The issue of funding for nonprofit organizations is a challenge in our present economic climate. The Tamarack Foundation faces that funding challenge right now.
Our organization must demonstrate that it has state support to access funding from national organizations that are interested in providing grants to support our work.
While our concentrated efforts to seek inclusion in the state’s budget were successful with the Legislature, the funding designated for the Tamarack Foundation as approved by both the Senate and the House of Delegates was the victim of a line-item veto by Governor Manchin. Now we are working with the Governor’s Office and the West Virginia Department of Commerce on a new approach that we believe will, once in place, enhance the growth of the small businesses that comprise the creative arts community in our state.
Here’s what’s happening.
With enough funds to maintain our office through the end of August, at the direction of the Governor’s Office we are working with a team from Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia, the state’s Commerce Department, and business and education experts to develop a business plan that would move the Foundation and Tamarack in the direction of becoming self-sustaining through a partnership focused on encouraging, promoting and marketing West Virginia’s arts, crafts and specialty food items. With discussion set to begin this month, the Foundation staff is looking forward to the work. Given the extremely short timeline for development of this business plan, this work presents an incredible challenge and will require our total dedication over the next two and a half months. In the end, we are hopeful that this effort will yield a cooperative approach for addressing the next phase of development for the Foundation and Tamarack that will mean much for the artisan entrepreneurs in our state. And, I can assure you that we will concentrate our efforts on developing a plan that incorporates our mission of preserving West Virginia’s cultural heritage and the development of a strong, creative economy through our work in the improvement, growth and support of arts-related industries.
Once we have the business model developed and approved by Governor Manchin, the Foundation will receive limited financial support from the state to maintain its operations, provide services to the state’s creative community for one year and move forward with the business plan. This will enable the Foundation to apply for the national funds that enhance our artisan education and development programs
This is not an armchair exercise – it’s the real deal. It will require creative thinking, cooperation, time, open minds and a thoughtful approach to all of the issues. It will mean looking at how we do business now and how we can do it better in the future. It will certainly mean change for all of us. It will mean the introduction of a business model that will embody the best of what we do and will be directed towards helping the Governor achieve his goal of an independent Tamarack organization.
I believe this is more than a chance to keep the Foundation operating and serving you as we have for the past six years. This is a chance to take the best of what we do and the dreams we have for our future and build them into a cutting edge organization that will demonstrate to artisan organizations around the country that West Virginia values and supports its creative arts community.
Just as Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia has been emulated by other states that wish to promote their artisan entrepreneurs; this new organization will capture the attention of others. It will encompass a forward-thinking approach to development and marketing for West Virginia’s arts and craft and strengthen the Foundation’s commitment to helping artisan entrepreneurs grow their quality businesses.
I know that I speak for the entire Foundation staff when I thank you for your past support and your interest in our future. We are proud of the work that we have done to date and excited about what we will be able to do in the future.
As we move forward with this business plan development, we will keep you posted as we have news to share.
Thank you for your concern, your support and your contributions to our efforts.
Tamarack Foundation needs your support
While the Tamarack Foundation works with government and industry partners to develop a solid plan for future funding sources, our bank account is running low. The Foundation needs your immediate support to keeps its programs and operations running for the next few months while we develop that plan.
If you believe in the importance of our work to help West Virginia artisans build sustainable entrepreneurial businesses, please donate now.