PORT ANGELES — The Clallam Economic Development Council’s board of directors has approved five areas of focus which had been discussed at last May’s Economic Summit at John Wayne Marina in Sequim.
After board discussion, each area of focus also had lead entities identified that will provide periodic updates and progress reports.
Areas of focus and corresponding lead entities:
■ Composites: City of Port Angeles and Port of Port Angeles.
■ Renewable Energy: Innovation Partnership Zone Partners Battelle/ Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Peninsula College, Clallam EDC, Port of Port Angeles, city of Sequim.
■ Marine Trades: Port of Port Angeles.
■ Natural Resources: North Olympic Peninsula Resource Conservation and Development Council.
■ Tourism: Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission.
“The community involvement during the summit activities, along with the growing opportunities in renewable energy projects, has the potential of dramatically changing our region’s economy in a very short time frame,” said Mike McAleer, a Sequim-based real estate agent who is the 2010 Clallam EDC president.
“These areas of focus will help the EDC sharpen their strategies in business retention and recruitment in response to the community’s input.”
The board of directors also said it continues to support the original business clusters developed in the early 2000s that included education, building trades, technology, forest resources, agriculture, finance, tourism, marine trades and health care.
“As an on-going project, the EDC will be refining a strategic plan that leverages the Innovation Partnership Zone relationships, the Olympic Finance Development Authority, business attraction efforts, and the industry cluster work to position ourselves competitively in the new economy,” said John Calhoun, one of the three Port of Port Angeles commissioners. He is first vice president of the Clallam EDC.
