PORT ANGELES — The newest leader of the Clallam County Economic Development Corp. envisions two small commercial passenger airlines serving Fairchild International Airport in the next five years.
Bob Schroeter, who started as Clallam County Economic Development Corp. (EDC) executive director May 1, told about three dozen people at the Port Angeles Business Association breakfast Tuesday that his vision for the next five years includes commercial passenger air service from Fairchild.
“I see a new investment by the federal government in rural communities which includes rural air service and changing some of the rules that are in place now,” he said.
Port of Port Angeles officials learned earlier this month that working with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer’s office on legislation that would make the airport eligible for the federal Essential Air Service wouldn’t be accomplished anytime in the near future.
Schroeter sees a bright future for Clallam County, he said.
Schroeter was hired months after Bill Greenwood stepped down in November. He said for the past two years, the EDC has been looking at a paradigm change for how it could be more “member-focused.”
“Our task is to build bridges,” he said. “We need to build them the Clallam County way.”
He said the EDC will host three town hall-style meetings to gather ideas and opinions from the community about economic development in Clallam County and what the most effective role for the EDC is in that effort.
“I don’t have the answers,” Schroeter said. “We’re needing to listen to ideas before we can facilitate getting them to a better place.”
The town hall meetings will be July 20 at the Rainforest Arts Center, 35 N. Forks Ave., Forks; July 26 at the Sequim Transit Center, 190 W. Cedar St., Sequim; and July 27 at the Clallam County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room (160) at the county courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
The meetings will be from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Schroeter asked how the EDC can help make Lincoln, Fifth and Eighth streets — which he identified as the main corridors in Port Angeles — as aesthetically pleasing as possible.
He spoke of new growth in tourism and new hotel projects in Port Angeles, adding that the EDC would have a hand in everything he discussed.
“I see a growing Sequim,” he said. “I anticipate the community taking steps to deal with that growth.”
Schroeter was asked about his vision for the Rayonier site, a 75-acre parcel 2 miles east of downtown on Port Angeles Harbor that has lain dormant awaiting final cleanup of harbor waters.
“The reality is unless we have cooperation from our federal and state partners … that’s going to be a challenge,” he said.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.
Terry Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum, serves on the Economic Development Corp. board of directors.
