Economic development study explores Adams County

Representatives meeting Thursday in Othello

ADAMS COUNTY — It's in the very early stages, but a study aims to find economic development opportunities in Adams County.

Consultant Eric Hovee, of Vancouver-based E.D. Hovee and Company, is conducting interviews in Adams County cities, compiling background and statistical information on area demographics and economic conditions. This week, he's conducting interviews in Ritzville and other Adams County communities, after meeting in Othello and Hatton last week.

The study's primary purposes are to assist each jurisdiction with economic development elements of their comprehensive plans, and to look at opportunities for a coordinated strategy addressing business retention and recruitment.

Hovee aims to get a wide range of people involved in business, including elected officials, what he called "key" community members and civic groups. The communities have set up lists of people to speak with Hovee, he said.

Interview questions include what residents see as strengths, what they consider to be some of the opportunities and what it takes to reach those points.

"It's a relatively large county in geography, and small in terms of population, and the community's fairly spread apart," he said. "And you have the two largest cities, Ritzville and Othello, so I think that does create unique challenges for everybody to figure out, is there opportunity for a common game plan that everybody can benefit from?"

Hovee said he worked around the Adams County area before, and is also performing similar work for the city and port district in Quincy and the George area.

Given the investment and growth occurring in Grant County, Hovee wonders if there's any opportunity for carry over into the neighboring Adams County, or if Adams needs to find its own strategy based upon probably more of an agricultural base and its proximity to Spokane.

"I think it's always important for communities to have some sense of what their objects and priorities are for the business community," he said. "Is the area comfortable with where it's at, does it need to do more, should it head in a different direction? I think sorting through those questions is important."

Hovee sees what he called a tremendous amount of new activity the eastern side of the Cascades hasn't seen in a long time.

"It's not just happening in one or two communities, but it's happening in multiple communities and for different reasons," he said. "This is sort of a time to maybe sit back and say, 'Now that there is some new economic momentum, what is it we really want and how can we help guide and shape what's going to happen?"'

Hovee aims to have draft material for the jurisdictions by March. He expects to address land-use planning questions and business recruitment and expansion, with the report including a review of existing conditions, interview summaries and some recommendations.

Othello City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said a meeting Thursday at 2 p.m. in Othello City Hall coordinates efforts for the county steering committee by each of the representatives of the entities involved.

Sheldon said his city hopes to have a workable plan to attract business and industry, and improve the economy in the Othello area.

"We've had some very good public individuals interested in being interviewed," he said, noting an Othello steering committee made up of members appointed by Othello Mayor Shannon McKay meets after the first of the year.