2019SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON

BUSINESSCOMMUNITYPRIORITIES

Prepared for the 2019 Washington State Legislative Session

Prepared jointly among Columbia River Economic Development Council, Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and Identity Clark County for consideration during

the 2019 Washington State Legislative Session.

Southwest Washington is experiencing transformative development through its natural assets, economic vitality and population growth. Continued growth requires

critical policy action and investment through the State of Washington during the 2019-20 biennium. This is the motivation behind the following joint business priorities.

2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERSCHAIR: Amy O’Hara, When the Shoe FitsTREASURER: Lisa Goecke, Perkins & Co.CHAIR ELECT: Kevin Getch, WebforVICE CHAIR: Julianna Marler, Port of VancouverIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Eric Sawyer, BBSI Preferred Payroll

DIRECTORSWinston Asai, Columbia Machine Inc.Ben Bagherpour, SEH-AmericaLeAnne Bremer, Miller Nash Graham & DunnCarol Bua, City of VancouverJody Campbell, The ColumbianTamara Fuller, Colliers InternationalBryce Helgerson, Legacy Salmon Creek Nelson Holmberg, Port of RidgefieldBen Hoskins, 1-800 GOT JUNKRobert Knight, Clark CollegeTim Schauer, Mackay SpositoKristy Weaver, Columbia BankSteve Webb, Vancouver Public SchoolsJim West, Zenith Properties NW

Special THANK YOU to thePUBLIC AFFAIRS, POLICY & LEGISLATION, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEES

of the GVCC, CREDC and ICC for their work to finalize our joint 2019 Southwest Washington Business

Community Priorities.

2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERSCHAIR: Tom Mears, The Holland, Inc. VICE CHAIR: Steve Kenny, Columbia Credit UnionSECRETARY: Helen Devery, BergerABAMTREASURER: Mark Mantei, The Vancouver Clinic

DIRECTORSLance Barrett, Barrett & Co. PLLCSharif Burdzik, Riverview Community BankBrad Carlson, Evergreen Memorial GardensPaul Christensen, Realvest CorporationMark Feichtinger, retired Stoel RivesTyson Fuehrer, Biggs Insurance ServicesEric Fuller, Fuller Group CRESean Gregory, PeaceHealth Columbia NetworkDavid Groth, Appraisal & Consulting GroupScott Horenstein, The Scott Horenstein Law FirmJosie Hyde, WFG National TitleCory Irwin, PacTrustTony Johnson, Davidson & Associates InsuranceEsther Liu, LSW ArchitectsMichael Lynch, Estate of Edward C LynchCasey Moltrum, Columbia BankTami Nesburg, Pacific Premier BankMike Nieto, Catworks ConstructionKeith Richards, Corwin BeveragePeter Seeley, Providence Health Plan

Chad Sessions, Real Living The Real Estate GroupLeigh Tapani, Tapani, Inc. Greg Usselman, Banner BankTracy Wilson, DeWils IndustriesTerry Wollam, Wollam & Associates (Ed Lynch Honorary Seat) DIRECTORS EMERITUSScott Campbell, The ColumbianRon Frederiksen, RSV Building SolutionsElie Kassab, Prestige Development

2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERSCHAIR: Casey Wyckoff, LSW ArchitectsVICE CHAIR: Lisa Lowe, Schwabe, Williamson & WyattSECRETARY: Helen Devery, BergerABAMTREASURER: Lisa Dow, Columbia BankIMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Greg Seifert, BiggsCREDC INTERIM PRESIDENT: Max Ault

DIRECTORSMike Bach, Frito-Lay, Inc.Ben Bagherpour, SEH America, Inc.Lance Barrett, Barrett & CompanyAugusto Bassanini, United Grain CorporationJohn Blom, Clark County Brent Boger, City of WashougalLeAnne Bremer, Miller Nash Graham & DunnPeter Capell, City of CamasMike Dalesandro, City of Battle GroundShawn Donaghy, C-TRANBill Dudley Landerholm, P.S.Michelle Erickson, Umpqua BankLeonard Felix, CID Bio-ScienceBrian Fleetwood, Heritage BankKeith Forrester, Kaiser PermanenteAlan Garcia, NW NaturalBrian Garish, Banfield Pet HospitalLisa Goecke, Perkins and CoBrent Grening, Port of RidgefieldBrian Knight, WRK EngineersRobert Knight, Clark CollegeMatt Krueger, PacTrustMark Mantei, The Vancouver ClinicJohn McDonagh, Vancouver Business JournalMel Netzhammer, WSU VancouverFrank Nichols, Silicon Forest ElectronicsJerry Oliver, Port of VancouverGreg Orr, PeaceHealthKevin Perkey, Workforce SW WashingtonPage Phillips, Strategies 360Jim Short, Analog DevicesJohn Steach, Evergreen Public SchoolsDon Stose, City of RidgefieldKevin Tapani, Tapani, Inc.Bill Turlay, City of VancouverJane Van Dyke, Clark Public Utilities DistrictBill Ward, Port of Camas-WashougalMei Wu, SmartRGCraig Yabui, JH Kelly

DIRECTORS EMERITUSBryce Helgerson, Legacy Salmon Creek Med. CenterSteve Horenstein, Horenstein Law GroupBrian Wolfe, Brian H. Wolfe, P.C.

