Initiatives & Community
We believe that in order for business growth to thrive it relies on the foundation of a healthy community. Help us make the West Plains a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Current Focuses
The West Plains Chamber of Commerce is committed to collaborating with our cities, law enforcement, nonprofits and communities to gauge our local needs and find partnerships to improve our area. Thank you for being a part of our vision - we look forward to working with you!
West Plains Safety Alliance
Community stakeholders have rallied together to address a multitude of disparities that have been magnified due to recent events. The West Plains Safety Alliance has agreed that their mission can best be achieved through identifying prevention, intervention, and suppression needs of the communities in which they serve.
Through pooling resources and energy in completing a community needs assessment, members strive to prioritize the top areas of need. The final assessment will be used to move forward into strategic and implementation planning around the most pressing community needs. At this time, partners of the West Plains Safety Alliance will be asked to identify key leverage points where they can provide support in what will be presumably a heavy, but necessary lift.
Projects for 2023:
- Youth prevention programming in schools and in the community
- Suicide Prevention Training for the West Plains
- Strengthening Families Program
- Looking to apply for additional funds for the Police Adventure League next summer.
- Looking for funding to create a short YouTube video for the West Plains Safety Alliance. This will help businesses and funders conceptualize what our mission is all about.
- Looking to apply for a Human Trafficking grant to support police enforcement and victim services.
- Looking to apply for a Mental health grant for youth.
- Looking to apply for needed police equipment.
Developing an integrated strategy with shared responsibility is best achieved when all local elected officials work collaboratively.
One initiative Spokane Unite will be assessing, modeled after successful campaigns in Houston and Atlanta, is an effort to establish an independent authority tasked with making strategic, coordinated decisions and investments, to achieve the best outcomes. The Spokane region is ready to work to establish our own model, one that best fits our community’s needs and desires.
West Plains Connect – Addressing Transportation needs of the West Plains
This website is dedicated toward providing information and soliciting input regarding transportation strategies and improvements within the West Plains area of Spokane County. This includes Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake and a large area of Spokane. The site has been developed and sponsored by S3RS Solutions, the West Plains Airport-Area Public Development Authority, and references initiatives of all agency partners, which are the Cities noted above, and includes Spokane County, WSDOT, Spokane International Airport, and Spokane Transit Authority.
Staying Connected with our Cities
Long-Range Facilities Planning Cheney Public Schools
Analyze and evaluate current needs of buildings and properties to better serve the needs of the students and each community.
City Airway Heights – Fire Station upgrade
The City of Airway Heights fire station is not meeting the needs of our community to keep us safe.
There is not adequate room for equipment, tucks, training, and quarters for our city fire fighters and first responders. There are buildings over 6 stories in our community with a ladder truck that goes to 3 stories.
The overnight accommodations for our first responders is very outdated and does not meet the needs of the department. The current building is very old, too small and does not lend to additions or modifications to create a safe working space. To maintain a trained staff, these issues need addressed and solved, working conditions are a major recruiting factor.
City of Cheney: Support/Information sharing on needs for a new community pool
More information to come as studies and cost analysis are completed. The old pool was closed for good due to age and maintenance issues.
City Airway Heights- Child care facility planning
There are discussions and planning meetings taking place to provide a daycare/childcare facility in the AWH area. The city is currently working with national groups to find funding and grant programs to bring this facility to a realization. More to be released when there are final plans and or funding.
West Plains Engagement Series presented by the Spokane Tribe Casino
Our West Plains Engagement Series is how we celebrate all the communities that make up the West Plains. We are one of the fastest growing areas in Eastern Washington and we are always striving to find ways to help our local businesses grow with their community. Part of that heavily relies on keeping our focus on connection and engagement with local leaders, established and new businesses, and all members within our community.
During our series we will take a full week to celebrate one of our areas by helping to promote small businesses, increase tourism, introduce local government, and help educate communities on current initiatives.
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Thank you to our investors, it is their support that allows us to stay involved in our communities!
