PORT ANGELES — Clallam County Economic Development Director Bill Greenwood delivered three messages to the Port Angeles City Council this week on business retention and recruitment.
Council members were more eager to discuss the future of the Economic Development Council (EDC).
Greenwood said entrepreneurs are dismayed that voters in Port Angeles and Sequim rejected bond measures for new schools in February.
They also believe that Kenmore Air’s shutdown of commercial passenger service between Port Angeles and Seattle in November is an impediment to business growth.
“Without those two things, it really is an uphill battle,” Greenwood told council members Tuesday.
Merchants said a conference center and an adjacent hotel along Port Angeles’ waterfront would be a boon for the economy, Greenwood reported.
The needs were gleaned from visits the EDC conducted with 74 entrepreneurs during 2014, Greenwood told council members during his year-end report.
Council members did not address bond measures, commercial air passenger service or a convention center and hotel along the city’s waterfront.
They stepped into a broad-ranging discussion on where the nonprofit is headed as it faces concerns over its executive board structure, the degree of private versus public funding the EDC receives and what the organization will do to improve the county’s economy.
“The idea is to transition more away from public entities more to private businesses,” said Councilman Brad Collins, who until Thursday sat on the EDC board of directors.
Public entities that have funded the EDC in the past “are not totally on board” on funding it now, Collins said, adding that the nonprofit needs to take “a more private-sector approach” to its operations and rely more on private-sector funding.
Collins said he wanted to see measurable outcomes for the EDC’s activities.
“I’d like to focus attention on that,” he said.
“I believe we have done that,” Greenwood responded.
He also said the organization has almost quadrupled contributions from businesses, from $11,000 in 2014 to about $40,000 in 2015.
“We’re meeting with private businesses to increase support for the EDC,” Greenwood told council members.
Greenwood, responding to Clallam County Commissioner Mike Chapman’s suggestion that EDC activities be folded into Port of Port Angeles operations, said it was not a good idea.
“Most EDCs are separate from their ports,” Greenwood said.
“The reason is, the port is primarily here to develop port property and lease it and develop businesses that way.”
Being absorbed into the port would present “a tremendous conflict of interest,” he said.
The EDC and the port may be pursuing the same business, Greenwood explained.
Councilman Lee Whetham said he is moving toward favoring a reduction in the city’s contribution to the EDC, which in 2015 would be $15,000, the same as in 2014.
“It’s kind of a proceed-with-caution from my point of view,” Whetham said.
Deputy Mayor Patrick Downie said the EDC was falling short as a collaborative, collegial partner in efforts to spur economic development.
“If you are asking, should we be more collaborative, absolutely, we should,” Greenwood said.
But Councilwoman Cherie Kidd, former mayor, defended the nonprofit organization.
“We need to revitalize the EDC and put it into a position of leadership so it can reach its potential,” she said.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
