Recently, I was disappointed to learn about Port Angeles City Council member Mike Meredeth’s negative comments towards the Clallam County Economic Development Corporation and about the city’s decision to allocate zero dollars to regional economic development in 2020.
Even though the City of Port Angeles hasn’t been a financial partner since 2017, I think it’s important for the Port Angeles community to know that the Clallam EDC is providing $10,000 in funding to support an affordable housing development within the city of Port Angeles in 2019 and has actively supported other city-specific development projects to include the Port Angeles Waterfront Center and helping restart the McKinley paper mill.
The Clallam EDC is designated as the county’s Associate Development Organization (ADO) for the Washington State Department of Commerce.
Without having an engaged and capable ADO, our region risks missing out on important development programs and funding opportunities that help bring critical investment resources to our underserved rural area.
I sincerely hope that civic leaders will realize that the Clallam EDC is an ideal partner to help achieve our economic goals for both the city of Port Angeles as well as the rest of Clallam County.
Kyle E. Johnson
Sequim
EDITOR’S NOTE: Kyle Johnson is secretary of the EDC board.