Economic Development Agencies Weigh Merger To Improve Efficiency

All four of the Spokane business sector’s major economic development organizations are pondering a merger.

That includes the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Momentum.

“It’s just an option at this point,” says Tom Stevenson, co-chair of the New Century task force, charged with mapping a bold new economic development agenda by the agencies involved. “I would stress that no agreement to merge has been reached.

“But I also must emphasize,” he added, “that the status quo isn’t lifting Spokane’s wages above the average across the country, and we have every intention of reaching that benchmark by the turn of the century. It’s a giant step. Business as usual isn’t getting it done.”

“This is about efficiency,” Spokane Chamber Chairwoman Chris Schnug said of the proposal to merge organizations. “And it’s about speaking with one voice.

“If all the organizations we are talking about would present one message, project one image of Spokane, in their contacts across the country, it would make a powerful impression.”

Said Stevenson, “A unified voice also is important to our efforts in Olympia and in our relations with city and county officials. At present, we have four, five, six economic voices in the community. Is it any wonder that the message gets garbled?

“If we are going to continue as a first-tier community, we must get our economic act together, and we are doing it.”

In recent months, the economic development agencies have tied into a strategic alliance which pools resources for some functions to achieve cost efficiencies and increase effectiveness. Also, plans are afoot to cohabitate.

Now, marriage emerges as a strong possibility. A couple of merger models are being evaluated. Both envision preserving the separate boards of the organizations.

“If we continue to do business as usual, we’re going backward,” said Momentum President Gordon Budke. “It’s time for a new look. A decision is close at hand.”

Security ‘ambassadors’ deployed

Roving security “ambassadors” are taking to the streets in downtown Spokane this week. According to the Downtown Spokane Partnership, an unarmed security force of six will begin pounding beats on Friday.

The partnership, which is the non-profit management arm for the Parking & Business Improvement Area established by property and business owners in the central business district, has hired Western Security Service Inc. The firm has been providing security services in Spokane for two decades.

Less crime and more public safety have resulted from similar programs in other cities.

Boeing workers among best paid

Average pay at Boeing “now nudges $49,000 a year,” reports Marple’s Business Newsletter. That does not include a hefty package of benefits, which typically adds another 30 to 40 percent to the employee costs of major firms. “Boeing employees,” observes the Seattle-based biweekly, “rank among the best-paid industrial workers in the world.”

Calling US West’s bluff

“We’re moving to a better way of serving you!”

So begins a letter by US West Cellular to it customers.

“Beginning May 1,” the letter goes on, “we will no longer serve you from our Customer Care Center located at The Pier 1 Import Building, 111 W. North River Drive in Spokane. We’ve redesigned the way we serve our customers to give you even greater convenience and flexibility. To save you valuable time in your day. To give you one simple number to reach us no matter what you need, no matter where you are - 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

“Now, all you have to do is call us!”

But Gary Laing, 531 W. Buckeye, Spokane, wrote instead of calling. He scribbled a pointed response on the back of the notice and returned it to the company, with a copy to me.

“What sort of chumps do you take your customers for?” he asked.

“The letter on the reverse side of this page is so boldly laden with ad agency-generated jargon, euphemism, and Orwellian corporate-doublespeak as to be patently offensive to the intelligence of even the most simple-minded and untutored.

“What is obviously a business decision to cut costs by eliminating employees, closing an office, and thereby depriving customers of the ability to speak to a company employee face to face is described as ‘We’re moving to a better way of serving you!’ … ‘to give you even greater convenience and flexibility.’

“Please!”

, DataTimes MEMO: Associate Editor Frank Bartel writes a notes column each Wednesday. If you have business items of regional interest for future columns, call 459-5467 or fax 459-5482.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Frank Bartel The Spokesman-Review