Ron Arp says we
like living here
BY RON ARP
Amplify Group
Ron Arp
Southwest Washington needs business growth to match its talent base,
says Ron Arp. We need a new
strategic plan to drive growth coming out of the recession.
There is an interesting phenomenon that happens when business
executives and professionals settle here. They prefer to stay here -
even if their original job disappears. They launch a new career,
decide to commute or start a new enterprise.
What is the magnetic force preventing these executives from packing
their earthly possessions and heading to their next ladder-climbing
gig across the country or in the world? How does their geographic
home somehow trump their career on their personal priority list?
What is it that makes them want to stay here?
The nearly universal response is, “We love it here!”
This response is spoken regardless of lifestyle. Loft or acreage.
Entertainers or solitude. Outdoor recreation or indoor activity.
Family or none. Private or public school. Advanced degree or not.
There is just one problem. We don't have enough jobs here for our
workforce.
Currently, we have enough jobs for about three-fourths of our
working population. We send some 60,000 residents on a daily commute
to Oregon despite the onerous Oregon income tax. Hundreds of others
commute elsewhere.
We
need bedrooms and boardrooms. Being a bedroom community is not
sustainable.
If
we want to achieve workforce equity - that is, have the equivalent
of a job for every worker - we'll need to attract or generate about
100,000 positions over the next decade.
We
have been fortunate in recent weeks with the news of Fisher
Investments bringing more jobs to the region and with S.E.H. America
announcing plans to further expand here. These companies generate
excellent family-wage jobs.
One can only wish tremendous success for other companies hitting
their growth stride, such as Papa Murphy's, nLight Corporation,
Agave Jeans and dozens of emerging businesses.
There is something even larger at stake than securing jobs for our
people.
Development has been the engine of economic progress. However, we
need a stronger and more solid business foundation to weather the
natural ebb and flow in development. By some estimates, about 40
percent of our economic activity in the past decade is purely a
result of development.
Attracting businesses here does not happen overnight. We already
have well-intentioned organizations working on the challenge, such
as the Columbia River Economic Development Council and the promising
new organization Greenlight Greater Portland.
Business recruiting often requires business and government working
collaboratively for months to pave the way. We also must overcome
certain limitations such as our antiquated state Business and
Occupation Tax based upon gross receipts rather than profits. There
is also the consideration that other states offer attractive
financial and relocation incentives.
Nevertheless, now is the time to move our collective recruiting
efforts into high gear as businesses - regional, national and
international - consider relocating to areas with a ready workforce.
Arp is president of Amplify Group, a communications and PR firm in
Brush Prairie, Washington. He can be reached at
rarp@amplifygroup.
Share Gold tournament
coming
The 8th Annual Share Golf Classic will be
played Saturday, Sept. 19, at The Cedars Golf Club, 15001 NE 181st
St. Event details are as follows: registration opens at 10 a.m.,
driving and putting contests at 11 a.m. and shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The fee is $400 for
four; individuals $100; includes green fees, cart, dinner and tee
prize For further information, go to
www.sharevancouver.org.
Community Pride Design Awards
is coming to a close
The Community Pride Design Awards program is accepting nominations
for outstanding projects that demonstrate quality development and
enhance our community. Projects completed from 2008 to June 30,
2009, are eligible. The deadline to submit a
nomination form is July 31, 2009.
On November 13, a public ceremony will
be held to recognize the award-winning projects. More information
can be found at the web site:
www.clark.wa.gov/commdev/prideawardsN.html. For further
information about the program, please contact
Désirée de Monyé,
397-2375 ext. 4165 or by
emailing
desiree.demonye@clark.wa.gov.
News brief
A newly designed website for the
Jeanne
Harris campaign for reelection
to the Vancouver city council goes live today. The site
www.jeanneharris.com
aims to expand Harris’s connection with the community and to find
out what’s on the hearts and minds of the community.
Calendar
The Vancouver City Council meets in
workshop session at 4 p.m. today. The council will discuss
second-quarter financial results and will discuss the waterfront
community project.
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The Vancouver City Council meets in regular
session at 6 p.m. today.
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Clark County commissioners meet in regular session at 9 a.m.
Tuesday, July 28.
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The
Clark County Republican Candidates
forum is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the Clark Public Utilities
community center, 1220 Columbia .
<> Port of
Vancouver USA Board Commissioners regular meeting, Tuesday, July 28,
9:30 a.m., Commission Room, Port of Vancouver administration
building, 3103 NW Lower Road. For information call
693-3611.
<>Waddell
and Reed and Big Al’s invites you to enjoy some food at their summer
luau with fellow chamber members on Tuesday, July 28, 5 to 7 p.m.,
Big Al’s, 16615 SE 18th Street. Cost is $10 for members and $20 for
non-members. Pre-registration closes at noon Tuesday. For more
information, call 694-2588.
Monday on the air
City Council
Workshop (live)—4 p.m. CVTV 23
Portland
Beavers at Salt Lake (live)—6 p.m. KKAD
Toronto at Seattle Mariners (live)—7 p.m. FSN, KFXX
Vancouver City Council (7-20)—7 p.m. CVTV 23
Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners
(7-14)—9:30 p.m. CVTV 23
Vancouver Code Enforcement Appeal Hearings
(7-23)—11 p.m. CVTV 23
Clark County Land Use Hearings (7-23)—11:30 p.m.
CVTV 23
Community Calendar Links
Monday,
July 27, 2009 Headlines
Links to news of
local & national significance
Pollard might face his most serious challenge this year--Columbian,
Jeffrey Mize
4 city council hopefuls vie for primary spot--Columbian, Jeffrey
Mize
New home sales surge 11 percent in June--Washington Post, Renae
Merle
A quest for batteries to alter the energy equation--New York Times,
Mathew L. Wald
Library sets groundbreaking bash--Columbian, Howard Buck
Cats, herded; dogs, too--Columbian, Michael Andersen
Pirates pick fun over plunder--Columbian, Craig Brown
Reunited Crue--Columbian, Alan Sculley
Cost of obese patients soars to $147 billion--USA Today, Nanci
Hellmich