BUSINESS PRIORITIESSTAKEHOLDERS

Casey Wyckoff 2017-2019 Board Chair

Tom Mears 2017-2019 Board Chair

Amy O’Hara 2018-2019 Board Chair

INFRASTRUCTUREPOLICY

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY

ENVIRONMENTALPOLICY

EDUCATION & WORKFORCEPOLICY

The foundation of a sustainable economy and diverse communities relies on infrastructure, including roadways, rail lines, broadband and port capacity. This allows for job growth and prosperity for our employers and workforce alike.

These infrastructure budgetary and policy requests are critical to the continued expansion of our local workforce.

2019 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS

Transportation

The business community envisions contemporary transportation amenities to complement the transformative developments the region has created in the last decade. Residents, businesses and visitors deserve what cities across the nation are recognizing as key to their infrastructure: more traffic lanes, high capacity transit, and dedicated pathways for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. We recognize a combination of federal funds, state funds from Washington and Oregon, and tolling will be necessary to fund the project.

Support state legislative delegation efforts and a request by Washington Department of Transportation to establish and fund an I-5 replacement bridge project office and necessary permitting for the eventual replacement of the I-5 Bridge.

Advance the Clark County Transportation Alliance initiatives and projects.

BroadbandProvide broadband infrastructure oversight through the creation of a Statewide Broadband Office in the State Department of Commerce and a Governor’s Broadband Task Force. Broadband infrastructure is critical to local (especially rural), regional, national and global competitiveness.

Funding ToolsAssure ongoing funding of the Public Works Trust Fund (PWTF), Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) and other such funds allowing for local development of critical infrastructure necessary for continued private investments in the region.

The Clark County Comprehensive Economic Development Plan focuses our business growth and recruitment efforts within five target sectors: computers and electronics, clean technology, software, metals and machinery, and life sciences. Efforts to assist existing businesses in expanding and aiding entrepreneurs with startup projects are also underway. Clark County’s business community is focused on each of these areas. Our ability to remain competitive requires the support of our priorities, including:

2019 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTS

Community InvestmentsSupport the Port of Vancouver Terminal 1 waterfront development project capital request of $4.7 M.

Fund a study to determine the feasibility of an additional Police Academy to be located in SW Washington.

Tax PolicySupport creation of high-wage manufacturing jobs by lowering the B&O tax rate for manufacturing.

Reinstate the R&D Tax Credit, which ensures Washington State employers invest in R&D at their locations in Clark County.

Extend the aerospace manufacturing tax rate to all manufacturing categories.

Assuring a career-ready workforce is critical to the sustainable growth and expansion of any community. The 21st Century workforce will have as diverse a face as the employers present in the community in which they reside. Focusing our resources in this way will enhance our region’s competitive advantage both in recruiting employers to our community and continuing the success we have enjoyed in serving our global customers.

2019 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTSCreate additional Career Connected Pathways for high school students.

Support Washington State Board of Community and Technical College priorities that ensure Clark College has the budgetary resources to provide Career Connected Training for high-demand jobs in Clark County.

Continue funding STEM education at every level of our education system, in concert with our business community.

Capital RequestsFund the modernization of Cascadia Technical Academy, the oldest, largest and most successful skills center in the State. Phase 1 $25.8M

Fund the Clark College Advanced Manufacturing Center construction at Boschma Farms. $43.5M

Support legislation that provides funds to establish a Center of Excellence of Advanced Manufacturing branch for the semiconductor and electronics industry in Southwest Washington. $200K to $300K

Fund the Washington State University Vancouver Life Sciences Building design phase. $4M

Fund the Washington State University Vancouver Medical School operating budget. $14.4M

Fund a study to determine the feasibility of college tuition reciprocity with the State of Oregon.

The business community of SW Washington is committed to sustainable environmental practices which have clear and demonstrable benefit to the community and the state. Sound environmental policy and practices balanced with prudent economic development encourages sustainable coexistence. Key principles to our efforts around the environment include predictability, balance and partnership.

2019 LEGISLATIVE REQUESTSEnsure legislative initiatives to reduce or restrict the output of carbon have a neutral or positive impact on global competitiveness through policy alternatives that can build our economy and protect jobs.

Protect navigation corridors and hydropower, both key to our local economy, along the Columbia River system.

Increase regulatory predictability for businesses regarding permitting, particularly those affecting water rights, wetlands and stormwater.