MOSES LAKE - A rural communities conference is set for March 18-19, at Big Bend Community College, in Moses Lake. 

The event theme is helping communities with populations of 5,000 and less with workforce, economic or community development issues, in rural Washington and Oregon, said Terry Brewer, executive director of the Grant County Economic Development Council, one of the event partners.

The event program targets interested community citizens, planning commission members, elected officials or chamber of commerce board members, he said.

The focus is on what smaller tiered communities can do to help themselves. It is based on known practices.

The deadline for early registration is Monday. 

For more information, go online and visit extension.wsu.edu/ruralwaconference/Pages/default.aspx. 

Brewer is involved with a workforce presentation.

A representative for the Pre-Employment Training Program and some participating companies is giving a presentation.

A tour of the JR Simplot Frozen Potato Plant is offered.

On the March 18, different break-out sessions are given on community vitality, economic development and workforce development. They last from 90 minutes to two hours and cover a variety of subjects.

Roger Brooks, CEO of Destination Development International, is the opening speaker on March 18.

The state Department of Commerce and USDA Rural Development are the main conference organizers. 

Other event partners are the Washington Asset Building Coalition, state Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, state Microenterprise Association, Rural Development, Washington Ports, Association of Washington Cities, Washington State University Extension, Horizons, state Department of Commerce and North Central Washington Economic Development District.