Warden Development Council

The Warden Development Council (WDC) came together in the summer of 2006 as an informal group of citizens concerned about the lack of growth in the City of Warden and it’s viability as a thriving, growing community. The county and communities around Warden were growing at an unprecedented rate, but Warden remained a community in poverty and on a downslide. At the same time, the community was approached by WSU to be part of the Horizon’s Project. As in most small towns, even though these two organizations came about independently, many of the members of the WDC also were in the Horizon’s Leadership. In 2007, the ideas produced by these two groups merged with the WDC taking the lead in registering with the state as a not-for-profit 501 (c) (6). As the groups became more and more focused on the work of creating a community where families that earn a ‘living wage’ would like raise their children, it was obvious through the strategic planning process of the Horizon Project that the WDC become the vehicle for change.

Gear Up Partnership

The WSU Horizons Program is partnering with the Warden School District Gear-Up Program (funded by Central Washington University) to support low income students in attending various activities throughout the school years. This partnership will allow students who would not otherwise be able to afford to participate in those events that could encourage them to make a higher education a life goal that can move them from poverty.

Financing Your Education

Tony Garcia, Community Coach for WSU’s Horizons Program presented a workshop titled “Alternative Financing for Your Education” at the DSHS/Worksourse Annual Columbia Basin Job Fair, information on Displaced Worker funds, Tuition Assistance for Working Parents,
Scholarship opportunities, student employment, Workforce Training Program, Job Corps, Veteran’s assistance, and all the other possibilities. Other partners that served as a panel included:
• WIA funding (Skillsource)
• Opportunity Grant sources (Worksource Center, BBCC),
• Work-based Learning Tuition Assistance Program & Financial Aid (BBCC)