$397,000 Grant will help launch a business development project in East Central Spokane area

A $397,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help launch a business development project in the East Central neighborhood.

Spokesman Review

The Community Outreach Partnership Center project will be supported by the Community Colleges of Spokane and Eastern Washington University.

The three-year grant is one of 22 given this year to encourage partnerships between colleges and communities.

Eastern Washington University will work with residents and neighborhood organizations to deal with job training, business development and neighborhood revitalization.

The Community Colleges of Spokane will offer support from its Small Business Development Center and job training program.

The program will be housed in an office at the East Central Community Center. A director has not yet been hired.

An advisory council meets at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the East Central Community Center.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project will take place 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at the Ross Printing parking lot, 1611 E. Sprague.

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=030703&ID=s1314643&cat=section.business