Possible Merger of Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council?
There's a remote possibility that the Clallam County Economic Development Council might merge with the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce. The possibility might be discussed at tomorrow's meeting of the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, where the topic will be:
“Are we satisfied with the current economic development state of affairs on the Olympic Peninsula, or are there opportunities for better collaboration of efforts?”
There was a rumor several years ago that somebody suggested the Chamber of Commerce, Port Angeles Business Association and the Port Angeles Downtown Association all set up their offices inside the empty Parker Paint building. There wouldn't be any collaboration between the organizations; they'd just be physically occupying the same premises, getting used to each other, and eventually they might stop thinking of each other as rivals or enemies.
The idea was soundly rejected by all parties.
Anyone know if that rumor is true?
“Are we satisfied with the current economic development state of affairs on the Olympic Peninsula, or are there opportunities for better collaboration of efforts?”
There was a rumor several years ago that somebody suggested the Chamber of Commerce, Port Angeles Business Association and the Port Angeles Downtown Association all set up their offices inside the empty Parker Paint building. There wouldn't be any collaboration between the organizations; they'd just be physically occupying the same premises, getting used to each other, and eventually they might stop thinking of each other as rivals or enemies.
The idea was soundly rejected by all parties.
Anyone know if that rumor is true?
posted by Tom Harper at 2:07 PM
25 Comments:
Just look at the track record of all three organizations . . . they are the Patron Saints of Mediocrity. Why did it take so long for our elected leaders to recognize there was a problem? Because their "fiscal backs" were against the wall . . . plain and simple. And now they run the risk of acting like ostriches by slashing funding without having a viable plan in place. Our city, and particularly downtown, is in dire need of economic development and help, yet the "keystone cops" of the Downtown Association are still running the show. What is needed is a healthy dose of leadership and vision by all our elected leaders who control the purse strings. The patient is on life support in the critical care unit. Take off the blinders and act decisively for all of our sakes.
Only the money mongers give a shit. I would be happy if this area reduced its population by fifty percent. Things were better back when there wasn't so many of us here.
Max Mania, the lone voice of sanity in Port Angeles, is gone. Nippon's biomess plant, the biggest source of air and eye pollution downtown, is now here and running. Mania tried to talk the city out of spending so much money it didn't have on the fancy and useless new sidewalk (sorry, waterfront) downtown. But the city did spend it, and now we all have a nice new place to gather and watch Nippon pumps out air pollution. The city ships money out of town to consultants. Nippon ships money out of the country to corporate headquarters.
Merger or no merger, Port Angeles is, and will remain, a terrible, backwards place to visit, live, or try to do business in.
I've said it before! Three words! Marijuana Tourism! Marijuana goes SO GREAT with moss, and ferns, and little waterfalls, no? Clouds? Doesn't matter? Rain? Just sell them more firewood. Goloshes. Port Angeles could even pave the way, for a resurgence in galoshes awareness! We could have a FLEET of tour busses, lined up, JUST to take them to see the sun in Sequim! People from Forks could come, stand by the bus, and sell them sunglasses! (you're welcome)
Seattle is chicken....hotels there won't do it, their clientele is too "upscale" - according to a news report on Seattle TV news last night. Colorado is doing it! And who in their right mind would go to Sultan, or Granite Falls, or Darrington, or Packwood to "chill". Shudder... The drive home, tonight for instance, would be a nightmare! And we have such a nice little airport that stoners would love! It's so cute! Can't you see it? At the airport shop, they could sell hand blown glass pipes by local artists! Or T Shirts - Grandma went to Pot Angeles, and due to the conflict of federal and state laws, ALL I GOT was a T - Shirt! (tm)
So, we're "rough cut" but we're chicken too! Pluck, pluck, pluck, pluck, pluck! Pluck, pluck!
Seriously, (most of) downtown is pathetic. Nothing a semi load of hardiplank or some discounted ochre or fuchsia paint from Wal Mart can't fix! And isn't it time to bleach the rust stains beneath the sculptures? Come on people!
IF WE BLEACH IT, THEY WILL COME!
Remember the zip line idea? It was going to be "too popular". The county was going to require shuttles.
Gee, thanks Clallam! Thanks for looking out for us!
Port Angeles should consider buying advertising in Siderodromophobia Monthly.
As a last resort.
Didn't we see that the City has been giving the EDC folks/Chamber/PADA $400,000 a year for the last how long?
No, really. For how long? $1.2 MILLION every three years?!
And, what is there to show for that kind of money in this little remote town?
Based on what has been going on, why WOULD the Chamber/PABA/PADA want to change the arrangement? I mean, if $400,000 a year is so inconsequential, please send it over my way. I'd be mighty happy to say "Thank you!"
it would not be a feasible model to merge the EDC and the Chamber. The chamber should ONY be funded by private business. Whereas the EDC should be funded by those that benefit, such as the Port, the city, the college, and the chamber.
