Newsletters

9-28-11
Hello Lincoln County Business Owners,
Washington State has received money to help new and existing exporters and they have specified a desire to prioritize rural small business. If you or someone you know has ever considered exporting a product, now might be a good time to take the plunge.

 
U.S. Small Business Administration Grants $30 Million to States for Trade, Export Promotion

 $1.6 million to Washington State

 9-28-2011
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Small Business Administration is providing $30 million in grants to states, territories, and the District of Columbia, to help increase exporting by small businesses during the next 12 months. The grants were authorized by the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, under the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP).

The STEP program, launched in March, aligns with President Obama's National Export Initiative. The President's initiative calls for doubling U.S. exports in five years - and in so doing, supporting two million jobs. The program provides federal government funding for 65 to 75 percent of program costs, with states supplying the remainder.

SBA Administrator Karen Mills announced the awards today at an event in Raleigh, N.C., at Raleigh Denim, a small business that produces and exports denim products. Forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands received STEP grants.

"Strengthening the nation's economy through a substantial increase of U.S. exports is a top priority for the Administration and the agency," said Mills. "This is a unique partnership between the federal government and the states. Sharing responsibilities and resources will help new small exporters across the country enter and succeed in the global market."

The funding will support participation in foreign trade missions, foreign market sales trips, subscriptions to services provided by the Department of Commerce, website translations fees, design of international marketing media, trade show exhibitions, participation in training workshops, and other critical export initiatives.

Small businesses that want to receive assistance under the STEP program should contact the organizations serving the states in which they are located. For a list of these organizations and more information about the STEP program, visithttp://www.sba.gov/about-offices-content/1/2889/resources/14315.

The SBA anticipates it will conduct a new competition for STEP program grants during the winter of 2011. Awards will be made in September 2012 for export support services by states over the following 12 months.

Washington received $1,591,919
Office Information:

Washington State Department of Commerce
Businesses Services/International Trade
2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2600
Seattle, WA 98121

Contact:
Mr. Mark Calhoon
Senior Managing Director
206 256-6137
206 256-6158
Email

Federal Funding: $1,591,919
Description:

The Washington STEP Program includes an integrated strategy of new activities for working with SMEs (small to medium-sized enterprises) to increase exports, including targeted outreach to socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses. The proposal also focuses on new-to-market opportunities in China for SMEs, a market where Washington has extensive experience and key relationships with government and business. Two key activities focus on rural small businesses. Additional support will be given to individual SME activities by way of “export vouchers” for participation in targeted trade shows and missions, translation of marketing materials, and international certifications for products. All of these activities will be tied together under the program name “Export Washington” and promoted widely across the state in an active communication outreach strategy.

Federal Funding Symposium
9/28/11
Last week was the Federal Funding Symposium hosted by Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell’s offices. Below are links to the PowerPoint they used for the presentation and two of the handouts distributed at the event. Please forward this info to others in our County who might be interested in federal funding.

KeyResources for Federal Grants  Spokane Federal Funding Symposium

What Grant Funders Look For

Note:  When you hear the EDC talk about the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) we are writing to enable our municipalities to apply for more federal funding, you can look at this info and see what it is we are talking about. There are a ton of federal programs out there and it is rare for a funder not to require your project be included in a regional plan. Please remember that over the next month or two as EDC staff visits your community seeking your input for the economic development plan. We need our plan to include the projects you think are important to the economic future of our region.

Thank you!
Margie Hall, Director
LCEDC

IACC Conference: Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council annual conference. October 19-21, Wenatchee Convention Center. Conference cost is $175 with $100 scholarships available. An excellent conference on funding needed infrastructure. Go to www.infrafunding.wa.gov for more info.

In case you missed it in your newspaper…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lincoln County Economic Development Council
(509) 725-1170 / edcmargiecenturylink.net

Washington State Broadband Forum
Held in Davenport
(Davenport, WA, Sept. 19, 2010.)  The Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) was host to a diverse group of stakeholders last week for a meeting to discuss the NoaNet broadband fiber installation projects taking place in several rural eastern Washington counties. Among those in attendance were the Director of the Washington State Broadband Office, the Washington State Library Program Manager for rural libraries, representatives from WSU and Community Colleges of Spokane, and several broadband experts.

Lincoln County was well represented by guest presenters Tom Martin, Administrator for Lincoln Hospital; Keith Bailey, CEO at AgVentures NW; and Pam Soliday and Janet Nesbitt, owners of The Buggy Barn. All four speakers talked about how their businesses use broadband now and how faster broadband speeds could improve business efficiency and enhance their bottom line.

