Let’s just say it – Southwest Washington is a great place to live and work.
The weather is moderate but seasonal, mountains and the ocean are a short drive away and it is a good place to raise a family. Agave CEO Jeff Shafer told the VBJ in the May 2 issue that’s much of the reason and he moved his family and jean company from Los Angeles to Vancouver.
Sure, some of the natives and those who have been here long enough to see the area grow up may complain that it’s gotten a little crowded, but in the end and in comparison, it is still a great place.
As their organizations grow, companies across the globe are looking for just such places to expand. The region boasts a less hectic lifestyle for employees, convenient access to goods and services, transportation and recreation options and a trained and abundant workforce.
It’s no surprise then to see the amount energy focused on economic development here. There are no fewer than a dozen public, private and public-private efforts working to recruit companies to Southwest Washington. A few of the players in this effort are the Columbia River Economic Development Council, ports of Vancouver, Camas/Washougal, Ridgefield, Kalama and Longview, the city of Vancouver, Clark County and the Cowlitz County Economic Development Council.
There also are two new efforts emerging – one focused on Washington State and the other taking a more regional focus.
First is the Economic Development Commission for Washington State, recently reinstituted by Gov. Chris Gregoire, and the other is Greenlight Greater Portland, which promises to provide recruiting efforts nationally and globally and act as a clearinghouse for companies looking to relocate to the metro area.
And let’s not forget the collaborative effort currently under way by four governments in North Clark County on the Business Opportunity Expo. Scheduled for May 29, the expo is an effort to showcase economic development potential in Battle Ground, La Center, Ridgefield and the port of Ridgefield.
To hear more about what the state has in mind for economic development, check out the annual Southwest Washington Business Growth Awards dinner on May 22 at the Hilton Vancouver. Egils Milbergs, the newly appointed director of the Economic Development Commission for the State of Washington – on his first visit to Southwest Washington since his appointment – will present the keynote address, “Washington – The State of Innovation.”
It’s a great chance to learn about the state’s economic development efforts and how Southwest Washington fits into the plan.
Yes, we live in a great place and because of that we’re assured to be at the top of the business destinations list for many years to come. With the right planning, it will still be a great place once they get here.
