Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Commissioners address concerns to SEWEDA director
Suzy McNeilly, SEWEDA managing director
COLFAX — Southeast Washington Economic Development Agency (SEWEDA) will be Whitman County's Associate (economic) Development Organization for the next two years.
County commissioners approved the designation Monday.
Following comments in last week's Gazette by commissioner Tom Handy, who sought more detail to SEWEDA's plans for the county, Whitman County SEWEDA Managing Director Suzy McNeilly spoke to the commissioners.
"I was completely caught off guard (by the Gazette's phone call last week)," she said. "This job has been an opportunity to get back into the community, doing what I can do right now to help businesses stay afloat. As far as any new businesses wanting to open in Whitman County, I will bend over backward, but to go out and look for them while we're in Phase Two ..."
McNeilly addressed Handy's previous comments.
"I have a board of directors above me. I have somebody above me taking care of these things," said McNeilly, who works for SEWEDA Executive Director Dawn Smith.
Commissioner Michael Largent said he will support the renewal agreement.
"How we're going to approach this – I think we can have that conversation in the coming year," Largent said.
"I think we should sit down and talk about it," said McNeilly. "To me, economic development right now is keeping Whitman County going, There's lots of people moving in."
She talked about an increase in population in Oakesdale.
"Those statements you just made are exactly what I was looking for," said Handy.
SEWEDA continues to act as the county's associate development organization until 2023, at which time it would be up for another two-year renewal.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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