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Economic Development Council Activities
The following is a brief recap of just a few highlights of the EDC's efforts throughout 2007:
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| Recruitment |
| Proposals Sent |
27 |
| Site Visits |
7 |
| Assistance |
| Counseling |
30 |
| Jobs Affected |
258 |
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2007 was a year of strategic changes. With the announcement and opening of Imperium Renewables, and the Biofuel project at Grays Harbor Paper, one of our recruitment paradigms is shifting to sustainable and green manufacturing. Because of the national coverage, we have been inundated with requests for information – many of which were just “tirekickers”, though we respond as if they are real projects.
In 2006 and the first part of 2007 we identified available industrial properties and the infrastructure needs of these properties. With this information now current, the EDC’s 2008 recruitment focus will be on marketing these properties. This will be conducted with the methods that have been successful in the past – Postcard contacts; participating as a team member in the Statewide “Trade Show Group” (11 counties); identifying and contact of industrial companies that are being squeezed out of Seattle and Tacoma due to retail and residential development; and responding to requests for information from the State. Finally, we are seeing an increase of local business expansions and will continue to keep business expansion and retention services a core priority.
• Manage Satsop Development Park address database for marketing;
• Ongoing targeted postcard mailers – Grays Harbor general property information, site specific, and informational pieces;
• Responded to individual relocating businesses, as we become aware of their needs. Assisted two companies as they located to the Harbor;
• Responded to scores of requests for demographic information;
• Worked with site locators for filming around Grays Harbor. Multiple contacts for 14 films and three commercials. National Geographic UK and NBC’s The Today Show both filmed in Grays Harbor. Attended National Locations Expo, which initiated initial contact with National Geographic. While attending, met with multiple people for one-on-one media information and site selection consultants;
• Design marketing materials for physician and nurse recruiting for Grays Harbor Community Hospital;
• Convened a “Tiger Team” to assist The Murphy Company with information about financing programs, incentives, and workforce training to help them with their decision process toward purchasing a local manufacturing plant.
• Assisted two companies with retention services, saving 258 jobs;
• Assisting local entrepreneur with financing packages, state and federal assistance
• Member of Workforce Development Council Board and Workforce Skills committee;
• Sponsored a two-day financial seminar (Financial Management for the Closely held Company) for 37 local companies;
• Continuing to update the EDC County profile and Website; Use number of individual website visitors as metric for success of different marketing campaign; Over 14,800 unique visitors for the first three quarters;
• Chair of .09% rural opportunity fund advisory committee for the County;
• Key player in Washington Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) legislative committee. Key efforts for the .09% rural fund increase, the creation of the statewide IPZ program, and CERB funding;
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