COLVILLE HORIZONS “BIG IDEA” CONTEST KICK-OFF

April 23, 2008

Colville HORIZON Board
Dana McDowell
(509) 685-6125
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Colville, Washington

COLVILLE HORIZONS “BIG IDEA” CONTEST KICK-OFF

In an effort to bring more livable wage jobs to the Colville area, the Colville Horizon board is hosting an invention, innovation or marketable idea seminar on May 31, 2008 at the Community Colleges of Spokane, Colville Center from 8:30 am until 3:00 pm The seminar is the kick-off for the “Big Idea Contest” which will be held sometime this summer.

Joe Harris, Supervising Manager of the WSU Innovation Assessment Center will be the key-note speaker at the “Big Idea Contest” Kick-off. He will speak about the Innovation Assessment Center which reviews inventions, innovations, and marketable ideas to help develop them for patenting and marketing. He will answer the question, “What are the qualities that make an invention, innovation or marketable idea appropriate to bring to the WSU Center?”

At the May 31 event, there will be a call to potential inventors to submit their “Big Idea”. Their idea or invention will be reviewed by a judging panel of experts for specific qualities such as: feasibility to be patented, marketability, ability to be produced locally, potential for the number of jobs that it would create, and the ability to be shipped from our area The three or four top selections from the reviewing panel would then be awarded scholarships towards the $795.00 fee to enter the WSU Innovation Assessment Center. The panel reviewers will sign non-disclosure agreements with each inventor on their idea and will keep the inventions from being disclosed until the process is complete and the new ideas are ready to be revealed.

Because of our rural nature it is difficult to attract business to our area such as manufacturing or production of marketable ideas which could provide more livable wage jobs in the Colville area. Dana McDowell, A Horizons group member, says, “We are appealing to folks in the area who have been dreaming of an idea or who, due to necessity have already come up with an invention that makes their life easier.”

The Kick-off will also include some local business entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses in our area. There will be short presentations from other business services like Tri-County Economic Development District, SCORE, Stone Soup, and WSU Extension Ag Department. In addition we will have a track that showcases in-home businesses or “virtual jobs”. Lunch will be provided.

This event was birthed out of the Horizons Project funded by the Northwest Area Foundation that is being sponsored by WSU Extension. Seven communities in Stevens and Ferry counties have been participating in this 18 month project. For more information check out http://www.colvillewa.org/ . Additionally you may call Dana McDowell at (509) 685-6125 or Lynn Harris at (509) 675-2246.


Persons with a disability requiring special accommodation while participating in this program may call WSU Stevens County Extension, 509-684-2588. If accommodation is not requested in advance, we cannot guarantee the availability of accommodation on site. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension office.