PORT ANGELES — Arla Holzschuh, executive director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association since September 1997, is retiring effective Oct. 27 after 15 years with the Main Street Program.
Kevin Thompson, PADA president, said the group’s board of directors reluctantly accepted Holzschuh’s resignation on Monday.
The board will set up a committee, including Susan Kempf from the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, to begin searching for her replacement, he said.
“I can speak for the entire board when I say that we are disappointed to see her leave the association. We wish her all the best in her retirement,” he said.
Holzschuh said she was retiring to devote more time to caring for her elderly mother, who lives in Victoria, although she will continue to live here.
“My personal life must take priority,” she said.
Main Street program
Holzschuh has been involved in the Main Street program for 20 years and has been a full-time director for the national downtown revitalization program for 15 years, beginning in Renton and later in Aberdeen.
She began as PADA executive director on Sept. 8, 1997, filling a position that had been vacant for a year.
The Rayonier pulp mill had closed six months earlier, on March 1, 1997, eliminating more than 365 jobs and a $16 million payroll.
“In this job takes a lot of people to pull a downtown back after a period of time.
“It’s partnerships with other entities that has created the $17 million in private investment downtown in those nine years.
“In the previous five years, there had been $384,000 in investment in the previous five years,” Holzschuh said.
The city’s project to install new sidewalks and water mains was the catalyst for new investment in the downtown, Holzschuh said.
“It took a lot of public money and private investment to turn this downtown around,” she said.