Marketplace: Wish list for Clark County 2009

Every community needs a wish list for what it hopes will happen in the coming year. Here’s our economic wish list for Clark County in 2009:

* Stability. Let’s see stability return to the county’s housing and construction industries. Interest rates must settle down for home buyers to start believing that rates are where they are going to be. Banks need to see some confidence that the economy is getting its footing back. We need to feel like the ground under our feet is solid. Only then will commerce come back to life.

* Gas at the right price. It’s hard to plan a business operating budget when fuel and energy costs go on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride like we saw in 2008. Let’s see affordable gas prices that also provide some incentive for consumers to reduce fuel consumption. How would automakers know which way to jump with the shocking dive in gas prices of the past six months.

* Waterfront development. Plans for Vancouver to redevelop its fabulous waterfront must continue to move ahead. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do something really well. A dynamic waterfront will provide energy to the entire county economy.

* Building on potential at the Clark County Fair. The fair operation must build on its potential as a regional cultural icon connecting rural and urban, linking the historic with the future.

Together, the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Expo Center and Portland Center for the Performing Arts generate $534.46 million in annual economic activity and support 5,800 jobs, the Portland Business Journal reports.

Our fair operation with the annual Clark County Fair and ongoing activities at its facilities has to be putting up some equally strong numbers for its size and location. Community leaders must see the fair as a growing economic opportunity. But the fair has got to stay true to its roots and stake out a clear vision for the future.

* Countywide vision. Clark County’s three commissioners make a bigger effort to provide an overarching countywide economic vision that includes community development, transportation priorities, parks, trails, job growth priorities and the environment.

In fact, the commissioners might consider habitat (particularly bird habitat) preservation as a key long-term economic opportunity. With all of our wetlands including the fabulous Ridgefield National Refuge and other great locations along the Columbia River, why not make Clark County a world-class bird-watching venue.

Birdwatchers tend to be retired, have money to spend and appreciate quality. The county might work with the Southwest Washington Visitors & Convention Bureau to support bird habitat preservation and to market to those interested in bird migrations and birds.

After all, we sit right in the middle of the huge bird fly-way from Alaska-Canada to Mexico. We’re helping whooping cranes. Why not let them help us, too.

* Gift cards for pizza. Papa Murphy’s needs to offer gift cards. The Vancouver-based national take-n-bake pizza outfit may be a bit too low-keyed for its own good. Everyone and their dog had a card on the Fred Meyer Christmas gift card rack. Where was Papa Murphy?