About 2 Degrees Northwest

Our History:

At the 2005 Idaho Governor’s Conference on Recreation and Tourism, Becky Anderson, director of North Carolina’s HandMade in America described her organization’s novel approach to rural economic development -- a strategy that helps communities identify, enhance and market their unique sites, heritage, culture and products, developing trails, guides and services for very rural communities. The idea appealed to many who strive to identify effective solutions to economic change in rural Idaho.

In 2006, a group of Idaho agencies formed the Uniquely Idaho Steering Committee to support cultural tourism. Later that year, a small group of committed professionals in the Clearwater area of north central Idaho, an arts group in St. Maries, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe developed proposals in response to the Idaho Commission on the Arts and Uniquely Idaho’s request for information about interest in cultural tourism. The Uniquely Idaho committee suggested the groups work together. An enthusiastic, region-wide response to the directive combined with interest from Washington communities and resources provided by University of Idaho Extension led to the creation of Two Degrees Northwest: Where Art Meets the Land.

Steering Committee/Board of Directors:

The Two Degrees Northwest: Where Art Meets the Land initiative is being guided by the collective wisdom of representatives from the cities of Moscow and Pullman, Nez Perce Tribe, Grangeville and St. Maries arts communities, Rural Roots and UI Extension for small agriculture, Idaho State Historical Society, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, University of Idaho Extension faculty and the Horizons Program, Washington State University faculty, Clearwater Economic Development Association, Clearwater County Economic Development, North Central Idaho Travel Association, Ida-Lew Economic Development, Community Action Partnership, and the UI Center on Disabilities and Human Rights. The original steering committee has become a board of directors as we are in the process of applying for federal nonprofit status [501 c(3)]. Our board is currently comprised of the following members and has two vacancies:

Kathleen Burns (Moscow, ID)

Chris Kuykendall (Peck, ID)

Debi Anderson (Colfax, WA)

Sherry Klaus (Tensed, WA)

Ann McCormack (Pullman, WA)

Laura Laumatia (Plummer, ID)

Keri Wilson (Clarkston, WA)

Lorie Higgins (Moscow, ID)

Elizabeth Carney (Moscow, ID)

Funding:

Current funding is provided by University of Idaho Extension and the Western Rural Development Center. The project is also supported by the Uniquely Idaho Steering Committee, which supports cultural tourism efforts around Idaho.