistance from Building Changes, they seek to boost the number of women the café can employ, as well as build a network of other employers in the Spokane community to employ New Leaf graduates.

The aspirations of organizations like Transitions reflect the spirit behind Building Changes' Economic Opportunities Initiative, which is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Strengthening Communities Fund, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and The Boeing Company.

Through the Initiative, Building Changes will partner with participating agencies to help them develop the capacity to address broad economic recovery challenges in their communities, including helping low-income individuals access employment and benefits. Support from Building Changes will come in the form of training, consulting, and financial assistance. A total of $600,000 will be granted in two rounds of financial assistance awards in 2010.

"These service providers are really striving to improve the job skills and quality of life for the people they serve," said Mark Putnam, Economic Opportunities Initiative Project Director. "Each agency is planning to use our training and grants to create new programs and partnerships, or in some cases, to improve existing programs. It's very exciting, and we are thrilled to have this opportunity to support 25 innovative projects around the state."

Below is the list of 25 organizations (and the counties they serve) participating in Building Changes' Economic Opportunities Initiative: 

Northwest Region

• Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (Snohomish)
• Catholic Housing Services of Western Washington (Skagit)
• Mason County Shelter (Mason)
• Northwest Youth Services (Whatcom)
• Opportunity Council (Whatcom)
• Serenity House (Clallam)
• Volunteers of America - Western Washington (Snohomish)
• Washington Home of Your Own (Snohomish, Skagit)
• Washington Working Families Prosperity Center (Snohomish, Spokane)
• West End Outreach Services (Clallam)

Southwest Region

• Crisis Support Network (Pacific)
• Family Finance Resource Center (Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum)
• Longview Housing Authority (Clark, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum)
• Lower Columbia Community Action Program (Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Wahkiakum)
• Reliable Enterprises (Lewis)
• Second Step Housing (Clark)

Central Region

• Catholic Charities Housing Services (Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Yakima)
• Entiat Valley Community Center (Chelan, Douglas)
• Mid-Point Place (Chelan, Douglas)
• Okanogan Community Action Council (Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan)
• Women's Resource Center of North Central Washington (Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Okanogan)
• Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (Yakima)

Northeast Region

• Catholic Charities - St. Margaret's Shelter (Spokane)
• Salvation Army (Spokane, Stevens)
• Transitions (Spokane)