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| January 5, 2017 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
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Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017 - She/ton-Mason County Journal - Page A-5
GUEST• COLUMN
A s we reached the end of
the year and reflected
M[, ,]Lon all that changed
within our community in
2016, we looked at this year's
performance and what
we did to become a
stronger, innovative,
proactive and collab-
orative organization
and how that has and
will continue to im-
prove our community.
While Mason County
had another major By LYNN
employer close in 2016, LONGAN
we still have much to
look forward to in 2017
and enter the new year with a
great sense of optimism.
I am thankful to work with
a dynamic board of directors,
a strong and dedicated staff,
amazingly dedicated economic
development colleagues in
the public sector, forward-
thinking industry leaders,
and countless partners to
help move our county forward
during an incredible period
of economic transformation. I
see the hard work and dedica-
tion that everyone contributes
to continue to improve this
incredible community that I
love.
The Economic Development
Council of Mason County is
the go-to organization where
common ground can be found
and plans can be built and
implemented in the name of
increasing economic vital-
ity across Mason
County. We have
been instramental
in business reten-
tion, expansion, and
entrepreneurship
with an increased
focus on recruitment
starting in 2017. For
2016, we started the
year knowing that
we would be saying
goodbye to another
large employer and we knew
that our focus would have to
be centered on supporting
those workers as they transi-
tioned to other opportunities.
Additionally, we have helped
more than 20 businesses grow
or retain over 150 jobs and
invest over $59 million into
Mason County. We will see
more jobs opening up with the
completion of Sierra Pacific
Industries as it is working fu-
riously on the redevelopment
of its property and is set to be
up and running by the end of
the first quarter in 2017.
As for new business, we
• have had some success with
recruitment and multiple
businesses that are expand- dress the significant economic resources to bolster our re-
ing. We have seen invest- disparities facing our region cruitment plan. This will help
ments come into Mason through inclusive strate- identify gaps in our indus-
County to take advantage gies. We are building a new tries' supply chains or clusters
of our attributes as the local program to help support and of specific sectors that will
and regional economies work accelerate the growth of small make targeted recruitment
together to grow. Two busi- businesses and jobs, with par- more efficient.
nesses specifically moved ticular focus on new and exis- • We will continue to
here to work with and be iting small businesses owned learn about new ideas and
closer to Sierra Pacific In- by low- to moderate-incomeapproaches, best practices
dustries, bringing with them people. This is an amazingfrom around the world, and
30 jobs. Along with consum- benefit as there is no cost for continually improve ourwork
er spending staying steadyeligible applicants as Mason through partnerships, efficien-
in 2016, Mason County is County, the EDC and other cies and innovation.
continuing to climb out ofparties have received a grant • We will listen to you and
the recession and position- to cover the total cost of the lean on you for your support
ing itself for better results in training, and engagement in this im-
2017. • We will continue to portant work.
There are several examplesbuild and improve capacityAs we continue our work,
that are noteworthy, from the for our Economic Gardeningwe need your input and
proposed Shelten Hills Project program that helps existing engagement, referrals, corn-
to the growth opportunities companies succeed by pro- mitment through EDC mere-
in Belfair with significant viding needed information bership, and active participa-
investment in transportation around competitive intelli- tion. Please engage with us
from Washington state. Ma-gence on markets, customers through social media or pick
son County is building on the and competitors. We have up the phone and share your
competitive advantages of our two companies that have ideas on economic opportuni-
people, our location and the started working through the, ties that you are interested in.
natural environment. We have process. I hope to see you at our annu-
responded to six requests for • We will continue to rollal luncheon on Feb. 15. Thank
proposals on potential projects out and strengthen our web- you again for all of your sup-
and are working with multiple site, communications and port last year.
hoteliers to develop in both research tools, to better posi-
the Shelton and Belfair areas, tion our incredible county and • Lynn Longan is executive
So what else is in store for highlight our valuable assets, director of the Economic De-
the EDC in 2017? A few high-• We'll execute another velopment Council of Mason
lights of our exciting plans: step in building a comprehen- County. She can be reached at
• We will continue to ad- sive business map of our local lynn@masonedc,com.
BEING FRANK
I,
e are
Climate change isn't happening
to some of us. It's happening to
all of us, and it's going to take
all of us to meet its challenges.
A recent report from the
treaty Indian tribes in Western
Washington brings the issue of
climate change home. Home to
the ocean, beaches, rivers and
forests that support our treaty-
protected rights and resources.
Tribes are closely connected
to the natural world and we are
seeing the increasing effects of
climate change throughout the
region: Higher air and water tem-
peratures, disappearing glaciers,
decreasing summer streamflows, rising
sea levels and stronger winter storms.
Climate change worsens factors
that are already affecting our re-
By LORRAINE
LOOMIS
sources, such as the continued loss of
salmon habitat faster than it can be
restored. When we add projected popu-
lation growth to the mix, the future
looks grim.
Climate change is the
most significant environ-
mental event of our lifetime.
That's why we want to focus
attention and work together
with local, state and federal
governments and others to
address its effects.
We applaud the state of
Washington for leading the
nation by using the state's
Clean Air Act to establish
a cap on carbon pollution, the main
cause of climate change.
We think Gov. Inslee's call for a
carbon tax is a good idea, It could pro-
vide a big boost to clean energy, forest
health and other solutions to address
climate change.
The tax would be levied on any
company that generates or imports
electricity, natural gas or oil, such as
power plants and refineries. It would
be the first of its kind in the nation,
and would encourage other states to
follow Washington's lead.
"In the meantime, tribes are con-
ducting vulnerability assessments and
implementing adaptation plans to pro-
tect tribal communities and resources
from the effects of climate change.
Many of the actions needed in
salmon recovery also reduce the effects
of climate change. Stream buffers,
functioning floodplains and adequate
instream flows cool waters and protect
water supplies. They help create resil-
lence in salmon and other species by
helping them adapt to climate change.
Tribes have always lived along the
coast and in the watersheds of West-
ern W ishington: We know these lands
and waters better than anyone else.
We are committed to sharing centu-
ries of traditional knowledge combined
with today's science to help others
identify, track and adapt to climate
change trends across the region and
throughout the world.
To learn more about climate
change, how it affects tribes, and what
the tribes are doing about it, visit us
on the web at nwtreatytribes.org/ "
climatechange.
• Lorraine Loomis is chair of the
Northwest Indian Fisheries Commis-
sion.