PORT ANGELES — After months of discussion, Clallam County commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to extend a one-year contract with the Clallam County Economic Development Corp. for continued support of area businesses.
The $150,000 agreement was modified to include Commissioner Mark Ozias’ request for specific targets.
Under the terms of the new pact, EDC officials will give quarterly updates on a 2014-18 scope of work that includes creating more than 500 new jobs and supporting 15 companies in expanding or moving to the county.
Written and verbal reports will shed light on the number of businesses and jobs supported by the nonprofit organization.
“I understand that there has been a lot of concern from the public over the course of years as to the efficacy of the EDC,” Ozias said.
“And I would like to assure the public, at least to the extent possible, that the contract and the agreement we’ve come up with this year is an attempt to acknowledge that and an attempt for all of us to understand the benefit that we as a county are or are not getting from the EDC.”
Ozias was elected last November as the representative of District 1, the eastern third of the county.
“I feel good about the metrics and the reporting requirements that we are asking of the EDC,” Ozias added.
“It’s a substantial change from previous practice.”
The $150,000 agreement is the same amount that commissioners approved for 2015 and have committed to for 2017.
Ozias made his request for more information in a Feb. 1 board work session with EDC officials.
Requested updates
He asked for updates on the EDC’s progress toward meeting its strategic objectives of no net loss of private-sector jobs between 2010 and 2020, 95 percent of working-age citizens with a job or seeking work, and median wages and median household income 4 percent above the Consumer Price Index.
He also requested specifics on business retention and business recruitment.
Two public comments were offered Tuesday that raised concerns about the contract.
“I have concerns about using so much of the taxpayer’s funding for economic ventures, which have not clearly provided economic benefits to many county constituents,” Judy Larson said in an email read by board Chairman Mike Chapman.
Bill Greenwood, executive director of the EDC, has said the organization has had successes in business retention and recruitment since it was restructured two years ago.
Commissioner Bill Peach thanked Greenwood and other EDC officials who attended the meeting for their efforts.
“I wish you well in continuing this effort that benefits all of us in Clallam County,” Peach said.
Peach also thanked Ozias for “seeing that we have some very specific, measurable outcomes.”
“And we’re going to see reporting against those,” Peach added.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
