Chambers adopt theme of togetherness

Regional approach to meeting area’s needs will give I-90
corridor more clout, business leaders believe

POST FALLS — Members of five regional chambers of
commerce met Tuesday to discuss issues of common
concern along the Interstate 90 corridor.

Becky Kramer
Staff writer

By finding areas of consensus, the Regional Chambers
Alliance hopes to bring more federal dollars to the area by
strengthening its lobbying power. Members also said it
makes sense to address some issues — such as a study of
the Spokane Valley/Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer — on a
two-state, cross-border basis.

The alliance is made up of the Spokane, Spokane Valley,
West Plains, Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls chambers of
commerce. It debuted in April on a trip to Washington,
D.C., where members lobbied for federal funding of an
aquifer study and advocated a regionally directed cleanup
of mining waste in the Coeur d’Alene Basin.

"We believe we were successful, especially on the aquifer
issue," said Dick Sams, president of the Coeur d’Alene
chamber board. "We think there’s some real potential for
identifying some more of those issues."

During a brainstorming session Tuesday, about 120
chamber members tossed out ideas for collaboration.
Topics included attracting new companies, marketing the
region of 550,000 people as one entity, protecting the
Spokane River and increasing work force training dollars.

U.S. Reps. George Nethercutt, R-Wash., and Butch Otter,
R-Idaho, lauded the joint approach.

"I look at this issue of cross-border cooperation as perhaps
the most important issue we face in the next 20 years,"
Nethercutt said. "I have this sense our region is ready to
explode … I see a lot of people in Western Washington
who long for the kind of lifestyle we have."

By planning ahead, the region can avoid some of the
downside of growth, such as traffic congestion,
Nethercutt said. Judicious use of federal funds can act as a
marketing tool, helping the region sell itself, he said.

Ray Murphy, executive director of the Post Falls chamber,
echoed the need for long-term planning.

"We need a transportation plan, so we don’t become
parking lot East," he said.

A regional consensus also makes it easier to attract federal
dollars for projects, such as the $3.5 million aquifer study,
the congressmen said.

"I think it was shocking to many people that we got out in
front of the aquifer issue like we did," said Don Barbieri,
chairman of the Spokane chamber and CEO of WestCoast
Hospitality Corp. "Chambers have often been stereotyped
as advocating business creation at any cost."

In this case, the chambers broke the stereotype, he said.

"Our chambers easily agree that we have to have the best
understanding of the aquifer if we are going to manage it
for the best interest of the region," said Jonathan Coe,
Coeur d’Alene chamber manager.

Ideas from Tuesday’s brainstorming session will go back
to a smaller committee, which will evaluate ideas and
develop positions for consideration by the chambers’ larger
membership.

"I think we all agree that we’re not willing to compromise
our quality of life issues, and we want to create an
environment where business can succeed," said Dave
Clinton, incoming board president of the West Plains
chamber.

• Business writer Becky Kramer can be reached at (208)
765-7122 or by e-mail at [email protected]

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/news-story.asp?date=082802&ID=s1206912&cat=section.business