Private sector members join GCEDC's Japan marketing

County in competition to nab 7E7 subcontractors

GRANT COUNTY — Ten private partners have signed on to what they seem to view as the next step to area growth.

ASPI Group, Cascade Natural Gas, J&M Electric, Inc. , Washington Trust Bank, Windermere/K-2 Realty, Irwin Surgical Group, Dano Law Firm, the Columbia Basin Herald, Larry Peterson and Basic American Foods have pledged their support and funds to the Grant County Economic Development Council's Japan Marketing Program.

Together, the organizations have pledged $17,000, which will be used to continue to identify and recruit major Japanese companies interested in expansion, investment or joint-ventures in the county, the GCEDC reported in a press release. Several public entities have already committed to the efforts in 2004 as well as 2005.

"The GCEDC has never undertaken a capital campaign to fund its projects," pointed out GCEDC Executive Director Terry Brewer, adding that the Japan Marketing Program is on the same order for the funding the organization is seeking. It is outside the norm from membership contributions and annual fund raising events which support everyday activities, he said.

"Ten private entities, including a private individual, stepping up already indicates the importance of this effort for the community," Brewer said. "Hopefully, others will see it the same way. We expect great returns o the investment for the community for the EDC's activities in Japan."

Kim Foster, corporate counsel for the ASPI Group, said that participating in the Boeing 7E7 project in 2003 provided the opportunity to showcase Grant County nationally and globally.

"It allowed us the opportunity to prepare a wealth of high quality information that companies looking to expand would be able to us," Foster said. "The marketing program is an opportunity to carry that information forward to actual users, so that we can take advantage of all that work while it's still current."

In addition, Foster said, other areas, include the Tri-County area and Puget Sound area, are forming marketing coalitions to approach 7E7 subcontractors.

"In order to compete with them, stay on par with them, I think it's important for Grant County to have an organized effort out there also," Foster said.

Ralph Kincaid, owner of the Windermere/K-2 Realty office, echoed Foster's sentiments.

"You have to understand that we are in competition with every other progressive community in the state and the nation," he said. "A lot of them have bigger budgets than we do. If we're looking for a helping hand, we have to look to ourselves."

Washington Trust Bank Vice President and Commercial Loan Manager Tom Heath said his company views the GCEDC as the primary economic development tool in the county.

"The bank is certainly behind good strong efforts to bring economic development, and we view (this) as one of the important pieces that is going to take time, but is going to be a great benefit to Grant County in the long run," Heath said.

"I think the marketing initiative not only is important to our economy here, but it has statewide significance," Herald publisher Harlan Beagley said.

Frances Irwin, practice manager and co-owner of Irwin Surgical Group said she thought that the marketing program is valuable to the whole community.

"We really need a broader base and we need to bring industry into the community that can pay a livable salary," Irwin said. The initiative also impacts the health care industry, she noted, by having people who are properly insured and pay their bills, in order to work together in their health care needs.

"Basic American Foods has customers in Asia (and Japan), so we see the synergy in the EDC marketing effort for our business," plant manager Brian Meiners said, pointing out that Asia and Japan represent an opportunity for food processing in general and would be good for the whole industry. "We are advocates of all economic growth in the Basin because that makes all of our local industries stronger."

"I believe in the continued orderly growth of Grant County, and the EDC has built the connections and relations to help do that in and good way, has a very competent staff and wide support," said Larry Peterson of the reasons he has become a partner in the program. "I'm just glad to be a part of it."

Carolann Swartz, owner of J&M Electric with her husband Don, said that they strongly believe in developing the business in the Columbia Basin.

"(Japan) is a wonderful country to do business with and I'm just really proud of what the (EDC is) accomplishing," Swartz said.

Brian Dano, owner of the Dano Law Firm, said he has been with the GCEDC ever since it got started.

"I think this is the most exciting recruitment process we've ever undertaken, with the most chance for substantial success and return on our investment," he said.

Kincaid said that the GCEDC is the only organization doing what it is doing, which is actively recruiting and trying to bring in new businesses, jobs and family wages.

"I think anybody in business benefits if we bring new good, clean industries to the county," he said. "It's kind of a no-brainer. To me, this is the best investment anybody that wants to see the community grow (can make)."

Beagley referred to the trickle-down economics theory as a benefit for participating in the program.

"(When) big businesses come into town, they create main jobs and, more importantly, secondary jobs," he said. "The more of these businesses we get into the area, have secondary jobs for spouses of other companies coming in."

One of the area's biggest challenges has been attracting major businesses, but spouses have no place to work, he said.

"Continued efforts like this and getting stores, like we recently have with the Home Depot, creates a good secondary job," Beagley said. "This gives us not only the first base but the second base with some of these people who are looking to relocate."

Beagley added that it's becoming more common knowledge that the area has low power, one-seventh of power in Japan, and vast amounts of land available at a fraction of the price.

"As in many instances with ASPI's overall business plan, a particular investment may not benefit any of ASPI's properties, but we always look at the overall improvement of Grant County as benefiting our overall holdings there," Foster said. "Everything from residential to industrial, certainly the organized recruitment of industrial employers and in particular aerospace industrial employment would have specific benefits to ASPI's properties at the Grant County International Airport."

A representative from Cascade Natural Gas could not be reached for comment at press time.