A Tale of Two Cities – Group meets to discuss economic redevelopment

COEUR d’ALENE — Big ideas came from small towns Wednesday at the spring meeting of the Inland Northwest Partners regional economic development organization.

About 70 turned out at The Coeur d’Alene Resort to hear stories of successful redevelopment in St. Maries and Palouse, Wash.

By RICK THOMAS
Staff writer

http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2004/03/25/business/bus01.txt

Both had good tales to tell, but it was Michael Echanove, mayor of Palouse, who had everyone laughing and many promising to visit his revitalized little city 14 miles north of Pullman.

"We tied with Vancouver (Wash.) for the top city redevelopment in the country," said Echanove. "I’m a $60 councilman in a town of 1,000. I carry that plaque everywhere I go."

It began a decade ago, when the isolated little burg was informed by the Washington Department of Ecology that its sewer plant was not up to standards.

Palouse was hit with an initial estimate of $6 million for a replacement.

Instead, they partnered with half a dozen other agencies and individuals and installed a state-of-the-art facility for $1.7 million.

The experience was an eye-opener to the possibilities, said Echanove.

Not only did they get the best for less, they now have room to grow. That taught them the importance of building additional capacity into their infrastructure.

"We were determined to revitalize our town," said Echanove.

By year 2000 they’d replaced the downtown water and sewer lines, storm drains, street surfaces and sidewalks, and created a pedestrian-friendly environment — all for $2.5 million, again by partnering with others.

Since then, there has been a cleanup of the downtown, including the removal of several derelict buildings; installation of wireless Internet services and a new well; a community Web site; the opening of the Roy M. Chatters Newspaper and Printing Museum; a new park; the opening of a new grocery store; restaurants; a health center; and several other shops.

"We’ll never compete with Wal-Mart," said Echanove. "Let them build another Wal-Mart. We don’t care."

The Web site resulted in the donation of a brass sculpture and the gift of $1,500.

A call by the chief of police to a tulip farm on the other side of the state netted a promise for some surplus bulbs.

"Come fall 300 pounds of tulips showed up," said Echanove. "We have tulips popping up all over town."

For the mayor, it’s been great fun picking out antique clocks for the city sidewalks and rock patterns for the retaining wall along a new drainage system.

He’s even proud of the new bathroom being built downtown.

"We’re thinking of changing our motto to ‘Palouse, a good place to go,’" said Echanove.

George Currier, head of Timber Plus, the St. Maries economic development agency, related a similar tale of that community’s renovations since 1988.

"The whole town looked like it was on its last legs," said Currier.

Taking advantage of several state grants, St. Maries repaved eight miles of streets and has each year widened and added sidewalks to one city street.

More grants, seeded by $150,000 in city funds, netted more than $2 million for downtown renovations.

New parks, tourist attractions, recreation facilities and art programs have helped improve the diversity of St. Maries’ economy, said Currier.

"You’re all welcome to come to St. Maries," he said. "I’m sure you’ll like the view."

Rick Thomas can be reached at

664-8176 or at [email protected].