Renowned Speaker Featured at Alliance Meeting
Bruce Vincent Returns to Lewis County After 25 Years to Bring His Message of Leading, Not Fighting
By Economic Alliance of Lewis County
World-renowned Bruce Vincent is the featured speaker at this month’s Economic Alliance of Lewis County monthly meeting, open to all.
“Vincent is a pre-eminent keynote speaker who offers a vision of hope and direction for businesses,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard DeBolt. “We are excited and fortunate to bring him to Lewis County for our monthly meeting.”
Vincent, headquartered in Montana, remembers giving the keynote speech about 25 years ago in Lewis County during a Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce gathering, back when DeBolt was in charge of the chamber. DeBolt said he was impressed with Vincent’s words.
Back then Vincent addressed the Endangered Species Act and the impacts of added protections for the Spotted Owl, which decimated logging communities including those in Lewis County.
Vincent said his message hasn’t changed that much from 25 years ago.
“We need to engage in discussions and finding solutions,” Vincent said. “What did we learn from the timber wars? There is a huge difference between fighting and leading.”
Vincent also said positive change happens on the local level, not in Washington, D.C. or Olympia.
“I emphasize the importance of local engagement, of the discussions that take place ‘over the backyard fence,’” Vincent said. “The most important discussions for rural areas take place at home.”
Vincent is a third generation logger from Libby, Montana, according to his website. During the past 25 years, he has given motivational speeches throughout the United States and the world, has testified on natural resource issues before Congress and has appeared on several news programs such as “60 Minutes.”
Vincent has been named Timberman of the Year in Montana, National Forest Activist of the Year, the Agri-Women’s 2007 Veritas Award Winner, and received the inaugural Presidential Preserve America Award from President Bush.
‘With Vision There Is Hope’:
What: Economic Alliance of Lewis County’s Monthly Luncheon
Why: Hear world-renowned keynote speaker Bruce Vincent
When: Noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20
Where: Centralia Train Depot multi-purpose room
Cost: $25 per person (includes lunch)
To Pre-Register and Pay:
Call 360.748.0114
LEDC Name Change: ‘Alliance’
New Economic Alliance of Lewis County Adds Emphasis on Forging Partnerships
By Economic Alliance of Lewis County
Economic Alliance of Lewis County President Ben Kostick (right) announces a new name for the organization he presides over. At left is Alliance External Relations Manager Eric Sonnenberg.
At the start of the first-ever Alliance Open Golf Tournament held at the break of fall at Riverside Golf Club, Lewis County Economic Development Council President Ben Kostick announced a new beginning for the agency he presides over.
Kostick revealed the council will now be known as the Economic Alliance of Lewis County.
Alliance Executive Director Richard DeBolt said the name change is not a new direction from its bedrock mission of economic development, but adds an emphasis on forming alliances with others for the greater good.
“We’re still committed to economic development, but we’ve added a commitment to forming partnerships with all agencies, groups and government entities interested in wise economic growth for Lewis County,” DeBolt said.
President Kostick said he’s excited about the added direction. He said forming unity will serve the interests of economic development in Lewis County.
“An alliance atmosphere will help us work with everyone by forming partnerships,” Kostick said. “We will be more successful when we work together on common interests.”
Webster’s Definition of Alliance:
A union between people, groups, countries, etc.; a relationship in which people agree to work together; the state of being joined in some activity or effort; the state of being allied.
Alliance Open Golf Tournament a Rousing Success
The first Alliance Open Golf Tournament was a rousing success, with a packed field, plenty of give-aways and auction items, and despite a cold rainy day at Riverside Golf Club, a fun-filled day.
“Having a full field of teams and plenty of sponsorship support made our first tournament a success,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard DeBolt. “I want to thank Riverside for their great hosting of the event, Jenny Collins from the Chehalis Foundation who offered her knowledge of how to develop a tournament, and also my staff of Eric Sonnenberg, Dolly Tardiff and Marrianne Schumacher, for putting in the time needed for a wonderful event.”
Alliance External Relations Manager Eric Sonnenber shoots off a cannon filled with T-shirts during the Alliance Open Golf Tournament.
News Briefs
Centralia College Enrollment Down 30%
Student enrollment for the fall quarter at Centralia College is down 30% from the same quarter in 2019, college administration reported this week.
With the Oct. 1 deadline to drop classes came Centralia College’s official count of students enrolled in classes for the quarter, which runs Sept. 20 through Dec. 10.
The numbers will be finalized and further analyzed in the coming weeks, said College President Bob Mohrbacher.
The decreased enrollment is consistent with the significant drop in enrollment Centralia College and other community colleges experienced at the onset of the pandemic last year, but new this year is a decrease in students partaking in Running Start, a program that allows 11th and 12th grade students to take college courses at community and technical colleges.
Centralia College reported its Running Start numbers are down this year, and other colleges have reported a decrease in their Running Start numbers as well, according to Mohrbacher.
— The Chronicle
PUD Proposes Rate Increase
With the statewide moratorium on utility disconnections expiring, exposing hundreds of Lewis County Public Utility District customers to a potential loss of service, PUD commissioners are considering a proposed utility-wide increase of 0.95% to services beginning next year.
PUD staff say the proposed hike would be fairly minimal, increasing the daily basic charge by a penny to $0.96 and the electricity rate by less than a percent to $.0.06819 per kilowatt hour for residential customers.
For the average residential PUD customers using 1,400 kilowatt hours per month, this would result in a monthly increase of about $1.27 per month on their bill, excluding any city sales tax. The cost would be less than neighboring counties, including Grays Harbor, Skamania and Mason, but would for the first time be higher than what customers in Centralia city limits currently pay.
