March 5, 2019
Talent, Oregon - In January 2019, the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation (CCUIF) awarded $496,550 to 73 nonprofits in seven different counties in southwestern Oregon.
Talent Maker City (“TMC”), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving Southern Oregon as a regional hub for creative and economic innovation (and recently voted Best Nonprofit in the Talent News and Review) was one of those fortunate award recipients.
With the assistance of this $5,000 award, TMC will be able to complete the build-out of its woodshop and open the doors to its new 3,700 square foot makerspace, located at 304 E. Main Street in downtown Talent, to the community. Once open, TMC will be able to scale its handson programming in the form of adult woodworking workshops and youth Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) programming.
TMC has been working tirelessly with strong local community volunteer commitment and donations to prepare for the new space. With this “final push” funding form CCUIF, TMC will be able to purchase the final tools and equipment needed to open its doors in March 2019. CCUIF Executive Director Carma Mornarich, referencing the Foundation’s giving, says, “The results of the partnerships the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation has developed with nonprofits in southwestern Oregon is impressive. Communities and families within the seven counties in Southwestern Oregon are healthier, as well as more vital and responsive to need as a result. My job, to oversee these partnerships, is so gratifying.”
The mission of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation is to offer assistance in youth education, strengthen youth and family, provide for positive youth development, and add to the quality of life for people in southwestern Oregon. Additionally, the CCUIF has put increasing emphasis upon basic needs so more hungry people get fed. Since its founding in 1997, the CCUIF has awarded $17,948,524 in grants to non-profits, with a total 2018 giving of $1,023,298. Awards are made semi-annually, in January and June.
The 73 grantees include: three grantees in Coos County who will receive $19,000; thirteen grantees in Deschutes County who will receive $86,000; fourteen grantees in Douglas County who will receive $107,800; nineteen grantees (including Talent Maker City) in Jackson County who will receive $107,250; four grantees in Josephine County who receive $30,000; five grantees in Klamath County who will receive $42,500; eight grantees in Lane County who will receive $55,000, and seven grantees that serve multi-counties who will receive $49,000.
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation Awards are made separate from and in addition to regular philanthropic decisions made by the Cow Creek Tribal Board.
Founding TMC Board member Ryan Wilcoxson is eager to open TMC’s doors and expressed his gratitude to CCUIF for helping to make this happen, “Thanks to the generous support of the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, Talent Maker City will be able to launch our woodshop ahead of schedule and soon open the doors to our community, providing the space, tools, and resources to foster creative and economic innovation.”
Talent Mayor Darby Ayers-Flood, who also serves on the TMC Board, voiced her support for the makerspace’s imminent opening. “I’m passionate about improving the economic lives of the citizens of Talent,” said Ayers-Flood. “I can’t wait to see how the makerspace brings new life to the heart of our revitalized downtown.”
Talent Maker City can be found online at http://www.talentmakercity.org or on Facebook www.facebook.com/talentmakercity and Instagram @talentmakercity.
Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation can be found online at https://www.cowcreekfoundation.org