FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Stevenson, WA (November 3, 2017) – The Port of Skamania County and the Skamania County Economic Development Council (EDC) have joined forces down at the waterfront! Port Director Pat Albaugh and EDC Director Kari Fagerness began discussing the possibility of sharing both physical space and staff following the resignation of the Port’s Finance Manager in September. The idea to merge offices had been considered previously and garnered significant community support. The Port Board of Commissioners and the EDC Board of Directors voted unanimously in October to approve the move.
Both the Port and the EDC share similar missions to drive economic development in Skamania County and over the last 17 years, the two agencies have collaborated on multiple projects and served many of the same businesses in pursuit of that goal. While the EDC will maintain its separate identity as a private non-profit organization, they will operate out of leased space at the Port’s main office. EDC office manager Cindy Bradley will take on accounting responsibilities for the Port. The EDC staff will further expand to incorporate Somer Meade as the part time office administrator and they will hire a part time office assistant, with the Port sharing the costs of these positions. As both agencies seek to reduce expenses and work more efficiently within space and time constraints, the move makes fiscal and organizational sense, while also providing enhanced opportunities for future collaboration to the benefit of businesses in Skamania County.
The Port and EDC will host the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly “Chamber Break” on Tuesday, December 12th at 8:00am to share more about these cooperative efforts. Members of the community are invited to stop in during regular business hours at 212 Cascade Avenue down at the waterfront in Stevenson.
CONTACTS:
Pat Albaugh- Port Executive Director
(509)427-5484
Kari Fagerness- EDC Executive Director
(509)427-5110
