The realities of economic development

To The Eagle:

Recreation and rest or recreation and retirement, what does it mean for Wahkiakum County

For years there are those of us whom have argued with the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council (LCEDC) and the Chamber of Commerce who continue to attempt to bring new businesses into Wahkiakum County. In my opinion you can have all the incubators in the world but they will die shortly after being hatched for lack of people using them.

The LCEDC is still trying to bring businesses to Wahkiakum County but are not much help to the businesses already here and struggling to survive. One need only to drive around our county and see what is working, and that is retirement and recreation.

I have never seen a chamber that promotes business to open with little chance of getting a foothold. Chambers normally promote the area for its attributes and in doing so promote its existing businesses, which should tie into the LCEDC. Promoting retirement and recreation will result in eventually building a market that would allow a new business to survive.

In the early 1990s, we requested a Welcome to Wahkiakum package which were flyers, pictures, etc. We offered to advertise and mail these packages along with our development flyer. We were told that they, the LCEDC, were not interested in retirement development for Wahkiakum County and that they were tasked to bring businesses to Wahkiakum County, not retirees. It appears that they are still on the same track.

One only need look and see what is working. Retirement which will bring with it economic stability, through whatever a retiree needs and wants. Their money is already earned and they come here to spend it. We have always considered that to be economic stability, not pie in the sky schemes for more businesses that would be doomed to failure.

Mike Mouliot and

Jo Mouliot Capparell

Cathlamet