EDC set to split in two

Published 9:00 am Saturday, June 22, 2002

There are some big changes afoot at the Island District Economic Development Council, not least of which is the probable splintering of the organization into two distinct entities representing Island and San Juan counties.

The creation of two separate EDCs will mean a potential loss of $9,000 in state funding for Island County, but more time for the organization to focus on business efforts close to home.

In recent years, Island District EDC, located in Coupeville, worked to jointly promote business development throughout the two counties. However, pending state approval on July 30, the San Juan segment of EDC’s advisory board wants to create their own distinct EDC with a full slate of state funding, said Sharon Hart, EDC executive director, on Tuesday.

“It’s the next step,” Hart said. “We’re ready for it. We won’t be their umbrella agency any more.” Island County started with its own EDC but added San Juan at the latter’s request.

Hart said the change is mostly an issue of growth and self-sufficiency, with the San Juan segment of the EDC prepared to take over as an independent agency dedicated to projects solely in their jurisdiction.

“They have done several projects under our tutelage that are really ready to go,” Hart said. “The timing is right.” She added that the San Juan EDC split-off should be a go “so long as they can sustain it in the state’s eyes.”

Hart said she already has received verbal approval from the state for the separation of the two EDCs, and she doesn’t think there should be any official snags.

As far as separations go, Hart said, the Island County/San Juan break has been very amicable, a matter of business more than anything else. In fact, she added, “we have received wonderful thank yous from the San Juan commissioners for the work that was done on their behalf.”

For now, the split will mean a loss of $9,000 of the total state funding for the Island County chapter. This is because, as yet, they have not been recognized as a rural EDC, even though the state legislature this year granted Island County rural designation status. Whether the EDC receives the extra money above its state allotment of $20,000 depends on the state’s approval of rural status as applied specifically to the organization.

The San Juan EDC, on the other hand, will continue to receive $29,000 in rural council funding, the sum that was formerly lumped into the total funding for the Island District EDC.

The flip side of the pending split, Hart said, is that her organization now will be able to focus its efforts exclusively on encouraging business growth in Island County.

“It’ll free us up for some more projects,” Hart said, the most important of which, she added, is the recruitment of new businesses to the region. “Our number one goal is to recruit new businesses and services back to the area,” she added.

Other efforts include helping individuals start up their own businesses by assisting in locating funding sources, and putting industrial zoned properties throughout the county on-line through the state’s Internet site, which Hart said is a powerful business recruitment tool.

“Basically, most of my job right now is expanding our recruitment effort,” Hart said. “That’s the mantra for the day is getting things here.”

Hart added that she’s been busy preparing for the Uniquely Whidbey Trade Show on Oct. 12-13, and reminding folks to sign up for selling slots early. So far 50 of 125 available spaces have been reserved.