If you can believe it, June marks the halfway point of the calendar year. We are halfway to 2024! At GGHI and around the Harbor there are some June rituals that signify the start of summer and the beginning of planning for 2024.

One of the rites of late spring at GGHI is the release of our annual Economic Vitality Index (EVI) at the State of Grays Harbor Signature Event (Tuesday, June 27th).  This report collects key regional demographic and economic data from 2022 and complies it in a report to be shared with the community and broadly across the country to site selectors. Without disclosing any spoilers in advance, I can share that Grays Harbor County continues to experience growth. To register for this event and stay updated on our keynote speaker click here. GGHI has been producing this report for several years and if you are interested in past reports, you can view them and other community demographics at this link.

The release of this report is a nice compliment to a new and important event the next day. In partnership with Association of Washington Businesses and Washington Roundtable, GGHI will be hosting Washington in the Making 2040 Town Hall. This free community event is part of a statewide listening tour to guide strategies and goals for the economic future of Washington State. GGHI’s Economic Vitality Index can inform much of this conversation. GGHI is proud to be the host for the greatercoastal region and welcomes the business community. This will be a popular event, and while there is no cost, we do require attendees to register in advance via this link. This event will likely hit capacity.

With the EVI serving as a “look back” and Washington in the Making serving as a “look forward” GGHI must similarly chart our path forward as well.  In June members can expect to receive a membership survey that asks them to reflect on the value of their investment and what they believe their business needs from GGHI. Members should expect to see this survey the week of June 19th. This information alongside the EVI helps GGHI set its goals as an organization, but also in its contracts to serve state and local government.

And of course, it wouldn’t be June on the Harbor without an abundance of events celebrating our region and our natural beauty and recreation opportunities.  Stay up to date on festivals and events on our community calendar and don’t forget to submit your own events as well. Take in great pictures and learn about small businesses by visiting Discover Grays Harbor, plus check out our hotel and dining guides and original content on the Discover Grays Harbor blog. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram too! There is so much to do over the summer in our area and we guarantee we’ll surprise you with something new.

We hope to see you out enjoying our local businesses, beaches, rivers, trails, and campgrounds over the summer. It’s a great time to be here and we thank you for celebrating the region with us.