PORT ANGELES — The city has seen dramatic changes in its economy in the past two or three years and must depend upon entrepreneurs more than large, established businesses, the city’s new community and economic development director said Monday.
“The city will do its part to make sure this is a vibrant community,” Mark Madsen told the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce at its weekly luncheon at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
Madsen, former economic development director for the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe, was hired in March to fill the city’s newly created position of community and economic development director.
The position was created as part of a departmental reorganization plan approved by the City Council in December.
Madsen said Port Angeles has economic opportunities, but the necessary investment must come from within the community, he said.
The city no longer has a base of mature businesses, so it must rely upon entrepreneurs, Madsen said.
The city also must work with the Clallam County and the Clallam Public Utility District as well as the broader community that includes developers and businesses and the Clallam County Economic Development Council, he said.
Increased housing costs
Another part of the city’s changing economic climate is increased housing costs caused by people moving in from outside the county, Madsen said.
The city has had as many as 500 new residential lots submitted for development since January 2003, which is more than in the past 15 years, he said.
Some of those housing developments are sold out before they are built.
Another staff person to review plans and applications will be needed to keep up with all this development, Madsen said.
The city must be prepared for growth, he said.