Development News for Prineville, Oregon

Rural Oregon Community Foundation Receives $2,500 for Fundraising Efforts

Steve Holiday, President of the Rural Oregon Community Foundation, presented a request for a $5,000 sponsorship for their annual fundraising dinner. The foundation, celebrating its fifth anniversary, aims to preserve the western way of life in Prineville, Crook County, and rural Oregon. Their programs include 'Boots and Roots,' an educational event for fourth graders, donations to 4-H/FFA/ROTC, and a significant purchase of livestock pins for the fairgrounds ($25,000). They are also partnering with the Bowman Museum to expand cowboy poetry events. The foundation has significantly increased its scholarship offerings, from $5,000 in the first year to a projected $30,000 this year for students pursuing careers related to the western lifestyle. While acknowledging the foundation's broad impact and fundraising success, council members questioned the $5,000 request specifically for the dinner sponsorship. A motion was made to approve $2,500, which was seconded and ultimately approved by the council. Holiday expressed gratitude for the amount received.

Rural Oregon Community Foundation Receives $2,500 for Fundraising Dinner Sponsorship

Steve Holiday, President of the Rural Oregon Community Foundation, requested $5,000 for sponsorship of their annual fundraising dinner. The foundation works to preserve the western way of life through programs like 'Boots and Roots' for youth, donations to agricultural groups, fairground improvements, and increasing scholarship amounts for western-focused careers. While council members acknowledged the foundation's important work, they questioned the large request for dinner sponsorship versus direct program funding. A motion was made to approve a lesser amount of $2,500, which was seconded and passed by the council.

Council Proclaims May as Foster Care Month and Approves Vietnamese American Remembrance Day Proclamation

The council considered a proclamation for May as Foster Care Month. Councilor Mark Sear spoke in favor, expressing admiration for the commitment of social workers and those involved in child welfare. He highlighted the difficult nature of the work and the importance of supporting families. The proclamation was moved, seconded, and approved by the council. Following this, Mayor BB's request for a proclamation for Vietnamese American Remembrance Day was presented by the council president, as the mayor was unavailable. This proclamation has been sponsored by the mayor for several years. The council moved to approve its presentation at the next meeting.

City Council Approves $2,500 Grant for Youth Conservation Corps Program

Patrick Our, Director of Conservation Programs at Heart of Oregon Corps, requested $2,000 to support the Central Oregon Youth Conservation Corps program for the upcoming summer. Heart of Oregon Corps serves youth aged 16-24 in Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties through six programs, including the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). The YCC program, in its 25th/26th year, typically employs 45-55 young people aged 16-18 across nine crews. Participants earn $16/hour and engage in conservation work on public lands, building character and career preparedness through activities like job fairs and college tours. Our highlighted that this funding is crucial as access to Forest Service vehicles has decreased, increasing rental costs. The requested $2,000 would support wages and act as a match for federal awards. He noted past support from the city in 2019 and 2020. Council members discussed the organization's diverse funding sources and the purpose of the dinner sponsorship. Ultimately, the council approved a $2,500 contribution, slightly less than the requested $5,000, after a motion and second.