The CREDC’s mission 
hasn’t changed

Bill Dudley

Today’s economic development arena is highly competitive and sophisticated. Add to this the transition to a knowledge-based economy and the need to protect the quality of life we enjoy, and economic development becomes complex. Importantly, our community has chosen to work through this complexity and embrace and capitalize on the changes required. We have chosen to chart our path as opposed to accepting whatever comes about. The CREDC is leading this effort.

A strength of the CREDC is its unique public/private partnership. Its membership is comprised of a diverse cross-section of businesses by industry type, size and geographic location. Through the CREDC, the business community works together with the county, cities, ports, the public utility district and educational systems for the benefit of the region. This structure allows stakeholders to engage in lively discussion and debate, producing one voice for the organization based upon decisions of the majority. By design, no singular member controls organizational decisions.

The CREDC’s tenets of economic development are assisting existing businesses to grow and remain competitive; recruiting and aiding in the creation of new businesses to diversify our economy; creating and advocating for policies and legislation to encourage economic development; and strategically leading economic development efforts in our community.

In 2011, the CREDC, with its public and private partners, took economic development to the next level by creating the game changing Clark County Economic Development Plan. The plan was adopted by the members of the CREDC, including Clark County. The plan contains five key growth elements for Clark County: information technology, education, international investment, business vitality (targeted expansion, recruitment and entrepreneurship efforts) and infrastructure.

The CREDC’s recognition of the importance of the I-5 bridge and corridor to our community’s economic vitality and our ability to attract and retain business is consistent with the infrastructure element of the County Economic Development Plan. Numerous goals and objectives associated with each element of the plan make for a strategy that is both broad in scope and ambitious in timeline. Therefore, it is incumbent upon all community partners – both public and private – to work together more closely now than ever before.

For nearly 30 years, the CREDC’s efforts have led to the creation of hundreds of employers, thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of capital invested in Clark County. In 2012 alone, the CREDC visited 100 companies and worked on 40 projects covering more than 6,500 employees, connecting businesses with resources for energy efficiency, export assistance, market research, site and permitting assistance, and hiring assistance and training grants. During that same period, the CREDC played a role in the creation of 272 new jobs and $23 million in new capital investments in our region.

While much of the CREDC’s work is behind the scenes, its economic development activities are substantial. Last year, the organization convened a number of committees in the areas of business growth, recruitment, entrepreneurship, education and lands-for-jobs in order to seek additional input and ideas from CREDC public and private investors.

Our County’s future is bright and a number of opportunities will likely come to fruition in 2013. This is due in no small part to the strength of the CREDC, its leadership, its recent successful capital campaign and its public-private partnership.

The CREDC will continue its efforts in our region. With the support of its members, it will work to strengthen Southwest Washington’s economy and create the economic change that is critical to our region.

Bill Dudley serves as board chair for the Columbia River Economic Development Council. He is also an attorney at Landerholm P.S. He can be reached at bill.dudley@landerholm.com.

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