PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Economic Development Corp. has become the “economic engine” for the area, Executive Director Bill Greenwood told county commissioners last week.
The private nonprofit organization commonly known as the EDC has been working for businesses in Clallam County since 1985.
It “acts as a portal to an expansive network of business contacts, tools, and solutions for both our public and private businesses,” according to its website, www.clallam.org.
Thanks to an infusion of Clallam County funding, the EDC has added staff to become more effective in assisting local businesses and drawing new businesses to the area, Greenwood told commissioners in a report last Tuesday.
The EDC staff consists of Greenwood, Operations and Finance Director Jennifer Linde and Business Development Director Amy McDonald.
13 members
It is governed by a 13-member board of directors consisting of public- and private-sector leaders.
“We provide a broad range of services to businesses in the county and to those employers considering a move of their business to the county,” the EDC mission statement reads.
Last year, Clallam County commissioners provided an additional $150,000 for the EDC to add staff as part of a restructuring of the organization.
The county had previously committed $30,000.
Commissioners are now considering another $150,000 appropriation from the county’s Opportunity Fund for EDC activities in 2016.
County funds represent about half of the EDC’s annual budget, Greenwood said.
Other major sources of EDC funding have included the state Department of Commerce; Port of Port Angeles; the cities of Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks; Olympic Medical Center; the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe; Peninsula College; and the Clallam County Public Utility District.
EDC officials hope to draw more funding from the private sector in the coming years.
The EDC helps businesses obtain tax incentives that lower the cost of moving or expanding in Clallam County, according to its website.
It connects business owners with financial providers and assists companies that are seeking loans.
Working with Peninsula College, the EDC will help create workforce training tailored to the needs of local companies.
“The effort they make to connect businesses with support and help within the community, those are essential needs that businesses have,” said Nathan West, city of Port Angeles community and economic development director, at the EDC’s annual member dinner Friday.
“They can get through a permitting process in a timely manner. They can make the connections to do a good business plan and learn about how to become an entrepreneur.”
Greenwood told members that Linde and McDonald are “the key people at the EDC.”
“Without them, we wouldn’t be here tonight,” Greenwood said Friday.
“They work harder than all get-out, and they care about this county.”
Who’s who
The EDC board is chaired by Green Crow President Randy Johnson.
The vice chair is Doug Sellon, executive director of the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe’s Economic Development Authority.
The secretary-treasurer is Ryan Malane, vice president of marketing for Black Ball Ferry Line.
Other EDC board members are Port Angeles city Councilman Brad Collins, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Director Charlie Brandt, Olympic Medical Center CEO Eric Lewis, Clallam County Public Utility District Commissioner Hugh Haffner, Port of Port Angeles Commissioner John Calhoun, Clallam Bay-Sekiu Chamber of Commerce member Linda Dillard, First Federal President and CEO Larry Hueth, former Port Angeles Mayor Orville Campbell, Peninsula College President Luke Robins and High Energy Metals President Don Butler.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
