|
 Michael
Needham, the Director of the Spokane County Division of Planning,
addressed the Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce and attending members
of other local area chambers at the Valley Chamber's Regional Breakfast
meeting about the future of the greater Spokane, Washington area.
He brought up the concept that the greater Spokane area, with careful
planning, does not have to become like the sprawling, crowded and
congested high-growth areas like silicon valley. Coming from the
Los Angeles area, with their convoluted freeways, pollution and
congestion, he said that the Spokane area is, "One of the last
frontiers of a beautiful place to work and raise a family."
There is the need to build up the economy that will give the residents
a better standard of living and bring in new vibrancy to the area.
However, careful planning is just one of the key ingredients needed
to make this happen.
Michael Needham with Loren Mitchell of the Spokane
Valley Chamber of Commerce
509-924-4994 |
Brian Levin-Stankevich, President of
the West Plains Chamber of Commerce
509-235-8480
|
Stacy O'Sullivan with the Spokane
Area Chamber of Commerce 509-459-4120
and Loren Mitchell |
The other key ingredient is a belief in ourselves. He admonished
us to stop thinking of ourselves as being stuck out in the middle
of nowhere. The greater Spokane area is the largest community between
Seattle and Minneapolis. We need to adopt a "can do" attitude.
This area has some of the greatest natural resources in the whole
nation. If properly used and planned, we can provide a better quality
of life and promote a better business environment for our community.
He said, "It's time to become a player in our community and
stop being spectators." He encouraged us to think with vision
and walk forward with confidence.
These are some of the businesses who had a presence at the Spokane
Valley Chamber's Regional Chamber breakfast meeting, June 15, 2001
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