PORT ANGELES — A revitalized Clallam County Economic Development Corp. has made good use of a $150,000 appropriation from the county, EDC Executive Director Bill Greenwood said Tuesday.
“I want to report that we have upheld our end of the bargain,” Greenwood told county commissioners in their weekly work session.
The EDC, a private nonprofit organization that assists businesses in the county, met with 110 companies and doubled its membership in 2015, Greenwood said.
“This membership growth gives us the confidence to report that the EDC now, through its members, is what it was meant to be — the economic engine of Clallam County,” Greenwood said in an annual report to the board.
The EDC used the $150,000 appropriation from the county’s general fund to hire new staff in 2015.
Commissioners next month will consider making another $150,000 payment for EDC activities in 2016.
Before supporting the appropriation, Commissioner Mark Ozias requested “a lot more detail” from the EDC on its budget, accomplishments and plans for the future.
“Good approach,” Commissioner Bill Peach said.
Commissioner Mike Chapman suggested that EDC officials respond to Ozias’ request in a public work session Feb. 2.
Commissioners will consider approving the $150,000 payment from the county’s Opportunity Fund on Feb. 3.
Last year, commissioners were asked to support the fledgling EDC in a new initiative to “set the table for economic growth; to identify, understand and align the economic drivers throughout the county; and to be the advocate for Clallam County commerce.”
Clallam County had already provided $30,000 annually to the EDC.
Commissioners authorized the extra $150,000 payment in March.
The idea was to budget $150,000 for the EDC in 2016 and $150,000 in 2017, subject to annual board approval and reports from the EDC.
“We’ve already executed the contract for the base $30,000 that was in the budget,” County Administrator Jim Jones said in the work session.
“This [$150,000] is also in the budget, but it was with the understanding that the board would decide whether to execute [the contract] or not.”
The Opportunity Fund is a portion of state sales tax dedicated to rural infrastructure and personnel in designated economic development offices.
Greenwood thanked commissioners for the county’s “exceptional support” and described 2015 as a “powerful year of growth” for the EDC.
“By contrast, in April of 2014, the organization was in disarray with an executive director and one half-time staffer,” Greenwood said.
“The board of directors numbered 28. It was the most upside-down organization I had ever seen. There was no playbook and virtually no records.
“Confidence in the EDC was clearly low, and support for the EDC was drifting rapidly away,” he added.
The EDC board dissolved itself last March in hopes that a smaller 13-member board would initiate better outreach to businesses and the public.
One week later, Chapman, Peach and former Commissioner Jim McEntire unanimously approved the one-year, $150,000 appropriation.
County funding represents half of the EDC’s budget, Greenwood said.
Greenwood and fellow staffers Jennifer Linde and Amy McDonald are working as a “cohesive team” to recruit new businesses and help existing businesses succeed, Greenwood said.
“Our most powerful focus in 2015 was on the businesses of the county,” he said.
“Our second mission, business recruitment, is one that must be pursued with alacrity.
“The EDC, with all the tools and data from [the state Department of] Commerce, is recruiting hard in our county,” Greenwood added.
“In this regard, we have many projects underway, but we remain understaffed in terms of execution.”
The Clallam County EDC competes with similar organizations in Washington and other states, said Doug Sellon, vice chair of the EDC Board of Directors.
Sellon added that the smaller board has helped the organization function more effectively.
“We have that rudder now that keeps us on course,” Sellon said.
“We’re adding more and more business members that put some money in the sail that makes it go.”
Greenwood said the EDC needs more staff to recruit to its potential.
“We need to win the recruitment battle in order for Clallam to become a more diverse economy and to employ more citizens,” Greenwood said.
“Because recruitment is a sophisticated process, we desperately need another highly qualified team member who can partner with me on the effort.”
“A person who would be right for the job would require that our organization be financially strong and well-supported for the long haul, which it is not today,” Greenwood added.
“That is why we very much hope that you will not only approve your budgeted commitment to the EDC for the coming year, but also for several more years in the future.”
Ozias also requested a breakdown of the EDC budget and more information about how it measures outcomes.
“It’s nice to measure activity based on the number of meetings that you’ve held, but I’d like to know more about what actually results from those meetings so that I have a better understanding of that,” Ozias told Greenwood.
“I’d like to hear about what you’ve learned from your visits with local business owners and how that’s going to impact your work and your plans moving forward.”
Chapman said a public response to Ozias’ request for more detail would assuage public concerns about how tax dollars are being spent.
“It’s also good for you to tell your story,” Chapman told Greenwood.
“It’s a great story you have to tell this year.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
