New director aims at Colfax growth

Valoree Gregory

Steptoe resident Valoree Gregory is very organized, and that attribute will come in handy for her new position in Colfax. Gregory was recently hired as Unified Executive Director for Colfax, a position where she will wear many hats.

She started on the job last Monday at the Chamber of Commerce office in the Morgan Building.

“I am working with the Chamber of Commerce, the Colfax Downtown Association, the Historic Preservation Committee and the Arts Commission in Colfax to build downtown and bring new businesses in,” Gregory said.

Gregory will act as a liaison between each of the groups and as a secretary. She noted the position is a new one for the city, and she currently works part-time. The city, however, has applied for grant funding to be able to keep her position going and to employ her full-time.

She was previously employed at Washington State University as a fundraiser for 14 years.

“I am very used to talking to people and working with them and talking them into doing things,” she said.

Through her position at WSU, she traveled across the United States, often being gone for up to three weeks out of a month. She is excited to be at home now with her son who will be a sophomore at Colfax High School. Gregory was also previously involved in fundraising events to build the Tri-Cities Cancer Center and the biggest humane society in the U.S. in Colorado Springs.

She attended Colfax High School and graduated with the class of 1985, before attending WSU and graduating in 1989 with a degree from the College of Education. She also studied fundraising at Indiana University in Indianapolis.

Gregory said that through the work she is doing with the various organizations, they are reaching out to the Colfax community to build things up.

“We’re working with some of the people who own the empty buildings and trying to bring in businesses,” she said.

She said they are aiming to bring in a number of businesses with variety so the businesses would not be competing with each other in a small market.

Gregory is also going to be involved in organizing community events. She said these events will bring a “sense of community by getting people involved in the community.”

“That’s something we really need right now,” she said.

Her aim is to make people aware of Colfax and to make the city better than it already is.

“I’m excited to be here and excited to work with the businesses and the people,” she said. “It should be fun.”