News

Colville Together to Preserve a Community Gathering Space for Downtown Colville

Sometimes an unexpected opportunity comes along that makes you stop and ask, “What would happen if we didn’t?” That’s exactly the question the Board of Directors of Colville Together faced when they learned Crossroads Event Center would be closing.

Over the past several weeks, the Board carefully explored what it would take to keep the space available for the community. They looked closely at the financial investment, staffing needs, long-term sustainability, and, most importantly, whether preserving Crossroads aligned with Colville Together’s mission.

After considering several different options, the Board voted to lease the facility and purchase many of the furnishings and equipment, giving Crossroads a new chapter as a community gathering space and the future home of Colville Together.

“This wasn’t part of our plans for 2026,” said Rosemary Shaw, Executive Director of Colville Together. “Like many people in our community, we were disappointed to hear Crossroads would be closing. As we looked at the opportunity, we kept coming back to one question: if this space disappears, what does our community lose?”

Rather than seeing Crossroads as simply an event venue, the Board saw the opportunity to preserve a place where people can continue to gather, celebrate milestones, hold meetings, learn, connect, and build community in the heart of downtown.

“This wasn’t a quick decision,” Shaw said. “Our Board spent weeks reviewing different scenarios, asking difficult questions, and making sure this was something Colville Together could responsibly take on. In the end, we felt preserving this space was worth pursuing because it supports the kind of vibrant, connected downtown we all want to see.”

The organization will relocate its offices to Crossroads later this summer while continuing to focus on the projects and initiatives already included in its 2026 Work Plan. No major new programming is planned this year, allowing time to thoughtfully transition into the building and establish operations before considering future opportunities through the 2027 planning process.

Colville Together will begin accepting reservation requests in September with community bookings beginning in November 2026.

“We’re excited about what’s ahead,” shared Christa McDonald, chair of the Promotions & Outreach committee. “This space already means a lot to our community. Our goal is simply to build on that foundation and ensure it continues serving Colville for years to come.”

A new mural now brightens the west end of Heritage Court thanks to the creativity, hard work, and community spirit of students from Colville Junior High.

Led by art teacher Amy Anderson and coordinated through Colville Together, students spent a week transforming their original design into a vibrant public artwork celebrating the landscapes, recreation, wildlife, and community connections that make Northeast Washington special.

The mural was designed by students and Mrs. Anderson through a collaborative process that began with brainstorming, sketching, and refining ideas into a final concept. The finished artwork captures the students’ vision of Colville and reflects the pride they have in their community. “This has been such a wonderful experience for me and my students to give back to our community,” said Amy Anderson. “Thank you again for the opportunity to do the mural.”

The project was made possible through funding from the Innovia Foundation and support from Colville Together’s Mural Program. Beyond creating a beautiful piece of public art, the project gave students an opportunity to contribute something lasting to downtown Colville while developing teamwork, artistic, and problem-solving skills.  Public art plays an important role in creating welcoming spaces, strengthening community identity, and encouraging residents and visitors to spend time downtown. The Heritage Court mural adds color, creativity, and a unique local story to one of Colville’s most visible community gathering spaces.

Colville Together extends its appreciation to Amy Anderson for leading the project and to the many individuals who helped bring the mural to life. Special thanks go to Kim Murray, Amy’s sister, who traveled to Colville to assist students throughout the week-long installation process.

“This mural represents more than paint on a wall,” said Rosemary Shaw, Executive Director of Colville Together. “It represents young people investing their time, creativity, and talents into the future of our community. Their work will be enjoyed by residents and visitors for years to come.”

Something new is taking root in downtown Colville, and if you have noticed fresh flowers popping up on a few corners around town, you are already seeing it in action.

This year, Colville Together is launching its new Adopt-a-Corner Program, a long-term effort focused on beautifying downtown one corner at a time. The vision is simple: create welcoming, vibrant spaces that help make downtown feel cared for and encourage pride in our community.

Like many good things, we are starting small. This first year serves as a pilot as we learn what works best and build a foundation for the future. While the long-term goal is to expand throughout the district, a handful of downtown businesses have stepped up early to help bring the vision to life.

Colville Together designs and installs the plantings, while participating businesses help care for the spaces through simple ongoing maintenance and watering. It is a small commitment with a big visual impact. We want to give a huge thank you to our first Adopt-a-Corner partners:

• Garringer Insurance
• Farmhouse Sweets
• Redbird Boutique
• Queen B’s Hair House
• Home Suite Home Furnishings

These businesses are helping keep their corners thriving by watering and caring for the new plantings, and their participation is helping us test and grow a program we hope becomes a lasting part of downtown Colville. Programs like this only happen because local businesses continue to invest in the community around them. Small acts of stewardship add up and help create the kind of downtown experience people remember. We are excited to watch these corners grow and to see how this idea blossoms in the years ahead.

Keep an eye out as you walk downtown this summer and thank these businesses for helping make Colville a little more welcoming, colorful, and vibrant.

Because sometimes the smallest spaces can make the biggest difference

Helping Downtown Businesses Through the Unexpected

Colville Together is excited to introduce a new resource for downtown businesses in 2026: the Downtown Business Emergency Fund.

This new program is designed to provide quick, short-term financial support to small businesses facing unexpected challenges, the kinds of moments that can put real strain on a business and the people behind it.

