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Fall 2009
In a year filled with seemingly endless economic bad news, it’s nice to know there are some bright spots. And this issue of Washington Business is packed with examples.
Take our cover story on the quiet but steady amassing of jobs and industry in the Tri-Cities. Writer Jason Hagey, himself a former resident of the area, knew something was different when he spotted a brand-new luxury handbag store in a Kennewick mall. Spurred by both public and private funds, the development happening in the southeastern area of the state comes at a time when most every other part of the state, let alone the country, is seeing record unemployment and layoffs.
Consider also Dan Brunell’s profile of the outdoor industry, which has seen an uptick even in these trying economic times. Fortunately for Washington state, there’s no shortage of outdoor fun to be had, so fishing equipment, camping gear and hiking supplies are still in demand by residents and tourists alike.
Then there’s that big winter party set to happen in February —just miles from the Washington state border. The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. is guaranteed to train the eyes of billions on the Pacific Northwest. While our state is likely to cash in on the Winter Games, it may not always be as you might think. Senior Writer Paul Schlienz looked into what the Vancouver Olympics means to the thousands of area businesses affected by the event and why being in Washington this February might just be a golden opportunity.
So, there’s some good news out there. But real challenges remain. The 2010 Legislature will have its work cut out for itself (again), with another growing deficit, declining revenue and lackluster consumer confidence. In our quick preview of the session, AWB’s vice president of government affairs, Gary Chandler, says the pressure to raise taxes (and remove tax incentives) will be palpable in Olympia this winter. This news, coupled with ongoing concerns about the state’s largest employer — Boeing — and a fragile economic recovery could make for an interesting 60-day, pre-election session.
Let the games begin.
View the Fall 2009
Washington Business Archive
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