washington business
recession , that gain has proved to be volatile , slowing sharply with the recession . Agricultural counties have seen population drop 4 percentage points since 2000 , as young adults leave to pursue opportunities in the city .
Georgia provides a good example . The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports on the contrast between thriving Atlanta and rural Georgia . Chris Clark , Georgia Chamber of Commerce president and CEO , tells the paper 53 percent of the state ’ s counties — mostly rural — are distressed . The Chamber this year launched an initiative designed to reverse the decline .
Similar stories can be found in many states . Think Chicago and downstate Illinois , the Twin Cities and nonmetro Minnesota , Denver and rural Colorado , and so on — including , of course , metro Seattle and rural Washington . The divide matters . “ Rural areas are a vital cornerstone to our economy ,” says Alex McGregor , president of The McGregor Co ., a firm that has served Inland Northwest farmers for 135 years .
Rural vitality is clear in the agriculture and food manufacturing sector , which employs about 140,000 people and accounts for 13 percent of the state economy , according to the state Department of Commerce . With food and agriculture exports of $ 15 billion , Washington ranks third in the nation , reports the state Department of Agriculture . Yet , in February , 22 of the state ’ s 39 counties , all of them rural , had unemployment rates of 7 percent or higher .
Recognizing the challenge , AWB convened its inaugural Rural Jobs Summit on a March Saturday during a tough legislative session . ( An extended summit was held in Moses Lake , Oct . 23-24 .) The events brought lawmakers and business leaders together in Olympia to identify strategies to bolster rural economies . Those attending in March heard economist Steve Lerch , head of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council , describe a tale of two economies : thriving metro centers and struggling rural communities ( see page 40 ).
Participants found a lot of common ground . Rural communities often face challenges , some uniquely determined by local values and conditions . Yet , there are common factors : infrastructure , workforce , and competitive tax and regulatory policies .
The diversity of rural communities means there ’ s no grand strategy that works for everyone . There ’ s no silver bullet . Kimmell , instead , talks about “ silver buckshot .”
At A Glance
Even as Washington ’ s farms , orchards and ranches boast recordbreaking yields , rural counties confront continued erosion of jobs and investment .
At the time of AWB ’ s Rural Jobs Summit , 22 counties — all rural — have unemployment rates higher than 7 percent .
From 2005 to 2015 , personal income grew 23.1 percent in the metro counties and just 19.3 percent in rural counties ; population increased 6.8 percent in metros , more than three times the 2 percent growth in rural areas .
Per capita net earnings in the metros of nearly $ 35,000 was half again greater than the roughly $ 20,000 in rural communities .
Lawmakers are organizing a bipartisan Rural Caucus to work on policies to promote rural economic development .
rural caucus
Some initiatives — public investment , tax policy and regulation — require legislation . In a Legislature dominated by lawmakers from urban and suburban districts , promoting a rural agenda takes organization . One tangible outcome of AWB ’ s Rural Jobs Summit was bipartisan agreement from participating legislators to organize a Rural Caucus .
It isn ’ t a closed club of rural Republicans . Urban Sen . Maralyn Chase , D-Shoreline , says she ’ s excited to collaborate with rural legislators like Sen . Shelly Short , R-Addy . Chase , who grew up in Yakima , calls it a “ social justice ” issue , making sure all parts of the state enjoy the benefits of an expanding economy .
“ I think AWB can be a good catalyst ,” she says . “ It ’ s been courageous in bringing these issues up .”
the opportunities
Alex McGregor quotes his cousin , who said the pioneers came to Washington with three basic values : “ Dyed-in-the-wool optimism ; a wry ,
38 association of washington business