Last month at the Top Projects event, we celebrated projects that have broken ground in the past year. This included a great variety of projects ranging from significant infrastructure upgrades in Salmon Creek and with the Centennial Industrial Park at the Port of Vancouver to the Planet Clark Emerald House – an environmental showcase built by a variety of community partners and Quail Homes. A significant amount of work is also being done to build our community connections and safety nets, such as the Share Fromhold Service Center and the expansion of the YMCA. Whether large or small in dollar amounts, these projects reflect the values we hold in Clark County and are a testament to why this area is such an attractive place to live and work. The type of work being done will help promote long-term job growth and also create and build upon local amenities that attract families to our area.
This month, Clark County is preparing for its Community Pride Design Awards (CPDA) event. The CPDA focuses on recently completed projects that have gone above and beyond to make our community a great place to live, work and play. Every year I am amazed at the number and type of projects that expand our understanding of looking forward and giving back. A public ceremony will take place on November 8 to recognize these projects and I strongly encourage you to attend. At the very least, you will receive a broader understanding of the vast number of volunteers, investors and philanthropists that often work independently but for a common goal. My hope is that you will also gain a sense of pride for our community that can be often lost in an all too prevalent culture of controversy.
At the core of all this investment is an environment of private and public partnerships along with an exceptional group of individuals and companies who build with our future in mind. I would like to thank all of those who spend countless hours volunteering on commissions and committees, meeting with neighborhood representatives, working with design teams and sifting through policy to make sure that we both protect our quality of life and promote our economic welfare. One of the greatest parts of my job is peeking into the future at what is coming for our area. This year’s key projects are great indicators and drivers of even better things to come.
Mike Bomar is the executive director for the Southwest Washington Contractors Association. He can be reached at Mike@swca.org.
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