Clark County Economic Development Corporation's 25th Anniversary, The Future
Friday, June 5th, 2015 -- 11:23 AM
-25 years ago, the process began to create an economic development organization for Clark County. The dream became a reality with the help of a long list of volunteer members of a startup committee to create the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau.In a special celebration of the CCEDC's 25th Anniversary, and their 25th Anniversary Gala being held at Munson Bridge Winery in Withee tomorrow, Saturday, June 6th, the past 3 weeks on Friday, we've had a special report about the past and present initiatives and tourism items the CCEDC is involved with.
For my final report on the 25th Anniversary of the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau, on Monday, I had an opportunity to sit down with Peter Kaz and Tim Swiggum, two members of the CCEDC's board, and we talked about the future of the organization.
First Peter and Tim provided me with their thoughts on the future of some of the initiatives the CCEDC is behind.
Tim: "A lot of our larger businesses are having trouble finding qualified help. So, we need to either bring our alumni back or get the schools working together to train our kids into the future to take these positions right out of school, so that they don't have to go to college or maybe they can do that college right here and then train at the local businesses and get that workforce market developed."
Peter: "I would like to echo those thoughts; establish a program where we can keep what we've already got. We have the numbers here that could supply enough workforce for every needed job. We just need to retain those people out of high school and give them a sense of direction as they're going through school and develop in the local needs that cooperation between schools and industry."
Peter and Tim offered their vision on where the CCEDC, as well as the county, will be in 20 years.
Tim: "I believe the corporation will be here continuing to do the work it's doing. Trying to develop new businesses, to retain the businesses that we have, to help them find cost savings for new markets, and things like that, to grow."
Peter: "Also, that is an indicator of change. The economic development corporation is promoting change. There will always be change. Change is needed throughout our future."
Congratulations to the Clark County Economic Development Corporation and Tourism Bureau on their 25th Anniversary.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.