History of Horizons in Stillwater County, Columbus

Even though the Columbus Horizons Project neared its sunset on June 30, 2008, the Columbus Horizons Project is still benefitting the Columbus Community.   
            In the fall of 2006, Columbus was the recipient of a Horizons Grant, funded through the Northwest Area Foundation.  This grant was available to communities with less that 5,000 population and more than 10 percent poverty according to the 2000 U.S. Census.  At that time, the population of Columbus was 1,748 and the poverty rate was 13.6 percent. 

Study Circles
            The first phase of Horizons was comprised of study circles, where people from the Columbus area met from January to early March, 2007, to address what could be done to reduce poverty.  As a result of the Action Forum (held March 4), three committees have been successful in moving forward:  a mentoring program, a farmers’ market for local producers, and beautification of our community.

Leadership Classes
            In March and April, eighteen LeadershipPlenty® classes were offered in Columbus to help equip citizens for community leadership.
                       
Visioning
            In 2007, the Horizons Steering Committee distributed “flags” at community events.  The “flag” theme was decided upon for the Freedom Celebration.  Each of these “flags” displayed a different question regarding the Columbus Community.  The flags were a great success and the Horizons Steering Committee continued to distribute them at the county fair, each of the farmers’ markets, and some of the businesses in the community.  This medium facilitated the opportunity for people to visualize the assets and challenges of the Columbus community that were discussed in each of the six Study Circles Meetings.  A history timeline was also completed by a variety of residents in Columbus during the 100th year celebration for the community.  This map detailed great events in the history of Columbus to be utilized in the Community Visioning Process.
            Columbus community needed to have input from 270 residents in order to meet the Horizons threshold and to have a successful visioning event in the fall of 2007.   In all, 295 residents gave input, which was compiled and used in the visioning event on October 14, 2007, where participants developed a vision statement for Columbus in 2020:
            Columbus is a safe, progressive community that values its people and honors and preserves its history.  Its character is reflected in its active community involvement, youth development, and the support of a self-sustaining business environment.  Columbus is a place where all community members can thrive, prosper, and grow.

Community Foundation
            From the visioning event came the realization for the need to establish a community foundation to capture wealth in the community so that grants could be distributed to sustain Columbus as a thriving community.  A kick-off event was hosted by Kent & Pam Williams on May 13, 2008.  As a result, donations toward the endowment have continued to come in for a total of $20,150 as of this writing.  The decision was made to affiliate with the Montana Community Foundation, as they have many benefits.  Horizons was able to donate $5,000 in matching funds to the community foundation’s existing $5,000 to be used for community grants.  A reception was held in September where the Columbus Community Foundation awarded the $10,000 in grants to non-profit organizations in the Columbus area.  Currently, the CCF is a self-sustaining entity, with a diverse board.  (See links on the Columbus blog for more details. http://columbus.communityblogs.us/ )  $2,000 has been further granted to the Columbus Community Foundation and is to be allocated for poverty reduction in the next granting cycle.

Communications
            Columbus developed a blog, sponsored by Horizons.  Columbus High School student, Lara Strickland, has been maintaining that blog and reporting on the successes of Columbus Horizons.  The URL is http://columbus.communityblogs.us/ 

Beautification
            During the study circles on poverty, it was agreed that Columbus’ appearance is one of aethetical poverty.  To rectify this situation, the Horizons Beautification Committee refurbished the “Welcome to Columbus” sign in the spring and summer of 2007.  The beautification committee continued its beautification projects by upgrading the informational sign downtown in 2008 so that local events can be better advertised.  This sign will help eliminate the barrier of high-priced advertising for non-profit fundraisers as well as for the farmers’ market, which will help eliminate financial poverty by offering a means to provide supplemental income for sellers.
            A devastating and tragic fire in 2001 changed the course of life for one business in Columbus, took the life of two other businesses, as well as the life of one of the most historic buildings on Main Street Columbus.  The existing vacant lot on Main Street, a community eyesore, diminishes all efforts to create an inviting atmosphere into the community.   This is contrary to the efforts the Town of Columbus has made to welcome all visitors. As travelers exit the I-90 corridor into Columbus, a route into Yellowstone Park, the town offers respite before the remaining 200-mile excursion over one of the most beautiful drives in America, the Beartooth Highway.  To promote tourism, this route must remain one of awe. In order to have these travelers back time and time again, an aesthetic change must take place in Columbus to remove the first impression of a place of poverty.  Horizons plans to donate $2,000 from its final $8,500 grant towards this effort.

