Entrepreneurship Support in Pend Oreille County, Washington – The Arts and Creative Enterprises

Janet Kiser Lambarth, County Extension agent in Pend Oreille county Washington is leading an entrepreneurship support effort in this rural county next to the Idaho panhandle. Three years ago, Extension and the entrepreneurial development committee they created put together a survey to identify the business needs of producers of high quality products who might be thinking about producing and selling for a wider market.

They put together a mailing list of more than 425 artists, artisans, and small acreage landowners from northeast Washington and northern Idaho and have identified their business education needs and the goals the entrepreneurs have for skill development.

Based on the survey results, Extension and the CREATE arts organization in Newport, Washington have designed a 3-year series of 9 workshops to help artists and other producers make decisions about taking the leap into business. (The next two classes are scheduled for March 5 and April 16, 2005.) One of the positive outcomes of their efforts was the creation of the First Annual Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival in 2004. First-year attendance for the 2-day event was 1500+, with sales and admission bringing in at least $45,000, with most participants coming from outside the county. A second festival is scheduled for July 2005.

Another positive outcome is the formation of a non-profit Festival Association for the Pend Oreille Valley that will sponsor not only the Lavender Festival, but other entrepreneurial and tourism-based activities. If you would like more information on these entrepreneurial activities, please contact Janet at [email protected].

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Many thanks to the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship for passing this event along.- Russ