Chamber, LCEDC to explore merger

Wahkiakum County's two major business promotion groups are going to explore a merger.

Officers of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce presented the suggestion to the board of directors of the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council and the LCEDC board's August meeting. The groups agreed to form a committee to evaluate the proposal.

The proposal came from the Chamber of Commerce which focuses its activities on promoting tourism and sponsoring community events.

Chamber President Jennifer Hanigan said there were two basic reasons for the suggestion, budget and effiency.

"Given the economic circumstances we've had lately, it could be more effective for raising funds if we were a unified group," she said.

Also a combination of staff and programs could possibly be more effective than two separate programs, she said.

"So budget and a desire to make sure we're assisting the county in the most effective way," she said.

LCEDC board members had also been thinking of a merger on their own and felt the suggestion was worth exploring, said Executive Director David Goodroe.

"There's a synergy between what we do and what they do," he said. "Both of the organizations are . . . Financially challenged."

The LCEDC focuses on recruiting and promoting businesses and often works with the Chamber in cooperative marketing efforts.

"We have much more of a business focus," he added. "Their's is much more tourism."

Hanigan said the representatives of the boards would try to get together after the Labor Day Weekend.

"No decisions have been made," she said. "We just want to look at our options, what would work and what wouldn't work, then take that information back to the boards and decide if we want to do anything about it."

Representing the Chamber in the discussions will be Hanigan and Chamber board members Sandi Benbrook-Rieder and Richard Erickson.

Representing the LCEDC will be Dave Batt, Lisa Marsyla, Penny Paulsen and Goodroe.