Volume 09 | June 2023
Your monthly news & updates
Upcoming Events, Industry News, and more!
SAVE THE DATE!
Join us for our 3-Part Farmers/Outdoor Market Series, where we will go over Market Management, Market 101-Strategies, and Market 102-Regulations. Instructed by Jessica Mayo, Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market. This should be a great series! You can register today!
Virtual Town Hall Meeting
June 21, 2023
3-4:30 PM

The Economic Alliance will be hosing a Virtual Town Hall Meeting for Okanogan County, Colville Confederated Tribe, Ferry, Pend Orielle, Stevens Counties. Join us for an interactive conversation about the future of Washington's economy. Representatives from the Association of Washington Business and the Washington Roundtable will lead a discussion with attendees about your views of the current economy and your thoughts about the future.

Washington in the Making is an initiative for building a better economy in every community in our state.

Washington state will be home to 9 million people by the year 2040. The rate of change in technology, innovation and global economic forces will continue to accelerate. We need a proactive vision, and plan, for the future economy that Washingtonians want.

The Association of Washington Business and the Washington Roundtable are engaging employers and residents across the state to shape this intentional vision for the future of our economy–one that supports economic prosperity in every county.

Through town hall meetings and a large-scale statewide survey, we’re inviting business and civic leaders as well as residents to share their dreams for our future. This research will form the foundation of a plan to get there.
Building opportunity, together.

Washington in the Making 2040 will develop goals and examine strategies in these key areas:
• Talent
• Business environment
• Infrastructure and connectivity
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Quality of place and community

RSVP to Carolyn or 509-826-5107
QUICKBOOKS & BRANDING YOUR BUSINESS
1 ON 1 SESSIONS AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Contact the Economic Alliance for more information at 509-826-5107
Attention Owners
of Commercial Buildings or Lots!

The Economic Alliance is compiling a list of vacant properties that are for sale, lease or rent throughout Okanogan County. We receive several inquires throughout the year from individuals who are looking for a locations to start/move their business to. We would love to add yours to our list!

Please send the following information to Martha Martinez.

  • Location-Physical Address
  • Lot/Building size
  • Utility- Information-electrical load capacity, AC/Heat pump etc.
  • Ceiling Height
  • Rooms, Restrooms, amenities etc
  • Asking price
Washington Public Ports Association to present at the June 28th
Economic Alliance Meeting.

Washington State Public Ports Association's Executive Director Eric Ffitch, will present to the Economic Alliance Board of Directors on June 28th, 2023, 11 am at the 12 Tribes Casino Conference Room. Mr. Ffitch will be sharing with the board, the Community and Economic impacts that Public Ports have in the State of Washington.

There are 75 ports in the state, located in 33 of the 39 counties, at this time Okanogan County is not one of them. If you are interested in attending the meeting please RSVP by email to Carolyn or call 509-826-5107.
Are you interested in making a difference in Okanogan County??

The Economic Alliance is now recruiting for new Board Members! We recently added new positions to our board, and we would love to have additional small business representatives join us from throughout the county! Please email Roni or call 509-826-5107 to learn more!

We have also facilitated the CCT and Okanogan County Broadband Action Team since 2019! If you are interested in participating in this great group of people who are committed to bringing broadband infrastructure to all the residents in Okanogan County, please email Roni today!

We have 2 other active sub committees that you can join!

  • Vacant/Abandoned Building Committee
  • Business Education Committee

If you are interested in participating or learning more about these committees, give us a call at 509-826-5107


"LEGENDS
& LORE"


The Okanogan County Tourism Council is looking for any information you might have on “Legends and/or Lore” or even a folktale about someone in Okanogan Country. 

OCTC is putting together a map or guide on some of the unique history of our area. This will be a great attraction for our visitors and locals. 

If you have any information about a legend or ghosts, or folktale, or if you have questions, please email to info@okanogancountry.com or call our toll-free number at 888-431-3080.
Building Permit Reports
View a report of the most recent applied and granted Building Permits in the region.

DID YOU KNOW??

You can now watch all of the Economic Alliance Workshops and Training Videos on demand on our YouTube channel.
Do you need help starting, growing, or funding sources for your business?

Our SBDC Advisor is here to help entrepreneurs or small business owners start, grow or buy/sell a business.

The Economic Alliance’s SBDC advisor Lew Blakeney provides one-on-one, confidential, no-cost advising on all phases of small business development throughout Okanogan County and Colville Indian Reservation.

To schedule an appointment, give us a call at: (509) 826 5107

Worker Training Resources
for Small Businesses!

Attention Employers! Worksource Okanogan has several different programs for employers:

They can assist with:
  • Free job posting
  • No fees to post jobs or search for talent
  • More than a job board
  • Local recruiters with relationships listen and deliver real solutions
  • Recruit. Retain. Resolve.
  • Hiring events, training, tax credits, and more
  • Workers for every type of job
  • WorkSource connects you to specialized and general talent—all in one place

They can help! Give them a call at 509-826-7310 or stop by and see them at their office located at 126 S. Main in Omak.

To learn more about their small business services and programs offered go to:

L&I Update
Learn about key employment laws at upcoming L&I webinars

Workers and employers can learn more about the state’s employment laws during a series of webinars offered this spring and summer by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

The topics covered include worker’s rights, white-collar overtime rules, isolated worker protections, and the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. There also are webinars in English and Spanish to explain the agricultural overtime law.

Led by Employment Standards program staff, each webinar lasts about 45 minutes, and includes time for questions.

To register for any of these sessions, go to the Workshops and Training web page and search for the webinar by its title in the “Event Title” drop-down menu.