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As Lewis County wrestles with local economic forces, the world around us is doing the very same thing on state, regional, national and global scales. While we have little control over world affairs, we do have a great deal more influence at the local level.
In the realm of economic development, history proves that we have our own destiny in our hands. That’s a view that bodes well for economic development efforts intended to strengthen a community’s ability to weather economic turbulence and recover into a brighter future..
When community leaders rallied around a common vision more than 50 years ago to embark on economic development efforts here is Lewis County, it was done with a focus on the long-term horizon. Over time that approach has proven to be successful.
Successful economic development is one of those programs that takes a lot of preparation and cultivation so we can take advantage of opportunity when it appears. It can’t be discarded or shelved when times are tough – that’s often when some of the most important groundwork is laid.
Whether it’s laying railroad ties, securing land suitable for industrial development, installing infrastructure necessary for growth and development, marketing the region’s attributes, coordinating a variety of community-wide economic development efforts, or working individually with clients to answer their questions and facilitate their evaluation processes, the best approach is one with the future in mind.
All of these efforts are necessary. All must be coordinated and well-thought-out. It takes a dedicated effort to make sure all the pieces are aligned and things stay on course. It is an investment. Immediate results are rarely the norm. Rather, consistent efforts pay eventual dividends that produce economic vitality far into the future.
It’s important to keep that lesson in mind during the current economic cycle.
THE INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION
PO BOX 1501, CHEHLAIS WA 98532 (360)748-7661
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