If you're bunching like with like, then putting the clueless, out of touch, hopeless and worthless-yet-expensive EDC together with the clueless, out of touch, hopeless and worthless-yet-expensive Chamber makes sense. I mean, if you're going to fritter away tons of money that could go to better uses, then why not arrange it so it's one-stop shopping, right? Bring in the clueless, out of touch, hopeless and worthless-yet-expensive PADA, too, and you'd really have a model of "efficiency."
I mean, Barb Frederick AND Russ Veenema AND someone's as-yet-unchosen cousin (to head the EDC) all working together? Wow! There's nothing they couldn't accomplish! Or a sentence very much like that, anyway...
Russ Veenema lives in Sequim. Barb Frederick lives in fear. Max Mania lives in a far better place, I'm sure.
Peter Ripley for City Council in 2014! And 2015! And so forth!
I think a sexist pig like me could run this town better than it is being ran, and a lot cheaper.
P.S. Don't tell the neat old lady next door I'm a sexist pig, she thinks I'm cool.
I want a Max Mania t-shirt!
Fete that, bro!
As stupid and incomplete as the stories in the PDN are, the comments they inspire are even more ridiculous. Baba Louie (Dale Wilson) thinks everyone is gonna play nice together and build a wood pellet stove factory? Not gonna happen, Dale. Clallam County is based on the idea of NOT playing nice together. That's why we have the PADA, PABA, Chamber, EDC, Incubator, Peninsula Tourism Bureau, etc. - so everyone can have their own little kingdom.
So the only wood pellets that are gonna be burnt around here are the ones between the ears of naïve PDN commenters. And the only real cooperation will be local elected "leaders" puckering up to kiss Nippon's ass - again and again.
Why stop there? Do we really need 26 tax-sucking do-nothing economic development groups? The PDN didn't list them, so I honestly don't know who they are or if they're necessary.
Unifying the economic development goals is a no-brainer. We've had too many tribes fighting for too many years. The end result has been a messy ball of competing visions that produces no results and instead allows for massive government waste and possible corruption. This town desperately needs a streamlined government.
Saw that comment in the PDN that the area has lost 900 jobs in the last year. Did I read that right? Is it true, if so?
If so, we can see that we're getting our money's worth with spending $400,000 a year with these professionals.
At least, THEY'RE not unemployed!
A good wood pellet stove that runs on 12 volts may not be a bad idea, but you don't need any fugging development groups to make that happen. Just one decent business man, or woman.
I say throw 'em all out. There are a lot of smart people here, with good ideas, and they get shut down by the good-ol' boy network (Veenema, PADA, etc.) These people are actually hindering rather than helping, and we're paying for it. Come on, people!
Yeah, Billy! 12 volt technology rules! EZ Breezy.
Kilmer wants to start a group to facilitate environmental groups and forest companies getting along better.
I would suggest what has been kicked around - shuttles, Clallam Transit shuttles would be fine, to take the lumberjacks into the woods, drop them off, pick them up, so they don't hurt the forest too much.
The media keeps reporting on the HIGH minimum wage WA voters just passed. Yes, our is high, but as Washingtonians know the $15 an hour rate, is only for 10,000 workers in Sea Tac. Just think how many nimrods are moving to Washington because they think the minimum wage is $15 an hour! WASHINGTON DC!! We should change the name of our state. In ten years, 99% of Americans will NOT know that there are 2 Washingtons. It's probably already 80%. Once DC is a state, it will be really funny. The very least, we might be forced to change the name officially to Washington State. Then, we would often hear, more than we already do, the term/phrase "State of Washington State". The Governor would annually give the "State of the State of Washington State" speech. It would suck to be the Secretary of State of the State of Washington State. In PA, some stationary would read, "Port of Port Angeles, State of Washington State". My vote for a totally new name: De Fuca! Tell me, if presented well, that would not pass on an initiative!
Kilmer and Tharinger are careerist rats.
My vote for the new name for Washington State would be "Cascadia"...
"Kilmer and Tharinger are careerist rats."
Yes. yes they are. Stop voting for them, people. They are crooks.
"Kilmer and Tharinger are careerist rats."
Yes. yes they are. Stop voting for them, people. They are crooks."
I agree that there are many in politics that only care about seeing their faces in the media. And, there are those who get into politics to fulfill an agenda.
Who DO we vote for??
"Who DO we vote for??"
Just stop voting FOR useless incumbents. Stop voting based on party affiliation. Stop hoping/believing that people who were lousy representatives last time will "be better" if re-elected. When in doubt, vote them OUT. Write in a candidate. Leave your ballot blank if need be - candidates count undervotes as well, you know. SHOW YOUR DISPLEASURE AT THE BALLOT BOX.
Repeating the mistakes, and the people, of the past will NOT bring different or better results.
Tharinger is a perfect example of a huge, huge disappointing liar who keeps getting re-elected. BS like this needs to stop. Fuck the party - run for office yourself.
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