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Columbia River Economic Development Council presents ROI, asks Vancouver to sustain or increase $100,000 annual investment
Summary
CREDC told the Vancouver City Council it returns roughly $34 for every $1 invested by members, outlined 2024 recruitment and job-creation figures, and asked the city to maintain or increase its $100,000 annual contribution amid a tight budget environment.
Columbia River Economic Development Council officials presented an annual overview to the Vancouver City Council on Aug. 25 and asked the council to continue — and consider increasing — the city’s annual investment in the organization.
“At the current funding levels, CREDC delivers a $34 return on investment for every $1 invested by our members,” said Clint Hendricks, vice president of business development for the Columbia River Economic Development Council. Hendricks said CREDC helped generate more than $1 billion in business activity and capital investment and helped produce or retain about 3,900 jobs over the past four years.
Julia Kavorick, lead advisor for CREDC’s Apex Accelerator program, said Apex is funded in part by the Department of Defense and provides one-on-one advising, workshops and networking to help American small businesses win government contracts at local, state and federal levels. Kavorick said the Apex-advised businesses returned about $25 million in local contracts last year and are on pace to double that amount this year.
Abby Russell, CRDC policy committee chair, described the organization’s budget pressures. Russell said the city’s $100,000 annual investment represents roughly 9% of CREDC’s overall budget and that inflation and cuts in other funding sources have reduced the real value of that support; she said the organization currently operates with a staff of five plus a contract lobbyist. Russell said the delta between revenue and expenses for recent years is “just under a $100,000,” and urged the council to consider maintaining and possibly increasing the city’s contribution.
Hendricks highlighted recent recruitments and expansions: seven recruitments and two expansion wins in 2024 that he said brought more than $300 million in capital investment and roughly 400 jobs. He cited companies including Maniflex, SVI and YST as examples of firms establishing U.S. manufacturing operations in Vancouver.
Council members asked about outreach and next steps: councilors were told CREDC staff and partners will make fall presentations to other cities and the county, and one councilor said she would discuss a cost-of-living adjustment to the city’s ongoing fees. The presentation noted CREDC’s role in helping local businesses compete for large projects such as the Interstate I‑5 Bridge Replacement Project, which CREDC characterized as a multi-billion-dollar opportunity for local contractors.
CREDC representatives left meeting materials and asked the council to continue its partnership and consider increasing the city’s investment to maintain staffing and program services.
