Quarterly Newsletter Published
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Building a Business in Specialty Foods Webinar Series

The eXtension Entrepreneurship webinar series is back for the fourth season. All webinars will air monthly on the second Thursday at 11:00am (PT). A 3-month series on spcialty food businesses opens on Thursday, September 9, 2010.     MORE

Next Lincoln County EDC Board Meeting

Thursday, September 23, 2010
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Commissioners' Chambers
Lincoln County Courthouse
450 Logan St., Davenport, WA

Minutes

Broadband Meetings

The State Dept. of Information Services (DIS) has rescheduled the workshops originally planned for this past April. Unfortunately, Lincoln County was not have given the opportunity to host one of the workshops this time. The closest workshop will be held in Spokane on Friday, Sept. 17. 9:00 a.m to Noon at Greater Spokane Incorporated, 801 W. Riverside Ave Ste 100. More Meeting Dates/Locations

They hope to attract industry leaders and public sector groups who would greatly benefit from improved broadband service, particularly in rural areas. They will also talk about the funding they anticipate will be available to the state for broadband projects.

If your progress is impeded by broadband limitations please try to attend and give your input.

Thank you,
Margie

Meeting announcement from DIS

Gov. Gregoire announces next steps for state budget

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.) The Economic Development Administration requires that grant applicants have a CEDS in place in their region and that it be supported by that region’s elected officials before they will award any funding. The Odessa Public Development Authority is the first in Lincoln County to submit an application to the EDA, triggering the preparation of the document, but once complete the CEDS will open the door for other Lincoln County entities to apply for EDA’s Federal funding as well.

The EDC’s Board, a group of volunteers who are committed to economic development throughout Lincoln County, will be responsible for overseeing the preparation and maintenance of the CEDS. Like a comprehensive plan, a CEDS requires community participation and the EDC will be seeking input from Lincoln County’s citizens as well as from County staff, community organizations, the Workforce Development Council for Eastern Washington, and the county’s health, education, and social services leaders. EDC staff will research and prepare the CEDS and there will be no cost to the county.

One of the Economic Development Administration’s investment targets is expanding physical infrastructure to attract new industry and generate long-term, private sector jobs and investment, making it a good fit for the Odessa PDA’s Barr-Tech Bio Industrial Park. According to Odessa PDA President Steven Powell, the application seeks funding to extend a three-phase power line from the nearest grid structure to the 40-acre site. The resulting infrastructure will allow the export of renewable energy back to the grid from the industrial park’s green energy tenants.

If you would like more information about the EDC’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy or would like to contribute input, please contact the EDC office either by email to edcinfo@centurylink.net, by phone at (509) 725-1172 or by mail to P.O. Box 1304, Davenport, WA 99122.

Governor Gregoire’s office distributed this press release July 19th.. It provides a link to a new website for sharing ideas on the state’s next budget. In addition, public budget hearings begin tonight in Tacoma. The full public hearings schedule is also available from a link in this press release.

Gov. Gregoire unveils new budget ideas website

Interactive site allows Washingtonians to submit ideas about state budget

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the launch of an interactive website that allows citizens to share, comment and vote on budget ideas. The most highly rated ideas by viewers will rise to the top of the list and be considered by budget writers.

The website is one tool the governor is using to develop the state’s 2011–13 spending plan in the process she calls “Transforming Washington’s Budget.” 

“Closing our state’s budget gap requires innovative thinking as well as making some tough decisions,” Gregoire said. “This interactive website gives people an opportunity to share ideas and engage in a discussion about what ideas might work best for us. I’m eager to hear what people have to tell us.”

Ideas will be posted between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The site will be moderated so that profane or vulgar postings will not be accepted.

Earlier this summer, the governor announced her plan for “Transforming Washington’s Budget” through a number of steps, including the formation of a committee of leaders from across the state to serve as an advisory and sounding board. In addition, she is layering a series of eight questions on top of the budget system known as Priorities of Government, or POG, to identify the most essential state services, whether they are being delivered in the most effective and cost-efficient way, and whether the state or another entity should provide the service.

The public is invited to share ideas at transformwabudget.ideascale.com.

For more information about transforming Washington’s budget and public budget hearings, visit http://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/budget/default.asp.

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.

The Member Appreciation Event

On Friday, May 21st, EDC Members shared their communities' success stories at the gala evening at the Harrington Opera House.

More photos:
http://www.facebook.com/lincolncountyedc

Tourism Advertising Campaign Approved By Commissioners

(Davenport, WA, March 15, 2010.) An agreement between Lincoln County and the Lincoln County Economic Development Council (LCEDC) has paved the way for an advertising campaign to promote the County’s events and recreation opportunities. A proposal submitted by the LCEDC had requested permission to administer $8,000.00 in County Lodging Tax dollars. The goal of the proposal was to help local governments, organizations and recreational outlets promote their events and activities through a united advertising campaign. The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners agreed to the proposal at their regular meeting on March 15. . . .

. . . If your city, town, community or recreational facility has an event or activity scheduled this summer, please send your event and contact information to the LCEDC office for consideration either by email to edcinfo@centurylink.net , phone at (509) 725-1172 or mail to P.O. Box 1304, Davenport, WA 99122.
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