Backman: County should consider new ADO agency

Who will be Wahkiakum County's Associate Development Organization (ADO)for the 2013-2015 biennium?

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce has held the designation, and Tuesday, Chamber officers asked the Wahkiakum County Board of Commissioners to renew that designation.

Not so fast, said newly elected Commissioner Mike Backman.

"I would like to postpone for one week," he said. "I want to know if it's the most effective organization to serve the county. I have a hard time with the economic development council and Chamber of Commerce combination.

"The Wahkiakum Community Network might do it. Let's give it a week."

Commissioners Blair Brady and Dan Cothren concurred and agreed to give Backman time to explore the issue.

Brady also asked Chamber officials to provide data about how the Chamber uses ADO funding and the projects it supports.

According to the website of the Municipal Research Services Center of Washington, "The associate development organization (ADO) is the lead agency in each county for economic development. It is designated by the board of county commissioners or the county council. The ADO is defined in RCW 43.330.010 as ‘a local economic development nonprofit corporation that is broadly representative of community interests.'"

The Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce absorbed the Lower Columbia Economic Development Council in 2011 after the state cut funding support for economic development councils because of the Great Recession.

In a report presented to the commissioners Tuesday, Chamber Executive Director Lynda Gerlach said the Chamber's goal, based on its mission statement, is "to promote the area's economy and encourage businesses to grow, broadening the tax base, and providing employment," and "to encourage new business prospects and newcomers through marketing, and providing information to state, county and local economic organizations."

The Chamber has sponsored and managed community events such as the Bald Eagle Festival, it has marketed the county for tourism and new businesses, and it has assisted existing and potential new businesses in their activities, the report said.

Backman attended the meeting of the Chamber's board of directors Tuesday afternoon and said he intended to suggest that the Wahkiakum Community Network consider taking over ADO responsibilities.

The loss of ADO funding would severely impact the Chamber, said board member Richard Erickson. The funding allows the Chamber to employ a full-time staff member, and, among other things, probably end the Chamber's ability to coordinate and put on community events such as the Bald Eagle Festival.