Following a morning of presentations, the afternoon was spent in a roundtable discussion facilitated by Steven Becker, familiar to many as the former Eastern Washington Representative for Governor Gregoire. The result was a list of action items to be considered as “next steps” by the State Broadband Office, including the appointment of a possible Broadband Advisory Council, increasing broadband education and awareness, and promoting increased use of online learning. At the end of the day, however, one question remained unanswered:  Who will deliver the “last mile” of service, the final leg of connectivity between the NoaNet fiber and our homes and businesses and what kind of service will that be?  The EDC will continue to work with the state to assure a solution that will bring the greatest economic opportunity possible to our County. 

If you would like to know more about economic development within Lincoln County, join the EDC’s Email News list by sending your email address to edcinfo@centurylink.net .. 

*** Since the roundtable, Broadband Director Will Saunders has been back to Lincoln County and last week he and I joined the region’s Librarians for a meeting in Odessa to talk about their grant-directed connections to the NoaNet infrastructure. Initial bids solicited from service providers have been sparse and pricey. Saunders encouraged librarians to be patient as bid prices should lower when the broadband build out is complete. Construction is running behind schedule, making it difficult for providers to submit a competitive bid. [Saw him stop at Voise Sausage on his way out of town.]  

In case you missed

L&I’s September issue of News for Small Business…
New "Stay at Work" program can save businesses money on workers' compensation premiums
One piece of the landmark workers’ compensation reform legislation signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire during the last legislative session is a new “Stay at Work” program that will reimburse business owners for creating transitional, light-duty jobs for their injured workers. Studies show that light duty jobs help speed an injured workers’ medical recovery and reduce the risk of re-injury, which can help save an employer money on their workers’ comp premiums. Eligible employers can be reimbursed for up to 50% of the injured worker's wages (up to $10,000 per claim) for each medically-approved transitional job they provide and for the cost of any instruction, tools and clothing the worker needs to do the transitional job. 
You’ll find the rest of this article and the rest of the newsletter at http://www.SmallBusiness.lni..wa.gov

Coming soon: Grant information from the Federal Funding Symposium held in Spokane last week.

County Commissioners to Offer
Economic Development Grants

Projects should be well planned, sustainable, and ready to be implemented. Our eight municipalities, Lincoln County, Hospital Districts, Fire Districts, Park & Recreation Districts, Public Development Authorities, Public Utility Districts and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.

The Board Members of the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) will assist with evaluating applications and projects and will make recommendations to the Commissioners. Applications should be submitted to EDC staff between August 30 and September 30, 2011. The program’s Guiding Principles and application instructions can be found on Here soon.  Commissioners hope to announce awards at their regular meeting on October 17.

If you have questions about the grant program that are not answered in the Guiding Principles, please feel free to contact the Lincoln County EDC office either by email at edcinfo@centurylink.net  or by phone at (509) 725-1170.  

Application   

Gregoire to push for business tax simplification

Will develop proposal to ease business tax collection, registration and licensing

July 25, 2011
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire announced today that she would develop a proposal to simplify state and local business tax administration, registration and licensing. She expects to unveil the proposal later this year.

“Small businesses create two out of every three jobs,” Gregoire said. “The current tax system requires small businesses to file tax returns with both cities and the state, often with different classifications, definitions and deductions. This is confusing and takes time away from small business owners’ top priority, running their businesses. Simplifying tax collection and licensing will ease a regulatory hurdle and help companies in this tough economy.”

In a recent report to the governor, DOR’s director, Suzan DelBene, recommended the state centralize all business tax administration, registration and licensing, based on extensive input from business owners, tax professionals, cities and other stakeholders. Tax centralization was the top request of small businesses.

Currently, about 200 cities have registration and licensing requirements that generate revenues, and 39 cities administer their own local business and occupation taxes. DOR administers the state B&O tax and all state and local sales taxes.

Gregoire also directed DOR to evaluate ways to reduce the number of state B&O tax classifications to further reduce the complexity of the tax structure, while keeping in mind the goal of revenue neutrality.

See DOR’s report here: http://dor.wa.gov/docs/reports/TaxSimplificationReport.pdf

FREE Microsoft Training available from our partners at WorkSource:

This training information is provided to you as a service of the EDC’s members:

If you or your employees need to improve skills in Word, Excel, Outlook or PowerPoint, you have an opportunity to do it right now - for free.

The Washington State Employment Security Department has contracted with Microsoft to bring free e-classes to ANYONE who wants to improve their skills in order to get a job or to advance in the job they have.

There are five learning plans and over 1,000 different classes to choose from. Take as many as you want at your own pace and at the skill level you need. Register before October 31, 2011. Once registered, you can access free classes for one year. Link to the WorkSource website at http://www.wa.gov/esd/e-learning/default.htm to learn more about the program, to view the classes being offered and to register. Lincoln County residents are served by the Colville WorkSource office - when registering, click on the Colville section of the map.

