Community Development
Renewable Energy - CSI
Community Smallwood Solutions
In 2003, a new company, Community Smallwood Solutions (CSS), was created through the leadership of Wallowa Resources. With facilities located in the city of Wallowa, CSS makes use of an abundant local supply of suppressed growth small diameter timber to produce high quality posts and poles suitable for fencing, vineyard and orchard applications, residential, and structural uses. Utilizing suppressed growth timber helps reduce overstocked stands, minimize fire hazard, and promote stands of larger, more widely spaced trees – a healthier forest.
Wallowa County Economic Action Team (EAT)
In 2005, Wallowa County was selected as the 2006 Rural Design Assistance Team (RDAT) community. The RDAT program us coordinated by North Carolina State University. For the past 40 years, this program has been assisting America's rural and urban communities. A multi-disciplinary team guides communities in assessing their current circumstances and provides recommendations tailored to their unique location.
Wallowa Resources served on Wallowa County's organizing committee for the Rural Design Assistance Team and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the Wallowa County Economic Action Team. Over 1,000 residents of Wallowa County (14% of the population) participated in various workshops and meetings with the RDAT Team. The Economic Action Team and its various subcommittees are now working to implement priority activities derived from recommendations put forth in the Team Report. Although all the recommendations made by the RDAT may not be implemented, all are based on input received from County constituents.
Wallowa County Business Facilitation (WCBF)
WCBF's mission is to assist people in transforming their passionate ideas into viable new or expanding businesses. WCBF was founded by citizens who want to:
• promote local entrepreneurship and innovation
• empower the individual to fulfill a dream
• assist in the startup, improvement, or expansion of businesses in all sectors, including agriculture, forestry, tourism, and value-added manufacturing
• increase the capacity within our community to meet the challenges of changing economic and social conditions.
Wallowa County Business Facilitation employs a half-time, Wallowa County based business coach (Myron Kirkpatrick, who started work in January 2001).
Wallowa Resources was a founding sponsor of Wallowa County Business Facilitation in 2000-2001. Wallowa Resources helped secure initial funding. Both its Executive Director and Deputy Director served on its Board of Directors.
Wallowa County Hay Growers Association
The Wallowa County Hay Growers Association was formed in March 2003. The association promotes the availability and sale of weed-free and premium forage products produced by local farmers. The Association also provides a central, simple point of contact to many local hay growers for various customers, including brokers, exporters, ranchers, horse owners, and backcountry enthusiasts. The participating growers have adopted the standards set forth by the North American Weed Management Association (NAWMA). For more information on NAWMA and it standards, go to www.nawma.org
In 2002-2003, Wallowa Resources, through its Lower Grande Ronde Noxious Weed Management Program, worked with the association and the Wallowa County Extension Service to develop the standards, the system for certification, and the association's web site.
Country Natural Beef / Oregon Country Beef
Country Natural Beef / Oregon Country Beef is a unique and true cooperative that links cow-calf ranchers directly with consumers. CNB / OCB provides a simple, stable and profitable means for its members to produce for its own niche market. By striving to market livestock in a sustainable manner, members take care of and respect the customers, communities and lands which sustain us. CNB / OCB's "Graze-well / Raise-well" principles are certified by third party inspections from the Food Alliance.
Wallowa Resources provided Oregon Country Beef (in particular Doc and Connie Hatfield) contact with ranching families in Wallowa County in the late 1990's when the growth in demand for OCB exceeded their production capacity and the coop was seeking additional members. As demand grew, Oregon Country Beef partnered with ranchers in other states including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Colorado and New Mexico to form a larger cooperative called County Natural Beef. 76 ranching families now participate in the co-op in eight western states and Hawaii.