LC EDC's Margie Hall receives award

 

Last updated 11/19/2014 at 5:19pm



Margie Hall, executive director of Lincoln County Economic Development Council, was recognized as a Hometown Hero by Inland Northwest Partners, a regional non-profit economic development organization, for her outstanding efforts in promoting economic and community development for the county. The Lincoln County EDC provides traditional EDC services and also serves as the Visitor & Convention Bureau. In a county that is the seventh largest in the state, but with less than five people per square mile, Hall secured funds from the Washington Department of Commerce and pulled together a team that addressed broadband issues and opportunities across the county. Hall offers social media and other online presence training for the local business community.

She is an active member of the Washington State Rural Pathways to Prosperity Conference planning team and hosted one of the most successful sites during the last conference. Hall’s high energy, positive attitude and planning expertise have gained her many supporters and partners within the county and across the region.

The other Hometown Hero award went to Jim Hammond for his efforts promoting economic development for the City of Post Falls, the region and the State of Idaho for decades. Hammond’s career in public office has included serving as Mayor, State Senator, City Councilor and City Administrator.

Inland Northwest Partners honored local communities and individuals with its Hometown Awards at the organization’s annual meeting November 14. For more than 25 years, it has recognized deserving individuals and organizations that have gone above and beyond in supporting the economic growth of communities in the Inland Northwest.

The Hometown Awards, voted on by the organization’s board members, were given to recipients in one of four categories: Partnership, Community, Hometown Hero and Hall of Fame Award.

The Partnership Award recognizes communities, persons, agencies or regions that have achieved significant economic development accomplishments through innovative partnerships.

The Grant County EDC and the Port of Moses Lake, along with all of their other partners, were recognized for their outstanding commitment to economic development. The partnership is considered a shining star of business recruitment and expansion, playing key roles in the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation project, SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers expansion and AstaReal Technologies manufacturing plant project. The Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation project, which will result in more than 80 high-paying aerospace engineering positions, is putting the region on the global map as a location of choice for future aircraft certification and testing activities.

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers plans to triple the capacity of its carbon fiber plant, funded by an investment of $300 million, making it the world’s largest carbon fiber plant and creating jobs for 200 people. The AstaReal Technologies manufacturing plant project is a $30 million investment with 45 permanent local jobs created. In addition, the county is home to new data centers of global companies, including a planned Microsoft data center in Quincy. Jonathan Smith, executive director of the Grant County EDC and Richard Hanover, director of business development for the Port of Moses Lake, accepted the award on behalf of the group.

The City of Post Falls, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Post Falls Urban Renewal District were honored for their integral role in many of the economic development activities occurring in North Idaho.

The Community Award, honoring a community that has successfully implemented an effective recruitment, retention or community development strategy that has made a positive impact on the community’s economy went to the City of Moscow, Idaho for its efforts to help keep EMSI in the community. EMSI, a private company and employer of more than 100, provides web-based economic modeling, demographics, workforce and occupational analysis for clients across the globe.

The Hall of Fame Award goes to individuals, communities, agencies or companies that have provided substantial support to economic development efforts in the Inland Northwest region.

Terry Lawhead, business development manager and CERB liaison for the Washington State Department of Commerce, was honored with the Hall of Fame award.

Tom Stroschein, Latah County Commissioner, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Stroschein has served on the Latah County Board of Commissioners for the past 12 years.

The INP is a non-profit organization focused on enhancing the long-term vitality of a two-state region through its core offering of educational meetings, programs and seminars. More than 300 business and community leaders from eastern Washington and northern Idaho are members. The INP is also part of a regional marketing effort known as the Inland Northwest Economic Alliance (INEA), a consortium of eleven economic development groups. For more information, visit http://www.inwp.org.

 

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