“We know that sometimes things just happen. A freezer goes down, a pipe bursts, or something out of your control forces you to close your doors for a bit,” said Colville Together. “This fund is here to help our downtown businesses get through those moments and keep moving forward.”

The Emergency Fund offers one-time grants ranging from $250 to $500, with a total program budget of $2,000. That means support for several local businesses when they need it most.

The fund is available to brick-and-mortar businesses located in downtown Colville that are currently open and operating. It’s specifically meant to help with unexpected emergencies, such as: Equipment failure critical to daily operations, Water, electrical, or heating issues, Break-ins or vandalism, Fire or smoke damage, Temporary closures due to infrastructure problems. Funds can be used for things like repairs, replacement equipment, emergency services, or short-term costs directly tied to the situation.

Applications are open year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis by the Colville Together Economic Vitality Committee. Businesses can expect a decision within 3-5 business days, helping ensure support arrives when it’s needed. This program is intentionally designed to be simple and responsive, focusing on urgency, impact, and keeping downtown businesses open and thriving. Businesses may receive one grant per calendar year, and recipients will be asked to provide a brief follow-up within 30 days.

Downtown businesses are a big part of what makes Colville feel like home.  They create jobs, offer gathering spaces, and build the sense of local pride we all share.

For more information or to apply for the Colville Together Emergency Fund, please contact Colville Together or visit https://colvilletogether.org/colville-together-emergency-fund/

Colville Together Emergency Fund

We’re excited to share that Colville Together is teaming up with FarmJam Music Festival for a fun community raffle — and it all kicks off at March 4th Friday @ Crossroads!

🎟 Here’s the deal:
We’re selling just 500 raffle tickets at $10 each for a chance to win your way to FarmJam this summer.

🎉 Prizes include:

• June Drawing: 4 General Admission passes
• July Drawing: 4 General Admission passes
• Grand Prize (July): 2 VIP + 4 General Admission passes

That’s a full FarmJam weekend for you and your crew!

🌟 Get your tickets first at 4th Friday @ Crossroads (March 27th)!
We’ll be there selling tickets, so grab yours early, once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Even better? Every ticket supports Colville Together and helps keep our downtown vibrant, fun, and full of life.

So come out to 4th Friday @ Crossroads, listen to some great free music, grab a delicious meal, join in on the family fun, and grab a ticket (or a few 😉).

🎶 See you there!

Colville Together is proud to share the 2026 recipients of our Façade & Building Improvement Grant Program.  These local businesses are rolling up their sleeves and investing right back into our downtown.

This is a reimbursable grant with a 20% match from the building owner, and many recipients are choosing to go well beyond that, putting even more into their spaces and into downtown Colville. These local building owners are taking on projects that will help keep their buildings strong, welcoming, and full of life:

• Main Street Floral – $3,000 for a new roof to help protect and preserve the building for years to come.
• Statesman Examiner – $4,000 for a new façade, giving this longtime downtown staple a fresh, updated look.
• The Dragon – $3,000 for HVAC upgrades and new paint to improve comfort inside and add a fresh feel outside.

In a small town like Colville, these kinds of improvements mean more than just fixing up a building, they are about community pride. When local businesses invest in their spaces, it shows care for the whole downtown and helps create a place we can all feel proud of, whether we’re grabbing coffee, shopping, or just passing through.

“We love seeing businesses take that next step to invest in themselves and in Colville,” said Rosemary Shaw, Executive Director. “It’s these little improvements that add up and make downtown feel inviting, cared for, and full of life.”

The Façade & Building Improvement Grant Program is one of the ways Colville Together supports a strong, vibrant downtown. These projects help maintain the character of our community while keeping things fresh and welcoming for locals and visitors alike.

Colville Together thanks this year’s recipients for their investment in our community and looks forward to seeing these projects come to life.

Colville Together has opened applications for its 2026 Facade & Building Improvement Grant, a program designed to support downtown building owners in improving, repairing, and preserving their properties.

The grant provides reimbursable awards grants for permanent building improvements within the Colville Together focus area, which includes 3rd Avenue to Birch Avenue and Wynne Street to Oak Street. Eligible projects include exterior enhancements, repairs, and other long-term improvements that contribute to the appearance and vitality of downtown Colville.

The program is administered by the Colville Together Design Committee and aims to make downtown revitalization affordable, creative, and community driven.

Funding for the grant is made possible through the Washington State Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program, which allows local businesses to support Colville Together while receiving a 75% credit on their B&O taxes the following year. Over the past four years, the program has helped twelve downtown building owners’ complete improvements, with $31,500 reinvested directly into Colville’s historic core.

Applications and program guidelines are available at http://www.colvilletogether.org.
The application deadline is February 27.

Colville Together is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening downtown Colville through economic development, preservation, and community pride.

For more information contact Rosemary Shaw at info@colvilletogether.org

Join us to clean up downtown Colville! 

Work with our partners NEWAR, Colville Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary, in cleaning up our community and showing our pride for downtown Colville for Fall Clean Up Day! Bring your gloves, a broom, and come ready to work! We will be weeding planting beds, putting away summer furnishings and other projects to clean up downtown.

For more information about the projects and programs above, check out these links:

Façade & Building Improvement Grant

Invest in Colville!

4th Friday

Make a Difference