News : Action groups under way in Richland County : Sidney Herald, Sidney, Montana

Action groups under way in Richland County

By Becky Hayes
AmeriCorps*VISTA, Richland County Health Department
Published on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:25 PM MDT

With all of the opportunities in Richland County lately, almost everyone agrees that it’s time for action. In fact, more than 60 people in the county have joined four different community action groups, and many more will join them when three more groups are formed later this year.

These citizens have met not only to talk about what needs to happen in the county, but to actually do it. The conversation started at the first annual State of the Community County-Wide Conference, and now, with help from Communities In Action, the Richland County Health Department and many other organizations, people are coming together to make Richland County a better place to live, work and play.

The action groups’ efforts are guided by the Community Strategic Plan, a document that outlines community goals and strategies for achieving them.

The plan identifies six key areas to improve the quality of life in Richland County: monitoring water and air quality, increasing access to affordable and quality housing, developing life-long learning opportunities, increasing community involvement in public safety, providing accessible places and ways for people to exercise, and decreasing the high school drop-out rate.

Anyone may join any of the groups, and input from every community member is valued. These groups are designed to provide organizations and individuals in the community who are interested in these goals with a chance to network, share their progress and resources, and work together effectively.

Three of the groups: water/air quality, life-long learning, and public safety, are currently being facilitated by AmeriCorps*VISTA Becky Hayes, and a fourth, focused on housing issues, is being led by Paul Groshart, the Richland County Housing Authority.

The remaining groups will be formed by the end of the year so they will be ready to make an initial report with the rest of the groups to the community at the second annual State of the Community County-Wide Conference on Jan. 23, 2009.

If you wish to know more about the groups or the conference, you can contact Becky Hayes at the Richland County Health Department, 433-2207, and all of the group meetings are posted on the Sidney Herald’s online calendar.

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