PUD commissioners are still taking public feedback on the proposed increase. Another public hearing has been scheduled during the board’s regular 10 a.m. meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 19.
— The Chronicle
Property Spotlight — For sale in Winlock
1100 NW Kerron St., Winlock
• 1/2 acre • 12,500 square-foot building • 20 foot clear height
• Two 20 by 16 foot doors • 200 amp single phase
• Black top loading area
For information on this property and others available throughout Lewis County (or to list your industrial/commercial property for sale or lease), contact Lewis Economic Development Council External Relations Manager Eric Sonnenberg at 208.206.5407 or [email protected], or go to lewisedc.com.
CHAIRMANS CORNER
Alliance Focused on Development, Partnerships
We Need to Work Together to Promote Economic Development in Lewis County
By Ben Kostick Chair of the Lewis Economic Development Council
It’s a bit spooky out there for businesses.
The state and federal government is pushing for mandates for employees involving wearing masks and showing proof of being vaccinated against the COVID virus. That’s on top of all the bureaucratic red tape and taxation already making it a battle to run a successful, profitable business.
There is certainly controversy in Lewis County on mandated masks and vaccinations. For federal and state workers, and the businesses and agencies they support and work for, tough decisions for some of continued employment and the right for personal privacy is in the offing.
The key to remember for all involved, for our governments from the feds to the state to the county all the way down to school boards, is we need to do everything we can as business leaders to keep our community safe and away from levels of COVID infection that could lead to partial or complete lockdowns for many businesses once again.
If it helps, for example, it is not all that hard to wear a mask when entering indoor venues packed with people, for example. But all mandates need to allow for personal decisions. One example of reasonableness is allowing those that have been exposed to the virus and show antibodies against COVID to be considered on the same level as those vaccinated.
For the Economic Alliance of Lewis County, we’re haunted in attracting businesses that bring or increase family wage jobs. We’re not interested in jobs for jobs sake, but quality jobs that lead to a stronger community.
The Allianced is also, as our new name suggests (see story at left), going to put an emphasis in forming partnerships. The idea is simple: We can do so much more working together for economic development than when we splinter and go our own ways.
I am excited for our dual mission of supporting economic development and entering into working partnerships for the greater good.
One way we can support local businesses during this scary season is by supporting fall harvest activities, from purchasing food and crafts from farmers markets and local growers, to attending area pumpkin patches and corn mazes.
For a great list of fall fun items, look up the weekly calendar at The Chronicle and such features as a recent story entitled “October Brings the Opening of Lewis County Area Pumpkin Patches and Fall Family Fun.”
I’m proud of what the Alliance is bringing to our great community. Rest assured, while you are picking out that perfect pumpkin or getting scared out of your wits in a haunted hall, we here at the Alliance will be working to make this corner of our world a safe and profitable place to live and work.
Ben Kostick is chair of the LEDC and owner of Ben M. Kostick CPA Inc.
LEDC Hires Consultant to Help Push Renewable Energy Projects
Council has hired Clarity Consulting, led by founder Kelly Johnston, who is also a Centralia City councilor, to help build a cohesive coalition around emerging energy projects in Lewis County. Several energy projects are underway or planned for in Lewis County, from a hydrogen refueling station in Chehalis, a renewable energy transportation corridor of charging stations between Lewis County and Yakima along U.S. Highway 12, and a massive solar project on Weyerhaeuser land on the former TransAlta mining site. Clarity Consulting will help build a coalition to promote Lewis County as an energy innovation hub. “Lewis County has a history of energy production and distribution through TransAlta,” Johnston said, adding there are lots of opportunities in the emerging renewable energy sector in Lewis County. Her consulting firm will assist in bringing the different groups working on energy innovation together, and assist in garnering legislative support and pursuing grant funding, basically helping “seed” the effort.
Board Member Spotlight
Arnold Haberstroh
Business: Haberstroh Properties and Safe and Warm Storage
Q: How long have you been a member of the Lewis Economic Development Council?
A: About 10 years
Q: Why did you join LEDC?:
A: Former member Norm Forsyth asked if I would be interested in joining since I was doing housing development. He explained my knowledge would help by bringing another perspective. He knew I was interested in helping the community and making Lewis County a nice place to live and develop, so I accepted his invitation.
Q: What is a key for the success of your business?:
A: Personal interaction. You treat people how you want to be treated.
Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
A: Satisfaction out of helping somebody. You are sharing the blessings you’ve received from others. It is basically the idea of paying it forward.
Q: What do you love most about your industry?
A: Helping people have a better quality of life, an affordable quality of life by providing affordable housing and affordable storage.
Q: How do you define success?
A: It used to be success was how much stuff you accumulated. Now I find satisfaction in helping people succeed, to do better. I get more satisfaction in helping others do better. We live a pretty blessed life; now it is time to share a little bit and don’t fall into the “greedy trap.”
Q: Who inspires you?
A: I would say my kids, along with a gentleman named Don Weighant. He gave me an opportunity when I first started, he carried contracts for me.
Q: What motivates you?
A: Making Lewis County a place where you can raise your kids and grandkids, so they want to stay here and still have opportunities for success.
Q: What is one thing, either industry-related or not, you learned in the last month?
A: My wife showed me how to scan something on my phone.
Q: What’s your favorite song?
A “The Older I Get” by Alan Jackson. The lyrics state the older I get the more I am content with life, and more focused about helping others.
Q: What is your favorite meal?
A: My wife’s prime rib.
Q: What do you do for pleasure outside of running your business?
A: I like to golf, boat, crab, shrimp, spend time with my grandkids and family, and travel with my wife. I love it.
Q: What is the favorite car you have ever owned?
A: 1975 Monte Carlo.