One of the roles that GGHI fills is that of “advocate”.  We support local and countywide efforts to improve economic conditions for our current and future businesses and residents. The 2023 Washington State Legislative session is in full swing and GGHI has been attending briefings, testifying in the legislature and visiting with our lawmakers.

So, what does this look like?

As is tradition, GGHI hosted the annual Legislative Send-Off and welcomed our state lawmakers from the 19th and 24th legislative districts. This event allows the business community to engage with our state lawmakers before session begins and provides a platform for GGHI and associated entities to share their priorities and needs from the legislature.

Immediately in the following week, GGHI joined representatives from the cities of Aberdeen and Hoquiam and the Office of Chehalis Basin to advocate for the final $35.5 million of funding needed to build the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project. To watch the hearing and learn more about project status use this link.

February started out fast with conveniently timed dual “Hill Climbs” hosted by Association of Washington Businesses (AWB) and Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA).  The AWB Hill Climb took place via Zoom and allowed GGHI the time to engage with our legislators on issues related to infrastructure investment (Aberdeen-Flood Protection Project), continued investment in childcare and supporting the recommendations of the Governor’s Childcare Taskforce and small business resources.

The WEDA Hill Climb was on-site and GGHI was able to advocate for extension of the .09 Fund, tax-increment financing (TIF), site-readiness, small business ecosystem funding and WEDA’s priority issue, HB 1717, the ADO Innovation Bill.

The following week GGHI testified before the House Innovation, Community & Economic Development and Veterans Committee on the ADO Innovation Bill alongside our colleagues throughout the state. The value of this legislation is that it can provide organizations like GGHI the funds to do strategic economic development projects that meet the needs of our community and exist outside the parameters of the very precise metrics and initiatives associated with our other Commerce funding. As the bill says, it is about innovation! To view the hearing and learn what is possible check out this link.

The other “perk” of going to our state capital is seeing your friends. The same day that GGHI worked with WEDA, the Washington State Ports Association (WPPA) was on site for their hill climb, and our friends from the Port of Grays Harbor were there too. It was fun to bump into each other a few times throughout the day, swap notes and advocate for economic growth in the county. It is common knowledge that if you spend enough time at the sundial, you will always run into someone you know, and seeing Ocean Companies, Brian Blake on site was a welcome surprise!

GGHI closed out the month with a visit to advocate for state investment in an economic development site in Montesano. The planned use for this site includes supporting a private childcare facility and allowing space for facility expansion or siting of another complimentary business. Sadly, no pictures were taken during that visit. If they had been it would have shown three very committed Harborites brainstorming ways to improve the lives of our families and spur economic growth and business attraction.

The month of March is already busy as GGHI continues to support the Olympic Peninsula Business Boost efforts which includes over $150,000 of bookkeeping, marketing and legal services being provided to local small businesses. We have also announced available funding for Disaster Relief Grants and will be launching the last round of the GGHI Microenterprise Grant next week. As always, watch our Facebook page and our News page to stay up to date on business assistance resources available to you.