Nailing It Down: Unemployment rate down, bicyclist numbers up

The right numbers are up and the right numbers are down on the Grays Harbor Economic Vitality Index.

By Nailing it Down Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty • July 15, 2017 1:30 am

Nailing it Down

By Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty

Here at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor we’re not just interested in helping others buy, fix up or rent a home. We also like to encourage the overall health of our community — including its economic health.

That’s why we were so encouraged recently when the 2017 Grays Harbor Economic Vitality Index was released.

This document is compiled by the staff at Greater Grays Harbor Inc. — our regional chamber of commerce, economic development council and visitor information center all rolled into one.

CEO Dru Garson took us on a little tour through the numbers recently. And, to sum it up, the right numbers are up and the right numbers are down.

UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN

“The unemployment rate is an important indicator of economic well-being,” Garson said. It is the percentage of the total labor force that is unemployed, but actively seeking employment and willing to work.

Grays Harbor County has one of the higher unemployment rates in the state, but the good news is it’s on its way down. In fact, unemployment rates within the county have declined over the past five years after cresting at a record-high 16.5 percent in January 2010.

In 2015, the average unemployment rate in our county was down to 9.1 percent. One year later, it dropped to 8.7 percent.

“The unemployment rate in Grays Harbor is at 6.9 percent as of May 17,” Garson said. “Although we won’t expect to catch up to the unemployment rate in King County anytime soon, we have made tremendous gains and the numbers are very encouraging for the rest of 2017.”

The biggest areas of job growth in our region over the past five years are health care and social assistance (up 586 jobs), and accommodation and food services (up 225 jobs).

The picture for more job opportunities is bright, Garson said, noting several indicators:

• Quinault Beach Resort and Casino is undergoing a $30 million expansion that will lead to an estimated 100 new jobs once completed.

• Summit Pacific Medical Center in Elma is planning to break ground this summer for its expansion and development of a Wellness Center, which is expected to create about 100 jobs.

• Seabrook is constructing their new Main Street that includes some 8 to 10 new businesses, as well as additional jobs in that community.

• Oyhut Bay in Ocean Shores is not only selling lots of real estate, they’ve recently welcomed a new restaurant and bar: the Oyhut Bay Bistro, with a pastry and coffee shop coming next. Also, an 8,000-square-foot retail addition that will include a grocery store and event space is expected to be finished by August.

• Eagles Landing in Elma, which attracted Burger King to town, has announced that a Bi-Mart store is on its way too.

• In 2016, Willis Enterprises purchased Hoquiam Plywood. This helped retain numerous jobs in our community and allowed them to expand from 42 to 106 employees a year later.

• Fox Lumber revived the former mill site of Mary’s River Lumber near Montesano, which had recently closed. The facility is now running and many local jobs were preserved.

• The craft brewing industry has blossomed in Grays Harbor with Steam Donkey Brewing Co. in Aberdeen, Hoquiam Brewing Co. opening this summer, and Bogwater Brewery in Westport reopening last year after rebuilding from a devastating fire at the end of 2015.

• The Port of Grays Harbor has several tenants considering expansion, which could lead to additional family wage jobs in our county.

• In 2016, the port saw an increase in the number of deepwater vessels from 82 in 2015 to 98.

• In 2016, the Satsop Business Park added Fuller Hill Development Co. LLC and Overstock.com as tenants. It also celebrated the grand opening of Xpress Natural Gas’ compressed natural gas facility. (Of the 150 employees hired at Overstock, 141 are residents of Grays Harbor.)

GREAT PLACE TO BIKE

We’ve recently talked about the economic importance of tourism to our community. Different tourists come for different reasons, and many are discovering Grays Harbor and making a point to return.

Thinking outside the box a bit, Garson recently made a presentation to attract the Reach the Beach relay event for the American Lung Association. He was successful, and we can look forward to 350 teams of six bicyclists plus family and supporters heading from Lacey to Westport on Sept. 30.

As if bringing this event to our county wasn’t reward enough for Garson’s pitch, it turns out the organizers also organize another event: Hood to Coast.

Yep, the beauty of the area and willingness of people to work with the organization for the Reach the Beach event wowed and wooed the organizers.

“They were especially enamored of Seabrook during the initial tour of the area,” Garson said. So, in addition to the upcoming Reach the Beach bicycling relay, the first Hood to Coast Washington event was held in Grays Harbor recently.

In Oregon it is a huge, prestigious event with some 60,000 people applying for the coveted 20,000 spots.

“They were looking for a place to expand the race into Washington. It was a good opportunity to bring people here and highlight the Washington Coast,” Garson said.

So on June 3, thousands of people got a close-up view of Grays Harbor as they traveled 77 miles from Shelton on Hood Canal to the finish line at Seabrook. The route took them through McCleary, Elma, Montesano, Aberdeen and Hoquiam. Not only were the teams raising money for charity, they paid local nonprofit organizations to assist with the race.

Both of these events are in the “shoulder” tourist season, which will boost our local economy and introduce many people to what Grays Harbor has to offer.

And that principle is already at work, Garson said. “Based on the success of the 2017 Hood to Coast race, they already plan on expanding next year from 350 to 500 teams of six, for a total of approximately 5,500 participants as well as friends and family gathered next year at the finish line at Seabrook. “The economic impact of this event will be considerable.”

It sure feels good to take a look back every once in a while and note the things in our community that give us hope as we look ahead.

THE VITALITY INDEX

If you are interested in these kinds of facts and figures, you can see the entire Grays Harbor Economic Vitality Index for 2017 online at www.graysharbor.org.

MORE NEXT WEEK

At his leadership role at Greater Grays Harbor, Garson has a unique vantage point to view the economic picture of Grays Harbor. Next week, we will take a peek at even more of the view.

FIRST-TIME BUYERS

First-time home buyer? To get the best loans, get educated. Check out HomeSage.org for your internet home-buyer education and housing counseling needs. We here at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor will help you get it done. We may be able to help you finance your home purchase, too.

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is executive director. This is a nonprofit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing for all residents of Grays Harbor County. For questions about home repair, renting, remodeling or buying, call 360-533-7828 or visit 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen.