Edc Hopes To Duplicate Impressive 1995 Seafirst Executive Will Lead This Year’s Efforts

The Spokane Area Economic Development Council will continue to provide a more than 20-to-one return on members investment dollars in 1996, incoming board chairman John Wagner says.

Wagner, of Seafirst Bank, told the gathered membership at EDC’s annual meeting Thursday that the organization would strive to reproduce its 1995 performance in recruitment and retention of jobs into the Spokane economy.

“We will continue to provide a strong return on your investment as we did in 1995,” Wagner said, “when we created $20 in local payroll for every $1 you invested.”

EDC members put up $1 million to fund the organization’s activities in 1995, and recruited businesses into the Spokane economy that produced $24 million in new payroll, according to a video that summarized EDC’s 1995 performance.

Fourteen companies that relocated or expanded to Spokane in 1995 brought 711 jobs with an average annual salary of $27,854 each, according to the video.

The guest speaker at the annual meeting was Kurt Conklin, vice president of human resources for Egghead Software, which represents the largest of the 1995 class of corporate newcomers to Spokane.

Egghead brought 500 jobs with the relocation of its corporate headquarters here from the Puget Sound area.

Conklin credited the efforts of the EDC, and its president, Bob Cooper, for Egghead’s choice.

“The EDC, along with Momentum, turned the tide and made us make a very quick decision to move to Spokane,” Conklin said.

Before the EDC made its lastminute recruitment push, Egghead had decided to make Colorado Springs its new home.

“We’re extremely pleased to be here,” Conklin said, “and we look forward to being an active member of your group.”

, DataTimes