Committee reaches out to area businesses

Chair urges residents to contact local chambers

COLUMBIA BASIN - By next week, Columbia Basin residents should have their hands on a survey created by those trying to restore area service to the region.

Grant County Economic Development Council air service committee chair Larry Godden said the committee gathered Tuesday morning to review marketing efforts under consideration.

"Those should be finalized before the end of this week and in the hands of the public in the near term," he said. "We're still on track and everything looks favorable. We hope to have something out next week at the latest."

Godden said the committee hopes to place the information in the hands of all businesses.

"(That) is our primary focus," he said. "Then, at a later time, we will get the word out to the general public about our efforts to bring the air service back."

The committee is asking the business community to fill out surveys with regard to air service and return them as quickly as possible.

"Anybody that has not been contacted, I would urge them to contact their local chamber of commerce, whichever community they reside in," Godden said. "This is not just limited to Moses Lake and it's not just limited to Grant County. There are people in Adams County that can benefit from the air service here and so we would like all of those people to contact either their local chamber or the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce."

To contact the Moses Lake chamber, call 509-765-7888.

The committee also discussed the soon-to-be activated commuter rail between Sea-Tac and the downtown area in Seattle, Godden said, which would benefit regional business travelers.