Celebrate Grant County: GCEDC 2017 Annual Banquet

The Grant County Economic Development Council held the 2017 Annual Banquet: Celebrate Grant County on December 7, 2017 at Big Bend Community College. Attendees from across the county came to hear an update of the EDC’s capital campaign, Building Prosperity.

Brant Mayo, Executive Director of the EDC, outlined the success that Grant County has recently seen as well as the work that will continue to happen as the EDC wraps up the first five-year capital campaign. From 2014 to now the EDC staff has helped to facilitate the following goals from Building Prosperity:

Existing Business Development: Expansion of local ag-related and industrial businesses resulting in a 100-125 job increase.

•  Current Total: 110 increased jobs from AstaReal expanding in 2015 and SGLACF expanding in 2014 and 2015

Business Recruitment and Attraction: New business development in Grant County resulting in 300-350 new jobs.

•  Current Total: 355 new employees from Amway/Nutrilite and AstaReal in 2014, and AeroTEc/MRJ in 2015

Retail and Services Development: Grow retail and service sector by 5-15 businesses.

•  Current Total: 12 new retail establishments across Grant County since 2012.

 Infrastructure Development: Assist with 10-12 job creating infrastructure projects.

•  Current Total: EDC has worked with 27 different projects within the Strategic Infrastructure Program to bring new infrastructure to our local communities throughout Grant County since 2014.

Following Mayo’s remarks, Paul J. Kimmel, the Palouse area regional business/public affairs manager with Avista Corporation, presented about rural economic development.

The EDC would like to extend a thank you to the evening’s raffle sponsors: Alice Parker, 10 Pin Brewery, BBCC Foundation, Confluence Health, National Frozen Foods, Samaritan Healthcare and Skaug Brothers.   Thank you also to the EDC Board of Directors, who help to ensure that the vision of the investors and partners is fulfilled. One last thank you to all those who attended Celebrate Grant County. It was a fun night of networking and entertainment from the Fabulous Basin Boys and games of Plinko. The EDC is proud to be working so hard to continue to grow Grant County and we could not do this without each and every one of you.