Every time a pamphlet comes in… we get WAY too excited. But, we can’t help ourselves. Being under-funded has been stifling our motivation. Thanks to all of you, we can really get things rolling! Nothing to hold us back now! First off, we will be fixing the massive hole in the foundation of the Baxter Building… something that has needed to get done for months now. We will even be involving some local youth, so they can learn some building technology. (Note the change on the top of the blog - donations counter and EZ response letter data collection - we will update this daily.)

This Friday (July 3rd) we will be showing Independence Day (no, seriously) on the North side of Baxter. Movie should start at dusk, if all goes according to plan…

If this screening is successful, we’ll be showing Butch Cassidy + the Sundance Kid on July 4th during/after the festivities on Broadway (dance, food, games, etc.)

Now that you have your pamphlet in hand (and you are still trying to figure out how to fold it back), here’s are a few ways you can help out the cause:

• Send money - it’s awkward to ask for money, but we need to having matching funds ($20,000) in order to get a Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) from the US Dept. of Agriculture.  Any money or gifts you donate are tax-deductible, and we will promptly send you a receipt for you to use. Make checks payable to PACT.
• Buy the vintage items we’ve discovered in our archeological digs in and around the building. Cast iron sinks, neon beer signs, and broken cement block that may or may not have been touched by Butch Cassidy are all available for purchase.
• Donate supplies for our new office- from standard paper, to paper clips, highlighters, or even a copy machine. Gift certificates to Office Depot, WalMart or Target would be ideal.
• Donate old construction or yard work gear you no longer use or need (safety glasses, hammers, nails, screws, shovels, chop saw, 14.4v drill, etc.) A gift certificate to Home Depot would be great, too!
• All the stores listed above are between 60-100 miles away. Therefore, gas cards and gift certificates for gas would be extremely useful (Chevron, please!)
• On any weekday after 7pm MST, call Cathy’s Pizza at 435-564-8122 and order a pizza to be delivered to our outpost (which is 8 miles out of town, so at least a $10 tip will be needed to convince them to drive out to us). We love pepperoni and green peppers.
• Donate books on affordable housing, grant writing, small town life/business/marketing, architecture
• Have a yardsale or fundraiser in your hometown or neighborhood with all proceeds going to the EPIcenter. We’ll provide you with all of the necessary promotional information.
• Come here!  Sounds crazy, but we know some of you out there should be considering this opportunity to start a rebellion in the desert. Come for a week, month, year, FOREVER!
• Pray for rain and relief from the heat.  This is a desert…  a desert.
• At the very least, send back the EZ letter included as part of the pamphlet.  We’d love to hear what’s going on where you are, and we plan on using all responses in yet another grand scheme of promotion

Oh yeah, if you still haven’t figured it out: to fold the pamphlet back, start on the right, folding into itself. Once you get to the full page (#1), fold it up, so that “GREEN RIVER, UTAH” is what you see. Do we need to make a demonstration video and put it on youtube?

Feeling left out? If you didn’t get a pamphlet and you’d like one- email us at epicenter.greenriver@gmail.com and give us your physical address.

We’re compiling a more specific wishlist which you can see below. So, stay tuned if you are interested in donating something very specific rather than just money.

List of things we need for the renovation of the Baxter building and operations of the EPIcenter (items will be added and crosses-off reguarly… so make sure to bookmark this entry):

concrete
rebar (#4 or above)
hammers and screw drivers
nails and screws
paint brushes + rollers
safety gloves, glasses, masks, and respirator
storefront windows
industrial fan
jukebox
vending machine
washer/dryer
backhoe (rental)
dimensional lumber

general office supplies (folders, paper, staples, pens, etc.)
desks
chairs
computers
printers
fax machine
scanners
copier
file cabinets
phone
cleaning supplies
toilet paper + paper towels

