PORT HADLOCK — Diversified Resources team members are quick to make it clear:
Their approach to economic development is unlike anything seen before in Jefferson County.
“We are looking at a holistic approach to economic development,” says Jay Bennett, enterprise development director for Diversified Resources, where the motto of the nonprofit group — which has its roots in Port Angeles — is: “Uniting Public Resources and Private Enterprise.”
“We are looking at the assets of the community and looking at building on those assets or strengths.”
Diversified is now the contractor to Jefferson County government as the county assumes the role of economic development from the Jefferson Economic Development Council.
Diversified Executive Director Brett White, a longtime community economic development practitioner, uses a baseball analogy when describing the difference between the traditional economic development council approach and that of Diversified Resources:
“Community economic development is interested in hitting a whole bunch of singles versus EDC, which tries to hit home runs.”
The community has some valuable economic assets that need to be reused and redeveloped, he said.
Those assets include marine trades, small agriculture and the shellfish industry, for example.
‘World of what’s possible’
White adds that Diversified tries “to deal in the world of what’s possible,” with an emphasis on community collaboration.
Diversified, which was formerly based in Port Angeles, has been open for business at Shold Business Park in Port Hadlock since May 1.
It was founded in 1962 in Port Angeles as Diversified Industries by parents of developmentally disabled residents in an effort to create jobs for them.
The company later became Diversified Resource Center, with its focus still on providing services and support for the developmentally disabled.