Farmers’ Market
            The Horizons study circles on poverty brought forth the idea that a local farmers’ market could help to fight financial poverty in two ways:  through the opportunity for supplemental income for sellers and by providing locally grown and produced fresh produce, meats and baked goods at affordable prices for buyers.  A discount for youth sellers, would offer young people a way to supplement their income and give them a chance to learn about operating a business and becoming responsible, productive adults.
            After much initial research and the development of operating and sanitation rules and requirements, the Columbus Farmers’ Market was launched in August 2007.  A successful market was held each Thursday afternoon in August and for the first two Thursdays in September.  Thirteen sellers participated the first week and by week four there were more than twenty.  An estimated 250 to 300 persons attended each week to enjoy what became an anticipated fun, social event.  Vendor feedback at the end of the season indicated very high satisfaction with the market and a commitment to return for a 2008 season.     
            Based on the success of the first year market, which began as an August-only event and was then extended into September, the 2008 Columbus Farmers’ Market expanded its season from late July to mid-September.  It took place once again on Thursday afternoons in centrally located Railroad Park under the welcome shade of the trees that line the park.  Nearly all of the first season’s sellers returned, and several more were added, including representation from two additional Stillwater County communities – Rapelje and Reed Point.  One seller comes weekly from Livingston and one from Billings.  The rest were from the local communities of Columbus, Park City, Absarokee, Reed Point and Rapelje. 
            This season the market began with eighteen sellers and reached a high of twenty-five in August.  The hours were shortened by half an hour to run from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Crowd size was fairly consistent from week to week, depending on the weather, and usually averaged about 300 people.  This year buyers were spread more evenly over the entire market period, though many people continued to arrive for the opening bell so as not to miss any items that might sell-out by later in the market.
            Items sold at the market included fresh garden produce, eggs, plants, baked goods (breads, cookies, pies, granola, muffins, doughnuts, scones, coffee cakes), preserves, wheat berries, kettle corn, ice cream, mustards, honey and meats.  The wonderful Highway 302 Band returned for a second season, coming from neighboring Molt each week to provide bluegrass music for all to enjoy.  Barbecue was available from a local vendor for those wishing to enjoy dinner and music in the park with their neighbors.
            In this rural Montana county, the farmers’ market has proved to be an avenue to help fight not only economic poverty, but also social poverty by providing support systems and community interaction.  Registration forms and health rules are available at the Stillwater Extension Office, located in the Courthouse.  For further information, contact Marcia Spano, 321-1377.

Mentoring/After School Program/Youth
            At the Freedom Celebration and the Stillwater County Fair in July 2007 and at each of the farmers’ markets, the Columbus Horizons Steering Committee received volunteer signatures for the mentoring reading program with the elementary school.  The Horizons Mentoring Committee submitted the names, phone numbers and addresses of the reading volunteers to the elementary principal in the fall of the year to be used for either reading to the students or the students reading to the adults.
            The study circles on poverty suggested a parent mentoring program, but there was no interest from parents in the community. Thus, the Horizons Mentor Committee has turned its attention to another priority from the study circles and from LeadershipPlenty® classes, an afterschool program for children.  After sending out surveys through the school, the committee received 160 responses to the surveys.  Joey Blankenship, the Executive Director of the Stillwater Community Coalition, has agreed to serve as coordinator with the Stillwater Community Coalition serving as the lead agency. 
            The Horizons Mentor Committee is proceeding to fight poverty through their mission and vision statements.  The mission statement of the program is as follows:  Our goal is to provide youth of this community with enriching activities, guidance and skills in a safe environment which will enable them to lead productive healthy lives.  We will address risk factors associated with poverty to allow youth to thrive, prosper and grow. For the purpose of our mission, as was the Horizon's Project, poverty is not only limited to financial issues.  Poverty encompasses the lack of adequate emotional, mental and spiritual support systems as well as relationships with positive role models.  The vision statement of the program is as follows:  To provide an afterschool program that helps the youth of our community to overcome risk factors by providing them the tools that will allow them to make healthy life choices.   The afterschool program, Youth in Action, will begin operation on January 5 for grades 2-4.  If you are interested in sending a child or serving as an adult volunteer, please contact Joey Blankenship or Jamie Spainhower at 322-5228.

            Kid’s Club Childcare Center, located in Columbus, provides child care and preschool services to approximately 100 families in the Columbus area.  The center, a licensed facility for children as young as eight weeks, strives to offer optimal care.  Previously, Kid’s Club existed as a department of the Stillwater Community Hospital.  Due to organizational changes, the hospital was forced to eliminate the Child Care Department. Kid’s Club, continuing to serve the Columbus Community, became its own entity.  The focus for Kid’s Club is to be a non-profit center operated by the same high quality staff, driven by a Board of Directors.  In order to maintain high quality child care standards, and maintain low cost to service all income levels in the community, Kid’s Club needs expansion.  The expansion includes the construction of kitchen facilities for Kid’s Club staff to cook their own meals and snacks.  The Horizons Steering Committee committed $1500 of its final grant to this expansion endeavor.

Columbus Horizons Barrier Elimination Grants
            To date, $29,000 has come to the Columbus community through the Horizons Grant, including $19,000 from the Northwest Area Foundation and $10,000 from the Montana Community Foundation.   These grants have helped to remove barriers that impede participation in the Columbus Horizons Project by those in poverty.  The Columbus Horizons Steering Committee wishes to thank these grantors for their generous contributions to the Columbus community. 

Updated December 26, 2008

Columbus Horizons Blog

Montana Horizons

Northwest Area Foundation (Horizons contributor)

MSU Extension Business & Community Development

Stillwater County

Stillwater County Chamber of Commerce

Absarokee Area Merchants

Montana Extension Disaster Education Network

National Extension Disaster Network