Please spread the word. We all benefit from a skilled workforce!

Margie

WA State Budget
Includes Funding for Three Lincoln County Projects

Our sincere CONGRATULATIONS to the citizens and communities of Lincoln County who have worked so hard on the following projects!  

Harrington Opera House Society
$66,000 toward the Opera House restoration project.
(Listed under Building for the Arts.)

Lincoln County & Fire District #1
$300,000 to Match FEMA Funds for the Emergency Response Center in Sprague 
(Listed under Local & Community Projects.)

Town of Almira
$750,000 for their Water System Improvements Project
(Listed under Public Works Assistance Account Loans.)

Click Here for Press Release which includes a link to the public infrastructure projects that were included in the State’s capital budget.

Solar Energy Industry Snapshot

For those involved with or interested in renewable energy, here is a brief summary of today's Solar Energy industry, from the research department at WWU's Center for Economic Vitality. Snapshot

State invests $1.2 million in Odessa Industrial Park

Funds will support economic development in Lincoln County and create 50 new jobs

March 17, 2011
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) today announced a $1.2 million public investment targeting business growth and job creation in Lincoln County. At today’s meeting, the board approved a loan to the Odessa Public Development Authority for new infrastructure at the Odessa Industrial Park that will support construction of a new meat production facility for the Cattle Producers of Washington (CPoW).

The new facility will provide a local alternative to out-of-state mass production slaughterhouses and costly long-distance shipping for meat products. Cattle Producers of Washington will invest at least $400,000 in the project and create approximately 50 jobs in the first five years of operation at the facility. MORE

Faster broadband is coming soon to Lincoln County
 
February 2011 - Davenport Times
Margie Hall, Lincoln County EDC executive director„ contributed significanty to this report.

Faster broadband speeds are coming to Lin¬coln County and they are coming soon. That's what Northwest Open Access Net-work (NoaNet) representative Mike Henson told a group of 43 citizens at a Jan. 26 public forum in Davenport. Henson, invited by the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC), explained that his organization had received $140 million in federal grants to find enhanced broadband expansion to rural Washington — and that between $5 and $6 million is expected to be invested in Lincoln County. MORE.

Washington to create nation’s first electric vehicle-friendly scenic byway along U.S. 2

Popular Visitors’ Destinations in North Central Washington Announce Plans forElectric Vehicle Charging Stations

OLYMPIA, WA –The Department of Commerce and the Washington State Department of Transportation today announced plans to make the Stevens Pass Greenway the first electric vehicle-friendly National Scenic Byway route. With Federal Recovery Act funding through the State Energy Program, the state will install two to three electric vehicle (EV) fast charging stations along U.S. Highway 2. This route will connect to the I-5 “electric highway” enabling electric vehicle drivers to travel from across the west coast to North Central Washington by the end of 2011.MORE

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Washington ranks second in 2010 state new economy index

Report shows state competitiveness in the global, entrepreneurial, innovation- and knowledge-based New Economy.

November 18, 2010
OLYMPIA, WA –Washington joins Massachusetts, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey in the top five states at the forefront of the nation’s movement toward a global, innovation-based new economy, according to a  report released today by ITIF and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

Washington ranked second in both this year’s and the 2008 index. The state’s high ranking came from strong performance in manufacturing value added, exports, online population, online agriculture, scientists and engineers, patents and venture capital. MORE

Comprehensive economic development strategy supported by Commissioners

(Davenport, WA, August 2, 2010.)
At their regular meeting on August 2, Lincoln County Commissioners agreed to support the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) as the EDC begins preparation of a countywide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. The EDC is preparing the strategy, known as a CEDS, to support a grant application submitted by the Odessa Public Development Authority to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA.) MORE

IEO awarded $460,000 loan
through the State energy program

Inclusion in foreign trade zone approved by Commissioners

6/21/10 - Margie Hall
An agreement between Lincoln County and the Moses Lake Port District (MLPD) is anticipated to provide a valuable benefit for Lincoln County businesses that import goods from outside the U.S. A proposal from the MLPD offering to include Lincoln County in their Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) was presented to Commissioners by Margie Hall, Executive Director of the Lincoln County Economic Development Council, at their regular meeting Monday morning. Upon hearing the proposal and discussing its merit, Commissioners voted to approve the inclusion of Lincoln County in Foreign Trade Zone No. 203.

A Foreign Trade Zone is a distinct area located within the geographical territory of the U.S. that has been deemed to be outside the U.S. customs territory for custom purposes. The Moses Lake Port District has maintained a FTZ in Grant County for the past fifteen years. They employ a U.S. Customs Officer to monitor the import and export activity of the businesses that choose to be designated as part of the FTZ. Those businesses pay a fee to the MLPD to use the FTZ and its Customs Officer.

