QUILCENE — The inability to land businesses interested in locating in Jefferson County is hurting the economy and forcing county commissioners to seek ways to close the gap between revenues and expenses.
“Failure to seize opportunities is our fault,” Commissioner Pat Rodgers, R-Brinnon, said when talk turned to economic development during Wednesday’s meeting of the Quilcene-Brinnon Chamber of Commerce.
Rodgers, who was elected in November, said government has tied the hands of people trying to bring economic development to the county.
Owners of businesses who considered Jefferson County as home looked to other places because they felt the hurdles were too high.
“Our capacity and markets (for new businesses) aren’t being fulfilled,” Rodgers said.
Some chamber members blamed the Jefferson County Economic Development Council for the problems of attracting new businesses.
