Community Reinvestment Keeps Washington Growing
July 2026
Hearing The ImpactJuly 21, 2026 - Ten homes were recently saved in Okanogan County because a local fire mitigation company had the right equipment at the right time. A small business in Douglas County who was at risk of closing was able to replenish supplies and is now thriving. We could not have predicted these specific outcomes, but the impact of the Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) is unde...
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Pass the Password, Please.
July 2026
Mentorship, Apprenticeship, and a Legacy of LearningJuly 2026 - “I wished for Larry’s job and followed him through his career changes. Noah wished for my job and is following me through mine.” - Kristine Ringsrud, SkillSource Network Administrator. Wishes came true. Kris tells the story best.“Back in the late 1980s (not a typo), I was casting about for a career change and took part in an ...
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Why Businesses Keep Coming Back
July 2026
It's The RelationshipsJune 2026 - Why do local businesses open their doors for student tours year after year? “We are a part of this community just like you. We want to have strong relationships with our partners. It’s important to us to educate the students and let them know of the opportunities that are available,” Sergeant Jeff Anderson, Washington State Patrol. From opening doors and ...
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Growing Our Own Workforce
June 2026
Meet Some GraduatesJune, 2026 - Each seat in every graduation this spring held someone ready to get to work. A perioperative nurse scheduled for her first shift. An electrician-in-training headed to Twisp. A recovery counselor who knows firsthand what the return on investment looks like in human terms. This year, 74 students graduated from SkillSource learning centers in Omak, Othello, and Wenatc...
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Common Thread: A Conversation with Randy Curry and Nate Mack
May 2026
Built from the Ground Up May 2026 – Make sure to look down at the concrete beneath your feet. And notice with gratitude when the AC stays on during a triple-digit summer in Central Washington. You would notice pretty quickly if those disappeared. That foundation happened thanks to the laborers and electricians who show up each morning on a job site, skilled in the trades that shape our lives....
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Field Trips Flip A Switch
May 2026
Empowering the future of powerMay 6, 2026 - Flip a switch and the light comes on. But how? It was a lightbulb moment for SkillSource students from Wenatchee and Othello last week as the abstract idea of a job in the trades turned into a visible reality. They went behind the scenes in Grant County to see exactly what — and who — it takes to power and build a community.At the Grant County PUD En...
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It Starts With Someone Who Sees You
May 2026
Partners in PotentialMay 2026 - Who comes to mind when you think of a teacher?Someone who showed up for you. Someone who helped you see what you could do next.Education is the cornerstone of our workforce system — an ecosystem where people and partner organizations work together so individuals and communities can stay healthy and stable.“Workforce” doesn’t sound very warm. But at its core,...
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Honoring Success & Partnership at The 35th Recognition Banquet
March 2026
A Collective Calling. A Shared Win. March 19, 2026 – The 35th Recognition Banquet was a celebration of the human connections that move our local economy forward. SkillSource CEO Lisa Romine set the tone by grounding the evening in something both practical and deeply human: while we often measure progress through self-sufficiency, none of us gets there alone. She named what was visible across t...
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Real-World Learning Through Project Based Learning
March 2026
"Just do it, you learn a lot, and make lots of memories."That’s the advice SkillSource Learning Center students, Lieltii, Julie, James, and Jason would give others about participating in a Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience. Over a six week 90-hour project these four students learned how to show up in real community environments, how to collaborate with others, and engage with the communit...
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Common Thread: A Conversation with Tad Hildebrand and Michelle Price
March 2026
The Value of Human Connection March 2026 – Who was your 6th grade teacher? That wasn't a question that was asked directly, but it was one of the common threads that emerged in our recent conversation with SkillSource board members, Tad Hildebrand and Michelle Price. Both Michelle and Tad could trace their professional spark back to the influence of their 6th grade teacher. For Michelle, it c...
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