The young professionals are currently working on a house for Randy (Bear) Dietlaf, a 54-year old single man.  Currently, Bear lives in a dilapidated trailer in Green River. He approached us to find resources for him to improve his living situation.  We assisted in his application for a USDA Rural Development 502 Housing Loan for which he has been approved. Since the loan’s approval, the design of Bear’s residence has become the EPIcenter’s first housing project.  So far, the design is simple, decent, and specific to his needs. Even though Bear is a single male, the USDA would like us to design his house to have 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and be a minimum of 1000 SF.  We would like to design a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 850 SF residence. In terms of budget, we would like to keep the total cost of the house under $70,000. Not only is that price something that Bear can afford on a monthly basis, but also it is less than the median home value ($71,000). We want the community to see Bear’s home and know that they too can own a house. The EPIcenter has to overcome people’s values and perceptions of what defines a house and ultimately a home.

what we want in a work environment right now (subject to change):
enthusiasm- people that want to be there and have an overall positive attitude (even if they complain a little like me)
accountability- keeps me and others in check (eliminates few doing the work of many)
small goals- daily or weekly tasks… gives me a sense of accomplishment every day and something tangible!
one big dream- gives the daily/weekly tasks a purpose… could be an abstract idea or purpose
inspiration- inspirational people, current news/arch/technology, outside influences, books, music… constant sharing (studio culture)
camaraderie- a sense of obligation and dedication to one another… through thick and thin
fearlessness- of those that might be against us, or any “what ifs”…
collaborators- i rely on others, and every project is everyone’s
good work environment- sun light, hardware (supplies/materials), lunch with coworkers
separation of work and home- my home is a sanctuary, work hard play hard
inspirational work for people that appreciate it- currently, this means putting people into efficient, durable, beautiful homes who would otherwise not have the opportunity to become a homeowner.
for-profit pay- your effort, and quality, determine your ability to stay in business. i want to have clients be able to afford us, and to be affordable so that people can realize the value of architects through collaboration with one on the design of, for instance, their house.
imagination- we like people that dream big and that are kind of weird (but not too weird)
diversity- ethnically, religiously, specialty, interests, age, nationality

The EPIcenter will serve two main focuses: emerging business enterprise development and a housing resource center.

Employees of the EPIcenter office will aid businesses by:

• identifying funding resources and applicable programs, along with assisting in the application process and follow-up
• assisting in marketing, including branding/identity development
• providing design services, graphic and architectural, schematic through production
• educating businesses on marketing, financial help, low-energy consumption, durability, and efficiency
• actively seek and evaluate opportunities to bring aid and perspective from successful programs across the country, and maintain a library of successful and unsuccessful case studies of business programs

A fee will be charged to the businesses, based on the scope and extent of services rendered.  The fees collected will be used to sustain the operating expenses of the EPIcenter office.  As detailed in the “Sustainability” section, fees will be allocated both to the wages/salaries of the professionals and to a reserve fund used for operating expenses.

Professionals working in the EPIcenter office will aid Green River residents in their housing needs by:

• identifying funding resources and applicable housing programs, including USDA, Rural Development housing loans, Habitat for Humanity, and other private non-profits (for example, Bike & Build, Inc.) that work towards providing affordable housing options
• managing the apartments the Community Center currently owns and rents to low income individuals and families
• providing design services and assistance in acquiring land, permitting, locating contractors/labor, and energy-efficiency and material durability analysis
• offering advice for renovation and rehabilitation of existing substandard and/or vacant housing structures
• activating public awareness campaigns aimed at educating residents on green building strategies, including improving the energy performance, durability, design-appropriateness in relation to context, and sustainability

There will be a concentrated effort of self-promotion of the EPIcenter’s services, informing the Green River community of the resources available to them.  As of now, there is a lack of awareness by business owners and families of options for entrepreneurship and improving their housing.

The need for affordable, quality, and efficient housing is an overlooked issue specifically affecting rural towns like Green River, UT.  EPIcenter will offer its expertise for the local citizens in their pursuit of quality homes that are affordable, energy efficient, implement sustainable strategies, and help residents to find funding including federal grants and loans, find superior builders, provide home-owning classes and training, and offer a variety of design services to help promote local businesses and entrepreneurships.