Published August 2002

Circuit Rider a new resource for smaller cities

Small cities often face a perplexing dilemma. Their populations grow faster than their revenues, leaving only enough to provide basics government services: law enforcement, roads, planning and zoning, water and sewage, and parks and recreation.

Stimulating economic development encouraging the retention and expansion of existing businesses and recruiting of new businesses is regarded as an important added benefit that’s difficult to consistently provide within most small-city budgets.

The smaller cities of east Snohomish County continue to attract people to their quiet, simpler lifestyles. Yet, the increased population usually does not generate sufficient revenue to adequately expand their infrastructures to support the additional population.

Expanding roads, upgrading sewer and water capacity, and adding lighting and community centers are the kinds of improvements that are important to attract new business and jobs and in turn increase tax revenues to allow city governments to grow as well.

For Darrington, Granite Falls and Sultan, three of the county’s smaller communities, the solution may be the recent appointment of David J. Dillman as the Rural Economic/Community Development Circuit Rider for the county EDC.

Funded in part by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, Dillman will serve as the economic development “point person” in each of these forest-impacted communities, traveling from town to town on a schedule — reminiscent of circuit-riding preachers and judges of the 18th century.

The Circuit Rider program will enhance the work of the Evergreen Crescent Initiative, a newly formed economic/community development partnership between five small and growing eastern Snohomish County cities, the county Planning Department, the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District and the county EDC.

“Many smaller communities often find they don’t have enough personnel to break loose to devote time and efforts to promoting economic development,” said Michael Cade, vice president of the county EDC. “Being able to count on regular visits of the EDC Circuit Rider will allow economic and community development issues to be addressed in these communities. Besides being an on-site advocate for business and communities, this will allow the professional services and programs of the EDC to be much more accessible to the rural communities.”

The program will allow each community to approach the economic development issues that are compatible with their already-established goals, comprehensive plans and infrastructure capacity, Cade said.

Dillman joins the EDC after five years as a consultant, specializing in community, economic and work-force development projects for small communities throughout New Mexico and as a senior vice president of the Tri-Cities Industrial Development Council in Kennewick.

“Having worked with rural small communities, I appreciate the challenges they face competing with larger urban markets in recruiting new businesses and getting funding support for critical community infrastructure improvements,” he said.

“A key is to get each community to identify and strengthen its assets and opportunities while working to reduce any weaknesses or threats that could, if not addressed, limit their growth potential.”

Dillman said his experience in working with small communities is that they all have an avid interest in improving their economic and community development efforts but often need consistent outside assistance to make a difference.

We’re confident the EDC’s new Circuit Rider program will do just that.

Deborah Knutson is president of the Snohomish County Economic Development Council. She can be reached at 425-743-4567 or by e-mail to dknutson@snoedc.org.

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