Working together Grant County Port Districts meeting beneficial to all

EPHRATA — Working together is easier said than done, but Grant County port district commissioners are taking advantage of a unique situation and a county where there are 10 port districts.

The Grant County Port Districts meeting on Wednesday in Ephrata included representatives from six of the 10 ports and gave commissioners and staff an opportunity to discuss common issues and learn best practices.

The day included critical topics pertinent to the upcoming 2016 election and 2017 legislative preview, presented by Gary Chandler, the Association of Washington Business vice president of government affairs.

Chandler’s presentation included topics of state funding for basic education, state infrastructure and a state where 41 percent is still waiting for the recession to end.

“So much of the state money is tied to federal money that when you start talking cuts it starts taking away services,” said Chandler, a former state representative who co-chaired the House Agriculture and Ecology Committee.

MCS Strategies LLC president Michael Michalski addressed the group on issues of foreign trade and the competition for jobs, both domestic and abroad. He talked about something Grant County port districts have been doing for the past several years: working together.

“Every business venture starts with a web search,” Michalski said. “If you’re working with a business that doesn’t quite fit with what you offer, send them to another port district and start building a reputation for being able to provide those services they’re looking for.”

Ephrata port commissioner Karen Moore said having representatives from the Grant County Port Districts in one room is beneficial in several different ways.

“To have an open forum for discussion is great,” she said. “We were able to hear from a legislator’s perspective; we have to keep that in the forefront of our mind those points he made with his slide presentation. It’s good to be reminded of those points.”

Grant County Economic Development executive director Linda Martin has been active in discussions since taking over.

“I think it’s important that the ports have the opportunity to be in the same room and talk about common issues and common solutions,” she said. “I think it makes the whole county stronger. We’re competitive with other states and other countries, and we have a large diverse base of business and industry. We need to be able to meet their needs.”

“This is an annual meeting, but some people have already talked to me about making it a twice-a-year event and I think that’s a good idea.”

Allan Peterson, a Certified Business Adviser at the office of the EDC, agreed.

“Networking within the ports is always important. This is a region that is made stronger than each individual district,” he said. “I think it’s always been pretty cohesive between the districts. Our goal is to keep business opportunities in Grant County, that’s our goal.”