Adams County reps discuss economic development

Information goal is March 1

ADAMS COUNTY — Adams County representatives gathered in Othello last week to discuss the future of their economic development.

Ehman Sheldon, Othello City Administrator and the city's liaison to the core Adams County steering committee, said the Thursday meeting was well-attended by cities and organizations within the county.

"The focus was on what areas do we now explore in our local steering committees, how can we best piece each individual economic development plan into the master plan for Adams County," Sheldon explained.

About 13 people were in attendance.

The meeting was part of the county's economic development study, conducted by Vancouver-based consultant Eric Hovee, who is conducting interviews, asking representatives what they see as strengths, what they consider to be opportunities and what it would take to reach those points.

Sheldon said Hovee returns draft information to the entities in mid-January regarding his conducted interviews. Each entity takes the information and begins to work on an individual plan focusing on each community's selling points and what businesses and industries are looking for.

"The premise was this is an Adams County-coordinated effort that we'll all contribute to," he said. "Anything that benefits Adams County or individual cities benefits Adams County as a whole."

Sheldon hopes to have a completed document by the first of March.

"Then the real work begins by putting into place or into practice what the plans identify," he said.