$1.7 Million dollar grant awarded to Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Downieville

Western Sierra Medical Clinic is a non-profit corporation. Like most rural clinics, WSMC has struggled for years to keep its doors open. Before receiving the grant, the Clinic’s board had prepared to eliminate some of the services traditionally offered. The clinic’s medical staff works closely with highly trained EMT volunteers to provide 24-hour medical and dental care, radiology and diagnostic services and emergency care. They also provide house calls, home health nursing services and Hospice services. Rural clinics require significant, qualified physician assistants, dental professionals, and administrators. Putting that kind of staffing together is expensive, especially when there is no economy of scale in numbers of patients. Partnering together, rural health care providers can realize opportunities to support each other. It is anticipated that the developing collaboration between Sierra, Nevada and Plumas Counties may enable participating clinics to apply for expansion funding as well. The potential is tremendous, starting with this one funding award to a struggling medical clinic in a small rural area. The employees and staff at the Clinic along with the community that they serve are pleased that their past high level of service will both continue and broaden.
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BRINGING THE BUZZ TO SIERRA COUNTY

The Sierra County Business and Economic Development Committee presented a well attended day-long workshop in Calpine on May 19th. The workshop focused on bringing high speed internet services to Sierra County residents. It has been a goal of the Economic Development Committee and of the communities' to have access to quality, affordable and reliable high speed internet services in order to compete in today's global economy. It has never been more important that rural communities have the ability to interface with the rest of the world! Believe it or not, Sierra County remains primarily "dial-up" which stifles residents, businesses and potential investors from e-commerce opportunities.

....that is about to change!!!!!

Thanks to the effort of the Business and Economic Development Committee, a number of concerned local representatives, citizens, community groups and business participants-Sierra County may now enter the 21st Century with access to high speed internet service.

The workshop which was held at the Calpine Community Hall, provided opportunities to learn, interact and take part in lively discussions revolving around the vision of high speed internet and it's affects in Sierra County. There was a roundtable discussion which followed a video excerpt from the enlightening Thomas L. Friedman's "The World Is Flat" presentation.
Representatives of local resource groups for business development including the Alliance for Workforce Development, Inc., Sierra Economic Development District. Sierra Business Council, Sierra College Small Business Development, Plumas Corporation and the Economic Resource Council provided small business start up assistance, business guidance and revenue sources, and workforce development information.

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Education Opportunity

Sierra County Health and Human Services Department is continuing to partner with the Sierra Work Connection by providing GED courses held in the Sierra Work Connection office. Ernie Teague, a retired Sierra County teacher is instructing GED classes three days a week. Ernie has encouraged his students to take advantage of our computer lab in for their job searching, research, resume writing, and studying for their upcoming GED exam.
We look forward to a continued partnership with the staff of the Sierra County Health and Human Services Department.
For more information about the GED courses and other services provided by Sierra County Health and Human Services Department, Lori Wright asks that you call them at (530)993-6720.

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To learn more about these events, contact your local One-Stop Employment Center

PLUMAS WORK CONNECTION, 283-WORK

LASSEN CAREER NETWORK, 257-5057

MODOC EMPLOYMENT CENTER, 233-4161

SIERRA WORK CONNECTION, 993-4295