Next month I’ve been invited to address the 2011 Statewide Small Business Conference put on by the Washington Policy Center, as a member of a business media panel from around the state. The topic: What are we hearing and reporting on relative to the business climate in our area of the state?
As I begin to organize my thoughts about what I might share about business in Southwest Washington there are a few top of mind, “no surprise here” sorts of items. Namely, persistently high unemployment, a strong manufacturing sector and traditional financing sources risk averse. However, I’d rather bring your message with me. How would you describe the business climate in SW Washington? What are the challenges you are facing today and as you look down the road to 2012? Where have you been finding success? How has your business changed in the last two-and-a-half years? Is your staff back to pre-recession levels? Will it ever be? What can our state and federal policy makers do to allow us to create the recovery everyone is anticipating and which keeps getting pushed back?
Sharing that we are on the eve of launching the first ever market-wide strategic Economic Development Plan may turn a few heads, but that story will be told (and written) over the next few years as we all work through what it means to have a plan in which all jurisdictions and private sector companies play a role. While manufacturing is strong, we are hearing from some that while production and revenues are up, they’re doing it with fewer and fewer employees.
We’ve more than a couple of success stories to tell to be sure. Fisher Investments is about to come online this fall with their new facility in Camas (though many who will be employed there are already working here in temporary locations). PeaceHealth’s initiative to move their back office operations and corporate headquarters to Vancouver is another big win for the area (that move is ongoing and promises to take a bite out of the unemployment figures). We’ve also some significant activity in the retail area. New Seasons will open this fall on the east side and is already considering a second store in the county; Chuck’s has announced plans for a Hazel Dell location but only if they are successful in negotiating with the county over what are onerous Traffic Impact Fees; When the Shoe Fits will open its third location at the Grand Central/Fred Meyer development on Columbia House Way; and we can’t forget the Cinetopia addition to Westfield’s Vancouver Mall. All of these are important projects in an area still feeling the crunch of the recession.
What about your story? Are you able to get the financing you’d like to grow your inventory or make the capital improvements necessary to expand your capacity? How about the uncertainty of the policy decisions that keep being pushed to the last possible moment? And what of health care and insurance for your employees? Has the reform resolved the issue of escalating premiums? We take a look at the effects of Health Care Reform on insurance premiums, as many go into the fall benefit renewal period, in this Friday’s Vancouver Business Journal.
Event Reminder
Top Projects & Building Excellence Reception and Awards presentation will be held Thursday, August 25 at the Artillery Barracks at the Fort Vancouver National Site (600 East Hatheway Road) from 4-7 p.m. Admission is only $35. Join us as we celebrate the developers and contractors investing in the future of our community. To register go here.