A business that imports goods in to a Foreign Trade Zone can reduce the amount they pay in import duties, can delay payment of import duties, and in cases where a business imports goods from outside the U.S., processes them, and then exports them back outside the U.S. again, duties may be eliminated altogether. Inside Foreign Trade Zones, many companies are able to achieve such dramatic savings that they can effectively compete with manufacturing plants located outside the U.S., making the availability of a FTZ a valuable tool for business recruitment.

Upon approval by the Commissioners Monday, the Moses Lake Port District will take the next step and apply to the U.S. Foreign Trade Zones Board to modify their FTZ boundaries to include Lincoln County. It is anticipated that the boundary modification will be approved by the FTZ Board within 30 days. There is no cost to Lincoln County.

To learn more about the FTZ you can visit the MLPD web site at www.portofmoseslake.com/district.htm  or the FTZ Board’s web site at www.ia.ita.doc.gov/ftzpage/index.html  or contact Margie Hall at the Lincoln County Economic Development Council office at edcmargie@centurylink.net.

Lincoln County Tourism and Convention Bureau

The Tourism web site, www.visitlincolncountywashington.com/ , is fully operational. Several sections are still in development. New photos, especially of recreational activities, community events, and scenic attractions will be needed on an on-going basis to add fresh accents to pages. Community/Area profiles of Edwall and Seven Bays or the Lake Roosevelt area are still needed. Send to robertsonarts(at)harringtonbiz.com .

Regular ads are hi lighting Lincoln County events with the link to the Tourism web site in The Inlander.

Special Update from EDC Director, Margie Hall

Grants Awarded

The annual Lincoln County Economic Development Fund Competitive Grants were announced by Lincoln County Commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, December 7. Congratulations to the following:

December 2nd News Flash!

We've Moved!
The Economic Development Council moved our office to Davenport. This means we have a new phone number and new street, mailing and email addresses. Please take a moment to update our contact information in your records so that we don’t miss any communication from you.

Lincoln County Economic Development Council
Street Address:  303 6th St.
Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 1304,  Davenport WA 99122

509-725-1170 (Phone & Fax)
Margie Hall, edcmargie (at) centurylink.net
Joyce Mings, Administrative Assistant, edcjoyce (at) centurylink.net

Odessa Public Development Authority
Best Practices Winner

The Governor's 2009 Workforce and Economic Development Best Practices awards were presented at the 2009 conference in Spokane, Oct. 29. Five projects were recognized as models of success in workforce and economic development from among many strong programs, including the Odessa Public Development Authority. (OPDA)

The OPDA has been successful in bringing new businesses and jobs to the rural eastern Washington farming community of Odessa, population 980. Five new businesses and 40 family-wage jobs were created—with as many as 80 more on the way. One new business to a community as small as Odessa has a ripple effect throughout the community. If that business hires just one employee who chooses to relocate to Odessa from outside the community, it can bring more students to the school system, more patients to the hospital, additional taxes for governments and more spending in local businesses.

WA Department of Commerce News Release - Nov. 19, 2009
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) announced $3.3 million in public investments targeting job creation and business growth in Asotin, Klickitat, Lincoln and Yakima counties. News Release

Tourism Site

The Lincoln County Tourism and Convention Bureau web site is still under construction but it has a new look. Please send suggestions for text & content to Joyce and photos to Karen

www.visitlincolncountywashington.com/

Another Successful Event at the
Harrington Opera House

On September 25th, the folk trio, Soda Creek Three (formerly known as the Fourth Grade Choir), thrilled a large crowd in the historic Harrington Opera House. The group donated the proceeds to the Opera House renovation fund.

www.harringtonoperahouse.org

New Executive Director for the
Lincoln County Economic Development Council

In August, the EDC Director Selection Committee interviewed 5 awesome candidates from a field of over 15 applications! Each of them had qualities that would complement the EDC.  It was a tough call, but they hired Margie Hall. As of Tuesday, September 15th, she started full time as the new EDC Executive Director. Her work e-mail is margieedc (at) accima.com and when not "on-the-road" she can be reached at the EDC Office in Wilbur - 509-647-0545.

Ongoing Projects - Autumn 2009

Project: The BARR Regional Bio-Industrial Park

The goal of the Barr Regional Bio-Industrial Park is to establish the region’s first industrial park dedicated to cutting edge green business. Click on the link below to see a presentation about this exciting Lincoln County project.
Presentation - September - 2009 (Large PDF File)

Inland Empire Oilseeds Update
 Press Release (PDF)