PORT TOWNSEND — The consolidation of resources under one roof has increased efficiency among agencies devoted to economic development, Team Jefferson CEO Peter Quinn told Port of Port Townsend commissioners Wednesday.
“The space that we now have allows us to coalesce economic development,” Quinn said of the office at 2409 Jefferson St.
“Our conversations are quick and informative, and we are able to help each other a lot.”
The space, which became available after the Northwind Arts Center relocated to downtown, houses under one roof Team Jefferson, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Jefferson County Homebuilders and the Washington Small Business Development Center.
Team Jefferson’s purpose is to encourage business development.
It offers free sessions that can last up to five hours and discussions of a potential venture’s business plan, location, startup costs and other details.
After consultation, the applicant is channeled toward resources such as classes and training.
The work generated $2,600 in revenue for Team Jefferson in 2014, Quinn said.
The port has supplied $25,000 to Team Jefferson for each of the past five years, which represents a little less than one-fourth of its $104,600 projected yearly budget.
Other revenue sources are the state Department of Commerce, Jefferson County, the city of Port Townsend and a grant from the Herbert Jones Foundation.
Quinn said the port has directly benefited from Team Jefferson.
He said Team Jefferson had attracted three boatbuilders to Port Townsend, placed six marine tradespeople in a business training class and helped two maritime trade clients secure $600,000 in funding.
Until May, the Team Jefferson office was in a small port-owned house on Washington Street, while the Chamber of Commerce operated from what is now the Haines Place Park and Ride.
Since moving to the Jefferson Street location, walk-in traffic has increased significantly, Quinn said.
People visit the center with questions about what it will take to relocate their business in Port Townsend.
“It happens a lot, that someone comes here as a tourist and falls in love with the place, so Port Townsend sells itself in that respect,” he said.
“And since there aren’t a lot of available jobs here, the way people make it work is by bringing their own.”
When a person wants to open a business in Jefferson County but lacks a firm plan, Quinn plays matchmaker, he said.
“If there is someone who comes to town and needs to get a business started, we will find local workers to help get the company launched, if they need extra help or extra elbow grease,” Quinn said.
“We can also take a person who wants to own a business here through the process where we can find them a business to purchase and relocate here, after we identify the kind of business the person wants to run.”
Quinn said Port Townsend needs about 1,000 new jobs to attain economic health.
He said generally, the hardest thing for a small town to do is to find those who want to move there and start a business.
But Port Townsend attracts people from out of town, he said.
Aside from a desirable location, the town has an appealing physical infrastructure, Quinn said, noting the Howard Street Business Park that is now under development.
“Howard Street is one of the most hospitable places for new businesses on the [North Olympic] Peninsula,” Quinn said.
“There aren’t very many permitting issues, and it’s a place where a new business can get up and running with minimum obstacles.”
Quinn said he will provide honest feedback about any business idea, even if he doesn’t think it’s viable.
“There are a lot of people who come here and say it is their dream to open a business in Port Townsend,” he said.
“We want to help them to achieve this.”
For more information, go to www.edcteamjefferson.com or call 360-379-4693.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
