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The economic news for 2009 was certainly mixed on a global, national and state scale. Locally we moved, slowly, toward more positive territory. Four new businesses were announced, and six expansion projects were completed. The project completed invested approximately $42 million. The stated investment of two announced projects that are in permitting stages and expect to be in construction during 2010 will total in excess of $250 million.
As a reminder, under the EDC umbrella, we house The Lending Network, the Small Business Development Center, and an industry specific Workforce Development unit. As a result, we have continued a flurry of activity relating to land use planning, infrastructure investments, business counseling, business training, financial planning and training, marketing, workforce development, manufacturing support, and community outreach.
The EDC Workforce Development partnership with the Lewis County WorkSource Center has experienced another great year. Staff have developed and delivered several trainings to businesses and Chambers of Commerce for developing solid job descriptions, and how to develop and maintain excellent employee handbooks and policy manuals.
Staff provided hiring assistance to 3 major clients: Millard, Holiday Inn Express and Silver State Armory. Over 60 people were screened and hired in the first round of assistance to these newly arrived businesses. Additionally staff personally visited over 130 businesses this year. As a result over 200 new job orders were posted. New job orders represent an open position that is either new to the business or an order to replace an employee. From that activity 98 hires occurred with 35 employers.
We also provided outreach for a Microsoft training program entitled “Elevate America” and were successful in gathering over 40 participants representing a varied group of businesses in the area who now have staff with increased computer skills at no cost to the employer.
The Lending Network has approved nine loans this year leveraging over $2.5 million dollars, creating 16 jobs and keeping 84 addition people employed. Two businesses were manufacturers, two in the commercial sector and five in the service sector. The Lending Network has increased its marketing and outreach to local banking partners. The current credit market is very difficult for small businesses and it is essential that local lenders understand their clients may have a potential resource at
The Lending Network.
The SBDC provided counseling services to over 60 business clients, provided training entitled “Focus on Your Highest Priorities” to an audience of 15, the “7 Habits for Small Business Managers training has been presented twice to a total of 25 participants, the Profit Mastery Seminar to 12 participants as part of the Tools for Businesses series. These trainings were well received by the public. The SBDC staff has made presentations to Chamber of Commerce membership. During 2009 we were also successful in obtaining full funding for our SBDC staffing from Washington State Small Business Development Council Administration.
The EDC partnered with The Centralia/Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, SCORE and the US Small Business Administration to create a SCORE presence in Lewis County. At the moment we have two certified SCORE counselors that are available for providing small business advice, especially for start-ups.
The EDC’s marketing efforts, with our local partners, netted ten companies who either committed to locating and/or expanding during 2009 or made significant investments. Those companies included: EverPower Renewables, Millard Refrigeration, Reichert Shake Mill, Hampton, David Powell Properties, LLC, Lowe’s, Sierra Pacific, Americast Technologies, Innerspace Systems, Silver State Armory, These 10 companies represent new estimated private investments of $292,323,106, and 301 new jobs.
The EDC participated in five national and one local Tradeshow. These tradeshows generated 88 new business leads with 27 continuing discussions with potential relocations to Lewis County.
For 2010 we will continue to work on workforce and land readiness, marketing, and business development services. Being “ready” is and interesting exercise in trust. We all need to work together to ensure we are able to catch the next economic upturn. It may be that the line between poverty and prosperity is trust. If we bolster the trust that we are truly “getting ready” and providing investments in readiness of people and land, we should then prosper.
Here I would like to say how honored I am to have such dedicated and hardworking staff here at the EDC. They are an incredible crew who care a great deal about and for Lewis County.
And, last my humble thanks to all of you who invest time and resources toward the goals of community prosperity. Merry Christmas and a hope of a prosperous New Year.
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