With the signing of the deal between the city of Poulsbo and Harrison Medical Center for a $25 million-plus project that includes the purchase of land at 10th and Lincoln, the construction on a regional cancer-care center along with a Prompt/Urgent Care Hospital here, the time will be soon to review how the process went, and what was learned.

 

That this was no ordinary 'developer-proposal' review process for the city as has been common for the first 100 years of our history, but rather an elective economic development 'partnership' of sorts, and ground-breaking in many respects, is telling. It tells us that in order to achieve the next level of build-out in Poulsbo and at the same time pay attention to citizen input on what we want to preserve, encourage and sustain, it is not enough anymore to react to simply what comes our way, but rather that we will have to go out and solicit those businesses and enterprises that we feel are in our collective best interest. In other words, we have to be an active participant in the economic development game, and sophisticated about it as well.

 

This then marks the true break with our past, the 100 year anniversary of 'self-governance' in 2008 being coincidental. We now must move therefore from a big town to a small city, with all the attendant 'street smarts', financial and analytical skills and most importantly, with community consensus attended to. In this fashion, we can go out and compete with not only the likes of a Gig Harbor, but go toe-to-toe with those centers on the east-side of Puget Sound that go after 'the best and brightest' in desirable company relocations and start-ups. Olympic College-Poulsbo campus was another such example here of a successful effort in that regard, back earlier in this decade.

 

We need to insure that we are up to the 'game', have a strong moral and visionary compass by which to guide the effort, and that we bring the community on board. This starts with an active and on-going dialogue with our citizenry, and importantly, our Chamber of Commerce. Then to our 'next one-hundred years', and a sustaining vision of who and what we will be when we grow up!

 

Ed Stern,Councilman, City of Poulsbo

Boardmember, KRCC / PSRC / AWC

estern@cityofpoulsbo.com

www.cityofpoulsbo.com

 

 

When:   April 15th, 2009 - 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. 
Where:  9481 Silverdale Way NW, Suite 203
             Silverdale, WA 98383
Phone:   800-337-0850
 
The KPVCB serves the entire Kitsap Peninsula making Silverdale a logical central location for the offices.  The KPVCB is participating in the Kitsap Regional Coordination Council's Telework Program and staff will have the flexibility to work at home offices or "on the go" part of the time. 
 
The smaller, less expensive office space fits with the KPVCB's 2009 theme of "Leaner, Meaner and Greener".  Newer technology, including laptops, Blackberry's, a virtual phone attendant and virtual server will allow the KPVCB to be more productive while also reducing costs.

 

Come visit our new office, see the new technology at work and share some refreshments.