Connecting the community: Ephrata Forward publishes The Pulse
EPHRATA – This week, residents with a 98823 Zip Code likely found a 28-page glossy magazine in their mailbox that showcases current activities and projects undertaken by seven local public agencies and nonprofits.
The inaugural issue of The Ephrata Pulse is a collaborative effort by the City of Ephrata, Ephrata School District, Ephrata Port District, Grant County, Grant PUD, Columbia Basin Hospital and Family Medicine, and Ephrata Chamber of Commerce.
Collectively, they have formed the Ephrata Forward Council of Government, with leaders from each organization meeting regularly to “align needs, identify shared challenges, and work toward advocating.”
Earlier this year, the group invited area residents to participate in a survey to learn what people valued most about the community, to share their thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses, and what they envision “a bright future” might entail.
To further that outreach, the COG has issued Volume 1 of The Ephrata Pulse, a quarterly magazine that highlights local stories, community events, and project updates.
“We’re excited to bring you the very first edition of a new community publication created by the Ephrata Forward Council of Government,” members said in their introduction. “This collaborative effort … is designed to keep you connected.”
The various articles outlined news about:
- the City of Ephrata’s ongoing infrastructure projects, including the new 150-foot-tall, 3.8-million-gallon water tower that looms over the landscape, and a host of youth and adult sports and fitness classes offered through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department;
- community festivals, events, and gatherings hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and supporting local businesses;
- major construction projects including Grant County’s new jail and Grant PUD’s newly announced Ephrata Service Center on property extending south of Nat Washington Way and State Route 282;
- teaching and learning goals underway in the Ephrata School District;
- the additions of new medical staff, infusion care, remote diagnostic mammography services at Columbia Basin Hospital and Family Medicine;
- an announcement by the Port of Ephrata that Hertz is now offering a satellite office with local vehicle rentals available to the community.
