EDC solicits Chamber help

Editor’s note: The Chamber notes below begin with the remainder of the September 27 Chamber meeting results, followed by the October 11 results.

Margie Hall, Lincoln County Economic Development Council (EDC) director, urged all Lincoln County businesses to add any commercial properties available for sale or lease to the list being maintained by her Davenport office. The list is being used to target northwest entrepreneurs looking to get out of urban environments, letting them know that lower-cost facilities are available to them in Lincoln County. She said there is no cost to the property owners to have their holdings listed.

Historic preservation

Hall is involved in the Historic Preservation Commission that has helped Harrington to receive grants for refurbishment of some of its older, downtown brick buildings, most notably the Harrington Opera House.

County-wide meeting

A meeting of the all of the heads of the Chambers of Commerce in Lincoln County and the members of the EDC is planned for November 4, a Friday, from 10 a.m. to noon. Bridget Roehner, WSU Extension agent will be the moderator, as participants will be encouraged to work out ways to facilitate cooperation and sharing of resources among the various communities and organizations. Hall said she hoped to have quarterly meeting of that nature in the future.

Vision statement

Hall also reported on a project she is working on with seniors from Eastern Washington University. The students will be surveying the different communities in the county on how they view their future and how they would like Lincoln County to be ten years from now. Based on the results, they will try to come up with a vision statement for the county.

The reasoning behind this project, in part, is that federal grants are still available in many areas, but those applying for them must have specific plans in place to be considered for them.

Passenger rail

Peter Cooper, the contractor and masonry specialist, who is repairing and refinishing the brick facade of the building that houses The Odessa Record and Any Occasion Banquet Hall, has another project in the works for the Odessa area. He has generated a proposal for passenger rail service to the towns of the Inland Northwest. He has been in touch with the LC EDC and the Odessa Public Development Authority about it.

October 11 meeting

The October 11 meeting was led by vice president Lindsy Starkel in the absence of president Marlon Schafer. Starkel reported on her discussion with the Odessa Town Council regarding fees to be charged for the upgraded kitchen in the Community Center.

In the interest of simplicity, the Council had proposed a flat fee of $100/day for use of the kitchen by any person, business or organization. A $100 damage deposit for cleaning/repairs will also be required of all who rent the facility. Starkel will inspect the kitchen with a checklist after each event to ensure that all equipment and materials are still present and have been satisfactorily cleaned.

The $100 fee for use of the kitchen would go to the Chamber. Of the fee paid by those renting the entire Community Center plus kitchen, Chamber would receive $50 from the town after the fee is collected.

Kim King said that the Chamber had applied for a $10,000 grant from Lincoln County to help buy new equipment for the kitchen. Matching funds will also be required if the application is successful.

The suggestion of a “thank-you party” for Fest volunteers was amended to have any such funds used instead for the Chamber banquet to be held in March, which could also serve simultaneously as a “thank-you” occasion.

Admin. Assistant

The position of a paid Chamber administrative assistant to work about 20 hours per month on administrative details was proposed. The issue was tabled and will be discussed first by the board and then by the general membership at the next meeting to be held October 25 at Any Occasion Banquet Hall (lunch provided by Helping Hands Catering at $6 per person).