10 — THE BAKER COUNTY PRESS
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017
Local
Economic
development
CONTINUED FROM
PAGE 9
As part of an HBC
update, Abell said there is
preparation for participa-
tion in events such as the
Hells Canyon Motorcycle
Rally and Miner’s Jubilee,
and, “We we do during the
motorcycle rally, is provide
information, and try to
connect all of the visitors
and riders with all of the
restaurants and the services
they require in town, so,
we’re one of the hubs, so
to speak...”
Events include the duck
and duck decoy races, and
projects include a Walk-
ing Tour map and detail
update, and installation of
Resort Street event ban-
ners.
He said that the HBC has
been invited to be a part of
the Rose Festival (probably
next year, he said), because
of HBC’s duck “mini
fl oat,” which could be an
opportunity to showcase
the community.
As part of an update
from Governor Kate
Brown’s offi ce, Fairley
mentioned some potential
funding for regional eco-
nomic projects (in the pro-
posed budget), and he said
that, among other projects,
there is an effort to connect
high school students with
businesses in rural areas.
He spoke about some
emergency public infra-
structure damage grants,
which could become avail-
able soon, and he said that
Brown’s priorities for the
rest of the current term in-
cludes kids, opportunities,
and rural economic de-
velopment. This includes
touring communities—
every county, including
Baker, he said.
Daugherty brought up
the issue with the lack of
signage for the Elkhorn
View Industrial Park, and
he said that more informa-
tion regarding the area and
the properties should be
available.
He said, “Resort Street,
Fred—I’d like for you
to walk down that some
time...The sidewalk work
there—the top is coming
off of a lot of the con-
crete...It’s a great addition
to the community... but
we need to be proactive,
and take a look at it... It’s
just really not very good
workmanship...”
Arritola said, “We don’t
have to worry about
cracked sidewalks on
10th Street, because we
don’t have them...” which
prompted some laughter.
He spoke about the
issues with the lack of
sidewalks in certain areas
there (and other issues),
and pedestrian/vehicle
interaction, and he said,
“We have a lot of pedestri-
ans walking up and down
10th Street who are on
their own, and I’m wait-
ing for one to make the
paper in a super negative
way...You’re backing the
forklift up, unloading a
truck, and a stroller comes
right behind you (as an
example)...We always feel
left out on 10th Street...” In
reference to locations for
events such as trade shows,
for example, he said, “Our
facilities to host events in
this town are pathetic, to
be blunt...We need some
place to host events...”
Harvey mentioned
speaking with represen-
tatives of the Oregon
Department of Transpor-
tation, and he said that
efforts are in place to push
for improvements to areas
such as what Arritola
mentioned.
Smith provided an
Economic Development
update, fi rst explaining
that the State Legislature
is in session, and, in the
interest of transparency,
he disclosed his dual roles
as Economic Develop-
ment Director, and as State
Representative.
Among other details,
Smith said that four local
companies are working
on expansions, though he
couldn’t elaborate further
(he plans to do this at a
later date).
He received a phone call
from an entrepreneur in a
neighboring state express-
ing interest in investing
in a new furniture store
in Baker City, and Smith
mentioned the closing of
Home Furnishings Liqui-
dator, 2034 Main Street,
which he said “...was not
based upon market condi-
tions; it was based upon a
family situation...”
Harvey said, “I wanted
to emphasize, that it’s not
market-based.”
Harvey asked about
further opportunities, and
Smith said there defi nitely
are possibilities, including
expansions.
Smith spoke about the
failed attempt to have
Grocery Outlet, Inc. add a
store to the Baker City gro-
cer community (a project
in the works since Albert-
sons was required to divest
its store, at 1120 Campbell
Street, to Haggen, as part
of a merger requirement
with Safeway in early
2015, by the Federal Trade
Commission, leaving
Safeway, at 1205 Campbell
Street, as the sole local
major grocer then, though
Albertsons now resides
once again in its former lo-
cation, following Haggen’s
bankruptcy, in late 2015).
He said to Harvey, “I’ve
got to let you know, Com-
missioner, I’ve let you
down on Grocery Outlet.
I tried—I tried. We went
all the way to (Grocery
Outlet) Corporate... and,
because of Oregon’s
business environment (he
emphasized not Baker
County’s), the company
has said it’s focusing on
other areas (primarily in
California)...”
Smith said that he’s
looked at other grocer
options, but, “We really
thought that Grocery Out-
let would be the right type
of company for here...I
don’t think it was based on
market conditions; I think
it was based on where they
want to take their com-
pany—their focus.”
He said that he may
revisit the question with
Grocery Outlet in the
future, but for now, it’s a
no-go.
In reference to the
Chaves Consulting con-
tract loss with the Oregon
Health Authority (OHA),
he said that he spoke with
representatives of OHA,
and, “...they were unaware
of the infrastructure that
these folks invested in...”
as well as other details,
and as such, there may
be additional contracting
opportunities available to
Chaves.
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