QUINCY, Wash., Dec. 15, 2009 — On Thursday, December 10, 2009, the Port of Quincy (http://www.portofquincy.org) held the Quincy "Opportunities Unlimited" Rural Economic Development Summit at Cave B at SageCliffe near Quincy, Washington.
The purpose of the Summit was to highlight economic development opportunities and infrastructure (i.e., hydropower, fiber optics, water treatment, rail, irrigation, etc.) in the greater Quincy Valley area and to have a discussion and dialogue with key business and political leaders about how to bring further economic development to the area (http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/11/news/doc4b22c5c843adc525871543.txt).
The Quincy Valley has experienced unprecedented economic growth and development during the past 4 years as a result of companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo, Intuit and Columbia Colstor locating or expanding in Quincy. Additionally, the Quincy Valley is an important agriculture and food processing region in the Columbia Basin and is a leading area in the production of potatoes, sweet corn, wine grapes, apples and cherries.
Consequently, much of the discussion at the Summit centered around how to attract more technology, warehousing and distribution, and food processing development to the greater Quincy area.
The Quincy Rural Economic Development Summit featured the following major presenters:
- Rogers Weed, Director, Washington State Department of Commerce;
- Egils Milbergs, Executive Director, Washington State Economic Development Commission;
- Terry Brewer, Executive Director, Grant County Economic Development Council;
- Rep. Judy Warnick (R-13th Legislative District), Ranking Minority Member, House Capital Budget Committee;
- Lew McMurran, Vice President of Government & External Affairs, Washington Technology Industry Association;
- Jim Hemberry, Mayor, City of Quincy;
- Bill Bonaudi, President, Big Bend Community College;
- Will Coe, Power System Planning Coordinator, Grant County Public Utility District;
- Tom Villani, Business Development Specialist, Northwest Open Access Network;
- Mike Begnaud, Vice President, Rail Logistics.
Over 85 business, community and political leaders attended the Summit in the Estate Room at Cave B at SageCliffe (http://www.sagecliffe.com/SageCliffe.htm).
For more information about the December 10th Quincy Rural Economic Development Summit, please contact Pat Boss at Email or 509-214-7696.
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