White House official David Agnew, the deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, who oversees communications with Mayors across the country for President Obama, made his first visit to Vancouver on Tuesday, accepting a longstanding invitation from Mayor Tim Leavitt.
The purpose of Agnew’s visit, according to Leavitt, was to listen to the concerns of local business owners and get feedback that he can take back to Washington D.C.
Agnew met with 25 leaders from a variety of Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce sectors including banking, small and large business, advanced technology, health care and education.
“I thought there was a robust and candid conversation from the business community with Mr. Agnew about issues that directly impact local businesses – small, medium and large – and their ability to increase their wealth and to create more jobs and investment in their businesses,” said Leavitt.
A few of the issues that were brought up by business owners in attendance, according to Leavitt, were corporate tax issues, downtown revitalization programs and how new and existing regulations can hamper business growth.
“I thought it was very helpful,” said John Rudi, CEO of Thompson Metal Fab Inc. “It was good to get a chance to vent some opinions on things that could be changed.”
On the subject of job creation, Rudi told Agnew about his frustrations surrounding a bid proposal his company recently submitted to Alaska Railroad involving a bridge project that was to be funded through a combination of federal and state money.
“We had been working with Alaska Railroad’s general contractor to try to do some value engineering for them and to help them get the price down on it,” Rudi explained. “Once they were able to secure the funding on it they went to China and figured out that they could save a few million bucks. Now it looks like that’s what they’ve decided to do.”
Rudi said the Alaska Railroad bridge project would have created roughly 200 jobs here for about two years and an additional 50 to 100 jobs in the Tacoma area.
“When you ask us to come out and figure out how to create jobs that’s the best way I know, especially when you’re using federal and state tax dollars help stimulate work and put a project in,” said Rudi. “It may not put money on the bottom line of Alaska Railroad, but I think if they choose to use tax dollars that should be the price they have to pay. That, at least, was our opinion when you’re using public money to build infrastructure.”
Leavitt said Agnew seemed to be quite interested Thompson Metal Fab’s experience.
“His quote was, ‘You hear that it makes your blood boil,’” added Rudi. “He took down the information and I’m sure he’ll follow up. I hope it gets some traction with the White House. It would be nice if he brings that up and they do a little investigation.”
After meeting with business and community leaders, Agnew went on a mini-tour of Vancouver that included stops at the Historic Reserve, Esther Short Park and the new City Hall building.
“He was very impressed with all the activity in our community,” said Leavitt. “I think his comment was, ‘Wow, when you actually see this activity on the ground and you see the bridge crossing, it’s much more impactful than just seeing this stuff on the map.”
Leavitt said he expects that Agnew will want to come back to the community in a year or two to see the progress that’s been made on the waterfront and on the Columbia River Crossing.
“I think establishing relationships like this is important, and that has been my goal every time I go back to D.C.,” said Leavitt.
“I’m glad they want to listen,” added Rudi. “Hopefully we gave them something tangible to take back and it helps make a difference.”
