Edc Chief Sees Strong Potential Turner Says Spokane Has Basic Ingredients For Economic Growth

The new president of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council says he’s looking forward to dealing with a more attractive set of challenges than he faced in the Northeastern United States.

Mark Turner, the new president of the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, told members gathered at the organization’s annual meeting Tuesday he feels good about the prospects for meeting ambitious goals of recruiting 800 new jobs to Spokane during 1998 and 5,000 new jobs by 2001.

“I’ve practiced economic development in the Northeastern United States for 18 years before coming to Spokane,” Turner said, “and the potential evidenced in Spokane for economic and community advancement is much greater.”

Many communities in the Northeast, he said, are burdened by “massive job losses and the need to deal with extensive periods of population out-migration.”

He said inducement-based economic development practices have, unfortunately, become the norm in that region.

“Certainly, while issues such as underemployment, poverty, growth management, diversity and isolation represent considerable challenges for the Spokane region in the immediate future,” he added, “a strong foundation for success has been constructed here which will serve us all very well as we implement out job growth strategies.”

Turner, who took over the EDC’s top spot two months ago, was formally introduced to the EDC membership at the annual meeting.

He succeeds Bob Cooper, who headed up the EDC for 10 years before leaving in April to found a similar organization in Ventura, Calif.

Turner had been president and chief executive officer of the Broome County Economic Development Alliance in upstate New York since 1994. He was instrumental there in reversing the job losses that plagued that economy.

While Spokane has not suffered those kinds of setbacks, it has been saddled with lackluster growth in recent years, and the EDC’s goal of recruiting 5,000 high quality jobs here over five years is a critical part of the community’s growth strategy.

The first year of that effort, 1997, was strong despite the distraction of searching for a new leader, according to 1997 EDC Board Chairman Frank Tombari.

Tombari said the EDC exceeded its goal of recruiting 650 jobs here.

Seven new companies brought 673 jobs here with a combined annual payroll of $23.4 million and a $34,784 average annual wage, he said.

Those companies include ERISA QDRO Corp., Field Instruments and Controls, Lenders Interactive Online Network, Potlatch Corp., The Principal Financial Group, Travelers Property Casualty and U.S. Filter.

Sterling Haskins, who chairs the EDC board this year, said the organization is off to a strong start with “some really good prospects” already on line.

Turner concluded his remarks by emphasizing the role existing Spokane companies play in overall economic development.

“The EDC’s concentration on business attraction is not intended to diminish the importance of existing businesses in the Spokane region in any way,” he said. “Without question, the formation, retention and expansion of local businesses is critical to the success of our community.

“Your growth should never be taken for granted as we seek to attract new employers.”

, DataTimes