FROM THE TOP
Executive Director, Eric Loewe

Four months and 2,500 miles ago I called Louisiana home. My former community and my new home, Spokane, were abuzz about Richard Florida’s new book "The Rise of the Creative Class", an analysis of how thriving cities got to be thriving; and both communities feeling that they could be doing better economically. Now that SNEDA has four months under its belt, the list of accomplishments grows: four loans made in September, Department of Treasury -Community Development Financial Institution certification in November and grant awards from organizations such as Foundation Northwest, Sterling Bank, the City of Spokane and the federal Office of Community Services, USB, and the Buder Memorial Fund #2 at Foundation Northwest.

SNEDA is unique in that we are initially relying on the AmeriCorps Vista, Entrepreneur Corps model to make the organization work. We continue to give our Business Liaisons rein providing technical assistance to neighborhood businesses by identifying where the greatest potential for living wage jobs and wealth creation can exist. Most importantly we are learning what has been done before, what worked and what needs to change. SNEDA intends to stay ahead by staying in touch with the community it serves; a community that can and deserves to do better.

NEW FACES

SNEDA welcomes new Entrepreneur Corps member Jim Yeanuzzi who will be working for SNAP and AHANA as a Micro Enterprise Specialist.

PARTNERING UP

SNEDA will be joining forces with Class 101 Corporation’s Information Technology Academy to design a new SNEDA website and logo. In cooperation with Spokane District 81 and the Community Colleges of Spokane, Class 101 trains students in a two-year program to work in the technical field. The SNEDA project will begin the middle of January 2003 and is scheduled for completion by mid-March.

WHAT’S NEW

SNEDA was recently certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the Department of Treasury. Certification is effective through November 15, 2005.
 
Tagline contest winner Kathryn Owen wowed the three contest judges with "Supporting Prosperity in Spokane’s Neighborhoods". Second place winner Pat Link created, "Prosperous Neighborhoods Start With Prosperous Families." Both winners were treated to lunch with Eric at Thai on First.
 
Seven colleges nationwide have created programs to provide tuition, scholarships and matching funds for AmeriCorps members who have completed a year of service. The two schools in Washington are Evergreen College in Olympia and Central Washington University in Ellensburg.